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Despite losing a close fight to Ben Henderson, did Gilbert Melendez prove he was as good as advertised in his UFC debut? Why or why not?
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Rule number 1. After you lose a split decision, don't admit you coasted for a couple rounds. It makes you look like a damn fool, and any empathy you might have garnered in defeat gets lost in the ether of your own hubris.
Now, that said, Melendez did better on Saturday night than I anticipated. I think that's probably due more to my overvaluing of Ben Henderson than my underrating of Gilbert Melendez. I was in the building on Saturday night, and as of this writing I've not the TV broadcast of the fight, so my perspective is very much skewed. I gave 3, 4, and 5 to Henderson for a 48-47 decision, and I would have had zero issue with 48-47 Melendez. But again, that's from in the building with plenty of distractions. But from where I was, I certainly thought I saw Melendez slow down in the last three rounds. Either he coasted, he got tired, or Henderson adapted. If he coasted, he doesn't deserve the title, nor a rematch anytime soon. I tend to think Henderson adapted, and that Melendez (who is a student of the heinous excuse-maker Cesar Gracie) would rather tell himself that he lost the fight because of his own stupidity rather than Henderson's superiority.
C.J. TUTTLE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Gilbert Melendez lost by split decision in a fight that is being universally discussed as one he could have/should have won. He went up against a fighter in Benson Henderson who has been slipping past contenders closely his entire career, and Saturday was no different. Melendez showed that he deserves to be headlining cards against the divisions best and will receive his re-match. The only question to me is whether or not he will have dudes in his corner falsely telling him he's winning the fight next time...
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I don't think so. He faded and he wasn't aggressive enough. He could have done more in the fight. Neither guy looked like he was trying to win, they looked like they were trying to not lose. I think he can rebound and come back stronger, but I definitely don't think he lived up the hype.
TONY BECERRA, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Gilbert Melendez showed why he is regarded as one of the best lightweights in the world. He had a lot of hype coming into his UFC debut and in the eyes of many delivered. The decision did not go his way and in reality with a fight as close as that one, it could be argued for either fighter. The fact is that Benson got the nod and is now set to continue his reign as he defends the title against the Maynard/Grant winner at UFC 160. As for Gilbert, I see him coming back from this loss and wouldn't be surprised to see him fighting for title contention by years end.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
How many times have we seen a corner 'lose' a fight for a fighter? Melendez did a great job in round one and then, in my opinion, did a little worse in every round after. It was a close fight. It was a good fight. Maybe if Melendez had been given accurate information about how close the fight really was instead of his corner telling him he was winning, he would have pressed harder and won the fight. He was as good as advertised, but he should consider changing camps so he can win his next title fight.
ALVIN CARTER, MMATORCH SPECIALIST
Gilbert Melendez proved to be better than advertised mainly because he did not just go in and survive. He took the fight to Ben Henderson and just fell short. Melendez fought smart and stayed active and he did not get finished by the champ. If anything he sent a message to the other 155-ers that he is here and serious. He might not be a contender for the rest of 2013, but he is definitely a top competitor in the division.
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR
He did more than enough to convince me he's a genuine top five talent and future contender. Take into account the obvious step up in competition, the fact he had only fought twice in the last two years, and that this was a five round fight. Yet despite all of that; he only lost by split decision to the undisputed No. 1 Lightweight on the planet.
I'd like to see him face the loser of T.J. Grant vs. Gray Maynard next. If the winner of that fight is good enough for a title shot, then the loser makes sense for Melendez. If the UFC stick to only matching him up with guys coming off a loss; then Joe Lauzon would be another good fight to make. Three solid wins over top opponents will get him another shot.
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