Gilbert Melendez has agreed to a new contract with the UFC. The organization made the announcement late Sunday, a week after the former Strikeforce champion agreed in principle to a deal with rival promotion Bellator MMA.
Not only did Melendez get a new contract, but he was awarded a title shot and an opportunity for more exposure. Melendez will coach The Ultimate Fighter 20 opposite UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis and the two will fight later in 2014.
There is no date or location for the Melendez-Pettis matchup, but it’s expected to take place in autumn following the conclusion of TUF 20, which features the debut of the UFC’s women’s strawweight division (115 pounds). The series is set to begin filming in May and the debut episode is scheduled to air on Sept. 10. Fans in Canada will be able to watch the show on Sportsnet 360.
According to MMAFighting, Melendez’s new deal ensures that 75 percent of his fights will be contested on pay-per-view cards and that he can earn a percentage of revenue generated from those cards.
“We have a stacked lightweight roster and Gil would have made a great addition to it, yet I’m glad he was able to go out, explore the free agent market and get paid what he deserves,” Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney told MMAFighting in a statement. “That’s what the free market system is all about. I’m happy for Gil, that through this process he was able to ensure long term financial security for himself and his family. That’s what the fighters that put it all on the line inside the cage deserve.”
Melendez (22-3) has gone 1-1 in the UFC after years of fighting in Strikeforce. He is coming off a memorable win over Diego Sanchez at UFC 166 in October; in his UFC debut last April, Melendez lost a close decision to then-champion Benson Henderson. The 31-year-old Santa Ana, Calif., native holds notable wins over Josh Thomson, Shinya Aoki, Clay Guida and Tatsuya Kawajiri.
Pettis (17-2) is currently recovering from knee surgery; he became lightweight champion last August after submitting Benson Henderson at UFC 164 in his hometown of Milwaukee.
