Under the Microscope: Analyzing Lightweight Greats

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Gilbert Melendez

* LIGHTWEIGHT RECORD: 22-4 (.846)
* OPPONENT WINNING PERCENTAGE: .715
* LONGEST WINNING STREAK: 13
* RECORD IN MAJOR LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE FIGHTS: 10-3
* FINISH PERCENTAGE: 54.5
* FINISHED PERCENTAGE: 25
* NOTABLE VICTORIES: Diego Sanchez, Josh Thomson (twice), Tatsuya Kawajiri, Shinya Aoki, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Clay Guida, Rumina Sato
* CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Former WEC and Strikeforce lightweight champion; most wins in Strikeforce history; record four consecutive Strikeforce lightweight title defenses

CASE FOR: There is not much ground that “El Nino” has not tread. After capturing the World Extreme Cagefighting strap, Melendez spent the greater part of his career dominating Strikeforce opposition, as he notched more wins and title defenses in that organization than anyone else. While some may knock his non-UFC opposition, his opponents’ winning percentage is on the higher end of the spectrum, and he finishes his foes more than half of the time. Furthermore, he has avenged two of his four losses, and his defeat to Benson Henderson was a razor-thin split decision that could have easily gone his way. The only piece missing is the UFC belt, which has eluded him on two occasions.

CASE AGAINST: Melendez epitomizes the quip of being good but not great, at least when placed next to his all-time peers. Melendez does everything well, but there is an undeniable absence of the truly spectacular on his career resume. Said differently, he has not accomplished anything that trumps the accomplishments of Takanori Gomi or B.J. Penn; and while he was not fighting any scrubs in Strikeforce, he also has very few elite-level wins on his docket. Should he win the UFC belt at some point in the future, it would be hard to deny him the number one spot based on accomplishments and statistics alone, but right now, he lacks the wow factor that separates the best from one of the best.

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