At the post UFC Live 6 presser Dana White confessed that the promotion is negotiating with Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez in an attempt to bring him to the UFC right away. He would join Alistair Overeem (HW), Nick Diaz (WW), Jake Shields (MW), and Dan Henderson (LHW) as reigning Strikeforce champions who have jumped ship. Getting harder and harder to believe Strikeforce will still be around in 2012.
Several outlets are reporting that Melendez to the UFC is basically done. He could fight the winner of Edgar/Maynard or another top contender. Doesn't seem like these SF belts mean anything once they come over unlike the Pride ones.
Other fighters that would make the UFC cut: HEAVYWEIGHT Josh Barnett Antonio Silva Daniel Cormier Shane Del Rosario Fabricio Werdum Chad Griggs LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT Gegard Mousasi Rafael Cavalcante Ovince St-Preux Lorenz Larkin Mo Lawal MIDDLEWEIGHT Tim Kennedy Ronaldo Jacare Souza Luke Rockhold WELTERWEIGHT Paul Daley Bobby Voelker Tyron Woodley Tarec Saffiedine Jason High James Terry LIGHTWEIGHT Josh Thompson Billy Evangelista Justin Wilcox Lyle Beerbohm Jorge Masvidal Carlos Fodor
I expect Melendez to be in attendance in Houston and for it to be announced he'll be fighting the winner of Edgar/Maynard (Edgar).
Awesome! Been begging for Melendez in the UFC for a while now. Excited to see how he does against better competition.
