Whether the UFC’s recent acquisition of Strikeforce is good or bad for the sport is a matter of open debate. For the fans, though, the thinning of boundaries between the two organizations it is a dream come true. Fights that were previously impossible are now coming to pass.
Alistair Overeem will be making his debut against Brock Lesnar in the heavyweight division; Dan Henderson, holder of the Strikeforce light heavyweight strap, is coming back to the UFC, looking to fight his way to Jon Jones; and who is not excited about Georges St. Pierre versus Strikeforce’s brash young welterweight champion Nick Diaz?
Strikeforce holds one champion who is not on track to make the jump, but needs to be. Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez is on a tear: 19 wins, two avenged losses and riding a five fight win streak.
Here is why the UFC needs to pull the trigger and bring this phenomenal fighter into the fold right now.