As to the long-term prospects of the two men involved in the main event
of “Strikeforce: Meldendez vs. Masvidal,” it’s not the challenger people
are looking at.
The promotion’s lightweight champion, Gilbert Melendez, is expected to do big things in the UFC. Just a week ago, he was
all but considered the newest signee of the UFC and the next challenger
to that promotion’s lightweight champ, Frankie Edgar.
That’s not the case, of course. During a press conference Thursday in
San Diego, Melendez said it was “back to reality,” meaning he still has
to fight Jorge Masvidal on Dec. 17.