In a recent Twitter post, Gilbert Melendez‘s manager Cesar Gracie said the Strikeforce lightweight champion is confirmed to fight on the next Strikeforce card, scheduled for May 19, but an opponent has yet to be named.
But if Team Gracie Jiu-Jitsu get their wish, it could be one of the top contenders at 155 pounds.
“@ufc Gil is fighting May 19th. I hope Penn or Pettis,” Gracie wrote.
Melendez is one of the few Strikeforce standouts remaining, and it is likely that he moves to the UFC at some point within the year. However, the idea of seeing either BJ Penn or Anthony Pettis drop to maintain some star power in the division is questionable.
Penn is still in retirement following his loss to Melendez’s fellow teammate, Nick Diaz, at UFC 137, and Pettis is riding momentum after coming off a knockout victory over Joe Lauzon at UFC 144.
It is possible to see Pettis earn himself a title shot after being denied his opportunity at a title shot against UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson, considering he feels he is deserving of one, but it isn’t worth demoting himself to a second-tier organization.
Melendez’s next possible opponent could be a rematch against Josh Thomson but not many fans feel Thomson is a worthy opponent from a business perspective.
But if Pettis or any 155-pound challenger is willing to make the transition to Strikeforce for a title shot, it could provide for some intriguing matchups in the future.
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