Where would u see Melendez in the UFC LW Division?

Pretty talented guy. think he's like 17-2, holds a split decision over Guida, beat Crusher and just beat JT (I think Thomson will take the rematch, but...), then a bunch of eh wins, anyways the UFC LW division has a healthy stable of LWs, who in my eyes are overshadowed by BJ, underrated and underappreciated by most rankings. If Melendez joined the UFC where would he stand? You got BJ, KenFlo, Diego, Edgar, Maynard, Sherk, Griffin, Diaz, Miller, Guida ......... and throw in the 3 WEC guys since I think they'll join the stable son enough Varner, Henderson and Cerrone.

He would lose to Penn, Edgar, Maynard, Tyson, Kenny, Sherk. Everyone else he has a solid chance of beating.

My thoughts exactly, would love to see him against those other guys though

He'd probably do as well as Guida.

Farmer1906 wrote:

He'd probably do as well as Guida.

I think ur right. I love Guida and he is just good enough to make u think he has a chance in most fights but will never beat top 5 talent.

I'd say 2nd behind penn.Kenflo sherk,sanchez,Griffen,edgar and Maynard would all be good matchups though.

Most of the top of the UFC LW divison below Penn is loaded with parity and guys who can beat all the other guys on given nights, and I think he would fit into that category. He could beat or lose to any UFC LW just as easily, but be destroyed utterly by Penn.

I like Melendez. I think he would matchup well with anybody outside of BJ Penn. Not saying he could not lose to those guys but Gilbert is well rounded enough that he can matchup with the rest. Same with Josh. These guys could challenge anybody outside of BJ. They have striking, ground game, takedowns, takedown defense, etc. They both also have great tenacity, cardio and heart. That along with talent makes these guys legit in my opinion.

I would not rank him above guys like Diego, Kenny, Sherk, Edgar but i would not be quick to rank him below those guys. Those would be matchups i would like to see and i think Gil could matchup with those guys. As Wolf said he can eitheir defeat or be defeated by just about any of the "best of the rest" outside of BJ Penn.

It's looking like Melendez vs. Aoki next. So that should be interesting.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Most of the top of the UFC LW divison below Penn is loaded with parity and guys who can beat all the other guys on given nights, and I think he would fit into that category. He could beat or lose to any UFC LW just as easily, but be destroyed utterly by Penn.

A lot of people see it like that but I say there is a pretty distinct division between BJ tier 2 and tier 3. In my mind its Kenny, Frankie, Gray, Tyson, & Deigo in T2 & Stevenson, Miller, Guida, Diaz, Danzig, Fisher, Franca, Stout, Wiman, Lauzon, & Stephens in T3. Miller & Stevenson are pretty close to working their way up to T2 though.