Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez is running out of options following his decision victory over nemesis Josh Thomson.
After a close decision that some thought Thomson won, another bout with “The Punk” is feasible but highly unlikely.
Everyone wants him to join the ranks of the deep UFC Lightweight division so that he can challenge for the championship and fight the best the sport has to offer. Unfortunately, he is hamstrung by his Showtime contract.
While he has dispatched of top fighters such as Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri, and while other top lightweights such as Michael Chandler are under contract to other organizations, there are still fights for him outside of the UFC that are possible to achieve.
Here is a look at five fights the Strikeforce champion can still take that do not involve Josh Thomson.