Tagged Gilbert Melendez

With Bellator still on summer vacation it was up to the UFC and its fighters to potentially alter this month's MMA fighter rankings. Since the last rankings came out there were three UFC events resulting in two new fighters breaking into their divisions top 5.

With Bellator still on summer vacation the UFC filled the month of April with four fight cards featuring nine fighters that appeared on last months MMA Valor Fighter Rankings. Two of those nine were champions who successfully defeated their titles and five of the other seven also walked away with victories this past month.

The champ is no stranger to tough fights, and Benson Henderson was more than ready for his test last Saturday, taking on Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez. The first round saw Melendez get into Henderson's face and pressure the champ with overhand rights and striking in the pocket, taking the round on every score card and potentially setting the pace for the night.

After every event MMA Fans and even some Media will make outlandish claims of a certain fight or the entire event being the “best/worst of the year/all-time” and last night’s UFC on FOX 7 was no different. As the card headed into the co-main and main event UFC on FOX 7 was being called the best card of the year all over the internet. Hard to blame them though, 8 of the first 10 fights ended within the first two rounds via knockout and you know how much fans love the knockout.

The UFC returns to San Jose, California today with a stacked UFC on FOX 7 fight card headlined by lightweight champion Benson Henderson defending his belt against Gilbert Melendez. The former Strikeforce lightweight champion, along with several other former Strikeforce fighters give this card a fun feel to it.

Due to a previously scheduled Arena Football game at the HP Pavilion, today’s UFC on FOX 7 weigh-ins were held less than a mile away at the California Theater. The small theater was completely filled with cheering fans and all the fighters they came to see made weight.

It might be nothing but the coincidence UFC president Dana White says it is but tomorrows UFC on FOX 7 main card should be dubbed “UFC vs Strikeforce”. Each of the four main card bouts that will air live on FOX features a UFC veteran against a former Strikeforce fighter.

The UFC makes its return to San Jose, California this weekend with the UFC on FOX 7, sporting a main card with a UFC vs. Strikeforce feel to it. The four UFC on FOX 7 bout on the main card feature one UFC veteran against a former Strikeforce fighter, which seems only fitting since they are in the old stomping grounds of the once #2 Mixed Martial Arts promotion in the United States.