Before the long-awaited third act of the Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos trilogy plays out, two of the UFC’s most grizzled lightweight veterans will look to capture Fight of the Night honors.
As well-oiled and well-conditioned machines, former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez and former top contender Diego Sanchez have all the tools to make their fight a bloody, memorable war of attrition.
For Melendez, a victory over a well-known tough man like “The Dream” could lead to another shot at the lightweight title sometime next year, maybe even in Mexico.
For Sanchez, a former top dog who has struggled to compile only three decision victories since 2009, a victory over one of the best fighters in the promotion could lead to a career resurgence.
Here’s how the initial head-to-toe breakdown stacks up entering UFC 166 this Saturday.