THE CANADIAN PRESS
SAN DIEGO — The way Gilbert (El Nino) Melendez sees it, if the UFC won’t let him in, then the best lightweights in the world should come to him.
Melendez picked apart Jorge Masvidal in a unanimous-decision defence of his Strikeforce 155-pound title Saturday in front of a few thousand fans at Valley View Casino Center.
After the fight, Melendez put the challenge out to lightweights in other promotions.
"I’m proud to be in Strikeforce and on Showtime. But they need to bring in some people in to challenge me," he said. "I want the UFC champ. Come to my hexagon."
The win (50-45 on two scorecards and 49-46 on the other) marked the 20th career victory and sixth straight for Melendez, who is considered my most MMA experts the second-best lightweight in the world. Melendez hasn’t lost since the summer of 2008.
True challenges for Melendez would seem to come from UFC fighters, but on Thursday UFC president Dana White seemed to refute that idea. White said that part of Strikeforce’s renewed its contract with Showtime through 2012 stipulates that top-named fighters like Melendez would stay in the promotion.
In the past former Strikeforce champs Nick Diaz, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem all eventually moved to the larger UFC.
"Gilbert Melendez and all the guys that are in the Strikeforce show and with Showtime, I will make fights for them," White said recently. "They will be happy to be there. Believe me, I got this thing worked out."
Melendez said in the post-fight press conference his adrenalin might have got the best of him in the cage.
"Maybe I was a little pumped up and spoke a little too soon," Melendez said. "I’m happy to be a part of Strikeforce and Showtime. I got to have faith they’re going to do what’s great for me.
"What can I do? I got no time to be crying or be negative. I have to stay focused and see what they bring to the table and we’ll go from there."
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said there are still interesting fights for Melendez in his organization.
"There are plenty of fighters out there. He’s one of the cornerstones of Strikeforce and I’m happy he’s going to stay with us," Coker said. "I’m proud to say he’s our champion and we’re going to make the most interesting fights we can for him."
Masvidal disagreed with the lopsided score.
"I thought I won two rounds, no way I lost all five," he said.
The Miami-based fighter did manage to go the distance, bloody the champ, and keep things entertaining in the later rounds with his quick punches and toughness.
"I had to do what I had to do. Jorge is not the easiest man stylistically for me," Melendez said. "He’s one of the toughest matchups for me. I was prepared for wherever the fight went and we stayed on our feet because he wouldn’t give me the takedown."
Cristiane (Cyborg) Santos needed mere seconds to remind the world she’s still one of the baddest women in MMA–finishing Japan’s Hiroko Yamanaka in just 16 seconds behind a flurry of 15-landed punches.
"Very happy to be back and very happy to win. For a year and a half no fights, but I train hard in the gym," said Santos, who won her 11th straight bout, but first since the summer of 2010 due in part to contract negotiations with Strikeforce.
"I had a lot of motivation coming into tonight. I trained for five rounds. I did not think the fight would end so quickly. I wasn’t planning on a knockout, I was just planning for a win."
San Diego fighter KJ Noons and fellow Californian Billy Evangelista provided an entertaining opening for the main card.
Evangelista won the first round with some strong strikes and a big knee. But Noons had the hometown crowd on his side, and rebounded in the second and third rounds with big uppercuts, hooks and even a spinning back-fist.
Evangelista kept charging forward, while smiling at Noons and shaking his head.
Evangelista caught Noons in an awkward choke, but Noons slipped out and landed a few more solid blows to convince the judges of his victory.
"What up San Diego. What a war. We really put on a show," said Noons, who improved to 12-2 and broke his two-fight losing streak.
"I got that fire back and I look to get even better."
Former Strikeforce light heavyweight champ Gegard Mousasi grinded out a unanimous decision over former University of Tennessee football player Ovince St. Preux.
"I’m disappointed in my effort. I should have dominated him," Mousasi said. "I had no stamina. I fought on heart. I think my experience is what got me through and got me the win."
Herman Terrado started the night with a bang, winning his Strikeforce debut by submitting fellow San Diegan Chris Brown with a third-round arm bar.
"I want to thank Strikeforce for giving me the opportunity to show my skills in front of my home town. I love this crowd and this city," Terrado said.
In other undercard action, Caros Fodor finished Justin Wilcox in just 13 seconds to earn his first career TKO.
Roger Bowling made Jerron Peoples pay with a first-round TKO. Peoples came in overweight Friday despite agreeing to fight at a 179-pound catch weight instead of the normal 170-pound welterweight limit.
Veteran Devin Cole defeated Gabriel Salinas-Jones by unanimous decision.
