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Friday, September 28, 2007 - by Damon Martin - MMAWeekly.com
Since the acquisition of Pride by Zuffa, LLC, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's parent company, fans have been patiently waiting to see many of Pride's contracted stars debut in new promotions. One fighter that is about to have his wait come to an end is the current number-three ranked lightweight in the world, Gilbert "El Niño" Melendez.
Melendez stormed the world stage last year with stunning victories in Pride including a fight of the year candidate with perennial top ten fighter Tatsuya Kawajiri.
The Cesar Gracie trained student now will return to his roots in Strikeforce to face Tetsuji Kato at the Playboy Mansion on Saturday night in Beverly Hills, Calif.
"I'm very excited," said Melendez about his return to MMA. "Even though I wasn't fighting, I didn't take any time off. It's like I've been working for free. I've been training so hard and helping my buddies get ready for fights. It feels good that my hard work is going to pay off."
The time off from fighting for most of the Pride fighters left with contracts when Zuffa purchased the company was a matter of negotiation or waiting for the deal to expire so they could sign with another organization. Melendez had an existing deal with Strikeforce that allowed him to fight the regardless of his Pride contract.
"I basically played the waiting game with the Pride thing," stated Melendez. "[I] had a lot of faith in them that it would come around and get things together and it didn't work out."
Now with his Strikeforce deal in place, many fans are asking the obvious question if Melendez will end up in the UFC, where the lightweight division has taken shape over the last few months.
"There's a chance I could end up anywhere," said Melendez about a possible deal with the UFC. "It's a sport and I fight for the love, but it's also a business and I'm trying to make a career out of it and a life out of it.
"I really want to fight (Sean) Sherk. It's a big thing for me to fight Sherk. Maybe I could talk to Dana White or he could give me that call when that time comes and we'll see what happens."
Never one to back down from challenges, Melendez also welcomed a fight with current K-1 standout Gezias "JZ" Calvancante.
"Maybe we can fight by the end of this year if K-1 can make it happen," Melendez said.
Never one to look past an opponent, Melendez is focused on the business at hand and that business for now starts and stops with Tetsuji Kato.
"I get extra motivated because I hear people say 'oh, you're going to walk through this guy' which I never, ever think that," said Melendez about his opponent. "I need to make sure that I don't think that, that I don't underestimate him."
Dealing with a nine-month-plus layoff since his last fight, Melendez is determined to get back into full-time competition and is not happy at all that he had to wait that long for a fight.
"This has been too long and I'm upset with how some of the things worked out, and I'm upset I had to wait this long to fight," stated Melendez.
Kato may be the unlucky recipient of the anger and frustration that Melendez has been feeling. Fans will find out for sure at the StrikeForce show on Saturday night at the Playboy Mansion.
Strikeforce will stream its Sept. 29 "Strikeforce at the Mansion" event, including Melendez's fight, live to a worldwide audience exclusively at Yahoo! Sports.
3:57 PM
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