The UFC returns to Fortaleza, Brazil for the first time since 2013 with a fine card on Fox Sports 1 this Saturday, March 11.
In the main event, 20-year veteran Vitor Belfort tries to right the ship and retain his position at the top of the divisi…
The UFC returns to Fortaleza, Brazil for the first time since 2013 with a fine card on Fox Sports 1 this Saturday, March 11.
In the main event, 20-year veteran Vitor Belfort tries to right the ship and retain his position at the top of the division against the surging Kelvin Gastelum, the 25-year-old former welterweight and The Ultimate Fighter 17 winner who is testing the waters at 185 pounds following multiple incidents of missing the 170-pound limit.
It’s a barn burner of a matchup that promises fireworks. With the future of the middleweight division up in the air, the bout has real implications for the title picture as well.
The rest of the card is about as good as a Fight Night event on FS1 can get these days. The co-main event features former light heavyweight champion Shogun Rua in a slobber-knocker of a fight with Gian Villante, but the best fight on the card may well be the 155-pound matchup between rising lightweights Edson Barboza and Beneil Dariush.
If that weren’t enough, the flyweight bout between prospect Ray Borg and veteran Jussier Formiga has Fight of the Night potential, as does the main-card opener featuring the rematch between Alex Oliveira and Tim Means.
Even the preliminary card features fights worthy of attention: Keep an eye on the lightweight fight between Francisco Trinaldo and Kevin Lee, along with the debuts of prospects Davi Ramos and Paulo Borrachinha.
Edson Barboza is prepared for a tough battle against Beneil Dariush. Barboza battles Dariush this Saturday night (March 11) inside the Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil for an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night Event. In a recent interview with MMAJunkie.com, Barboza said he isn’t expecting his bout with the No. 9 […]
Edson Barboza is prepared for a tough battle against Beneil Dariush. Barboza battles Dariush this Saturday night (March 11) inside the Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil for an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night Event. In a recent interview with MMAJunkie.com, Barboza said he isn’t expecting his bout with the No. 9 […]
Don’t expect Beneil Dariush to have a title shot on his mind constantly. The ninth ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight will do battle with fifth ranked Edson Barboza on March 11. The two are going to be competing inside the Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil. The bout serves as the co-main […]
Don’t expect Beneil Dariush to have a title shot on his mind constantly. The ninth ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight will do battle with fifth ranked Edson Barboza on March 11. The two are going to be competing inside the Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil. The bout serves as the co-main […]
Beneil Dariush recognizes the dangers of fighting in hostile territory. The ninth ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight battles fifth ranked Edson Barboza on March 11. The two will be featured in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 106. The action takes place inside the Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil. In […]
Beneil Dariush recognizes the dangers of fighting in hostile territory. The ninth ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight battles fifth ranked Edson Barboza on March 11. The two will be featured in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 106. The action takes place inside the Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste in Fortaleza, Brazil. In […]
Former Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez hasn’t had the most successful run in the UFC ever since he joined the promotion in 2013. Losing four out of his past five fights “El Nino” has struggled to replicate the success that made him Strikeforce Lightweight champion. Melendez who is now 34 years old is considered by many
Former Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez hasn’t had the most successful run in the UFC ever since he joined the promotion in 2013. Losing four out of his past five fights “El Nino” has struggled to replicate the success that made him Strikeforce Lightweight champion. Melendez who is now 34 years old is considered by many to be on the back nine of his 15-year fighting career, after his loss to Edson Barboza in July of last year it was uncertain if we would ever see the former “scrap pack” member step foot into the octagon again.
In an interview with MMAjunkie Radio Melendez revealed that he plans on moving down to featherweight and making “one last (title) run.” Melendez has fought at 155 pounds for the majority of his career and hasn’t competed at 145 pounds or below since 2005, but with his career currently at a stand still he believes it is time for a change.
“Until I book a fight at 145, I can’t really confirm that (I’m dropping), but yeah, that’s my goal right now, I’m trying to slim up. I’m really trying to diet and lose this fat around the belly a little bit more and really maximise my body’s potential. Once I get to that point, which should be in the next few weeks, I’ll really be able to make that jump and make that big decision. That’s my goal, is to make 145. That’s what I’m working on right now at this point.”
Melendez hasn’t reached out to the UFC to discuss it with them yet but says he is “trying to get ready mentally, physically” first and believes that he is nearing that point.
“I haven’t really reached out to them to tell them exactly, ‘This is what I want and what I’m going with,’” Melendez said. “I haven’t got to that point yet. I’m trying to get ready mentally, physically. I’m trying to get to that point where I’m just about there, and I’ll be reaching that soon and be able to pull the trigger on this.”
“I’d like to prove I’m one of the toughest in the division with a solid opponent who is willing to fight me and not stick and move, If I can get that, it would be great. I’m looking for one last (title) run.”
Melendez believes that moving down a weight class can rejuvenate his once illustrious career and that he can genuinely compete with the killers at 145 pounds. It is easier said and done to drop down a weight class, we have seen it with Anthony Pettis when he dropped down to 145 pounds to fight Max Holloway at UFC 206. Pettis missed weight and then went on to lose the fight by TKO in the third round, hopefully we won’t see it play out the same for Melendez.
Former Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez hasn’t had the most successful run in the UFC ever since he joined the promotion in 2013. Losing four out of his past five fights “El Nino” has struggled to replicate the success that made him Strikeforce Lightweight champion. Melendez who is now 34 years old is considered by many
Former Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez hasn’t had the most successful run in the UFC ever since he joined the promotion in 2013. Losing four out of his past five fights “El Nino” has struggled to replicate the success that made him Strikeforce Lightweight champion. Melendez who is now 34 years old is considered by many to be on the back nine of his 15-year fighting career, after his loss to Edson Barboza in July of last year it was uncertain if we would ever see the former “scrap pack” member step foot into the octagon again.
In an interview with MMAjunkie Radio Melendez revealed that he plans on moving down to featherweight and making “one last (title) run.” Melendez has fought at 155 pounds for the majority of his career and hasn’t competed at 145 pounds or below since 2005, but with his career currently at a stand still he believes it is time for a change.
“Until I book a fight at 145, I can’t really confirm that (I’m dropping), but yeah, that’s my goal right now, I’m trying to slim up. I’m really trying to diet and lose this fat around the belly a little bit more and really maximise my body’s potential. Once I get to that point, which should be in the next few weeks, I’ll really be able to make that jump and make that big decision. That’s my goal, is to make 145. That’s what I’m working on right now at this point.”
Melendez hasn’t reached out to the UFC to discuss it with them yet but says he is “trying to get ready mentally, physically” first and believes that he is nearing that point.
“I haven’t really reached out to them to tell them exactly, ‘This is what I want and what I’m going with,’” Melendez said. “I haven’t got to that point yet. I’m trying to get ready mentally, physically. I’m trying to get to that point where I’m just about there, and I’ll be reaching that soon and be able to pull the trigger on this.”
“I’d like to prove I’m one of the toughest in the division with a solid opponent who is willing to fight me and not stick and move, If I can get that, it would be great. I’m looking for one last (title) run.”
Melendez believes that moving down a weight class can rejuvenate his once illustrious career and that he can genuinely compete with the killers at 145 pounds. It is easier said and done to drop down a weight class, we have seen it with Anthony Pettis when he dropped down to 145 pounds to fight Max Holloway at UFC 206. Pettis missed weight and then went on to lose the fight by TKO in the third round, hopefully we won’t see it play out the same for Melendez.
