The UFC’s return to Mexico just got a boost, as the promotion announced that the co-main event will be a long-awaited lightweight fight between former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez and former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez. The news was announced by the UFC on Twitter:
#UFC188 adds co-main event @GilbertMelendez vs @Ealvarezfight http://t.co/V9JT2WRrm9 pic.twitter.com/dujooi0XnZ
— UFC News (@UFCNews) February 23, 2015
For hardcore MMA fans, this is a dream match between lightweight talents who tore up the regional and international scenes and gained a reputation among the world’s best before ever entering the UFC.
Melendez is best known for his time in Strikeforce, where he twice earned the lightweight title. However, a 13-0 opening to his career saw him earn the inaugural WEC lightweight championship and pick up multiple wins in Pride FC and Shooto. He would eventually make his way to the UFC in 2013, coming up short against Benson Henderson in a UFC-Strikeforce title unification bout, and he most recently dropped a second title opportunity, this time against Anthony Pettis.
Alvarez, similarly, is known for his time as Bellator‘s poster boy, becoming the promotion’s first lightweight champion in 2009. Before that, however, he earned multiple titles in regional promotions like MFC and Reality Fighting, and he became one of the top dogs in Dream. Alvarez was released from Bellator in 2014 and quickly joined the UFC, but lost his debut to Donald Cerrone at UFC 178.
The two fighters’ career paths have run parallel to this point, making this a particularly compelling bout, and, in spite of recent struggles, both men still own reputations as top-level lightweights.
UFC 188 is headlined by the UFC heavyweight title unification bout between Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum. It is currently slated for June 13 in Mexico City. Stick with Bleacher Report for more details on the card as they become available.
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