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RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Melendez is in a no win situation. He can't move up in the divisional rankings as long as he's fighting guys in Strikeforce, but he falls every time he doesn't crush someone in the manner he crushed The Crusher Tatsuya Kawajiri. And yes, I do need a new thesaurus. Why do you ask? That said, people were overlooking Josh Thomson heading into this fight, myself included, because of Thomson's injuries and because of his lackluster performance against the perpetually average KJ Noons.�However, Thomson is really difficult to finish; he's never been submitted and only Yves Edwards has been able to KO him. Also, Melendez is fighting human nature. He's unable to jack himself up to fight against guys ranked 20 or more slots below him in the consensus rankings, with only a meaningless belt for a meaningless promotion on the line. One can only fight for money and pride for so long. But please, don't feel too bad for Melendez, as Melendez chose to re-sign with Strikeforce 16 months ago because he was comfortable being the really big fish in the really small pond. However, I do thoroughly believe that if his next fight was in the UFC against Henderson, Edgar, Maynard, Guida, Pettis, Cerrone, Diaz (one can only dream) or even Eddie Alvarez that we would see the best possible version of Gilbert Melendez.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think it has. I know several people who think that Thomson should have won the decision. Melendez has beaten Thomson before, but he should have displayed a killer instinct. He didn't, therefore his stock falls. If he truly thinks he's the best, he has to go out there and show it every time he fights.
ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I think most people are going to cool off on the idea that Gilbert Melendez is one of, if not the best lightweights in the world. His fight against Thomson was not impressive, and honestly, it showed of a fighter that will have problems with the top tier of IFC lightweights. A fighter of say, Clay Guida's skill, could easily humble Melendez. Not a good showing at all, and if he DOES go to the UFC, he'll need to be ready for those caliber of fighters.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think Gilbert Melendez is still one of the top three lightweight fighters in the world. His fight with Josh Thomson was a tough fight against a tough opponent. Every fighter has nights in which they do not fight up to the potential they possess. I still think that if Melendez was given a title shot in the UFC that he would win that belt. His stock is still fine in my opinion.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Absolutely, and I also don't care for his un-motivated excuse. You should be ready to fight anyone at anytime when you're called upon by the booker. I don't care if its Josh Thomson or Clay Guida or Joe Nobody, be ready to fight and put everything into it or risk looking like a fool. Being nearly outclassed by a guy no one ranks in their top 10 will never help your rise to the top.
ALEX WILLIAMS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
No. It's possible that Gilbert Melendez is not as good as he seemed coming into the bout. It's also possible that Josh Thomson just poses the perfect stylistic problem for him, like Juan Manuel Marquez for Manny Pacquaio or Ken Norton for Muhammad Ali.
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR
I just don't understand why Melendez hasn't been brought over to the UFC. Whilst I understand the need to retain some form of star power if Zuffa are insistent on running Strikeforce cards into 2013 and beyond. Surely that star power shouldn't be Melendez, especially when the talent pool in his division has evaporated into thin air. I didn't see the full fight from Saturday night, but he didn't look himself in the highlights I have seen. I think anyone would struggle to get motivated when you know there is a roster of superb fighters over in the UFC, and you're constantly not invited to the party. The elite fighters in the UFC are passing him by and it's difficult to justify his ranking as a top three competitor with every passing month.
JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Gilbert Melendez is without question one of the ten best lightweights in the world and is about as accomplished as an MMA fighter can be without ever having fought for the UFC. That being said, to be the best lightweight in the world right now you have to compete in the UFC and his latest outing with Josh Thomson kind of proves it.
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I don't say that to suggest that Thomson isn't an elite fighter, because that couldn't be further from the truth. However, Josh Thomson isn't any more elite than Jim Miller, Nathan Diaz, Melvin Guillard, Donald Cerrone, Clay Guida (who's actually defeated Thomson in the past), Anthony Pettis or any of the other killers that populate the UFC's lightweight division.
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Melendez can claim to be the best lightweight in the world all he wants and he may not be wrong, but at this point the division is simply too good to make claims like that without holding a UFC championship. The narrow nature of his victory over Josh Thomson may not have necessarily dropped Melendez's stock, but it does suggest that he isn't as far removed from the pack as he would like us all to think.
Cyril Abidi Daniel Acacio Bernard Ackah Terrance Aflague Yoshihiro Akiyama
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