By Shawn Smith
February 14 should have been like any other Friday night.
My friend Adam and I sat in a local bar, eating deep fried pickles and watching whatever sporting event was on the big screen. Then the texts started coming.
“MELENDEZ SIGNED WITH BELLATOR!” read one from my friend Matt. I didn’t think much at first. Matt is a joker who has fooled me one too many times in the past.
Rumours were rampant that negotiations between top contender Gilbert Melendez and the UFC had not been going well. UFC President Dana White took to UFC Tonight to say “If he (Melendez) wants to fight in the UFC, he better talk to (UFC co-owner) Lorenzo (Fertitta) quick,” and “He better start looking elsewhere.” It was enough to pique my interest, but I’ve seen White bluff too many times to fold that easily.
My friend Adam followed up with a “Gilbert Melendez is heading to Bellator???” message. I was still skeptical to believe anything, as false rumours often spread through the social media universe. Faux MMA celebrities will tweet anything for attention, and it takes one wrong person to retweet something for a spark to become a fire. I wouldn’t believe anything until I received something official. Then I received something official.
Bellator, in a move which still has not been completely understood, released a press release saying that they had an agreement in place to sign the number two ranked lightweight in the world if the UFC chose not to re-sign him.
It was bitter sweet for fight fans. On one hand, Melendez had absolutely proven he belonged in the UFC. According to MMADecisions.com, six of 12 media scores were in favour of Gilbert Melendez over Benson Henderson in their April 2013 championship fight, showing just how close the fight was. Ultimately Melendez lost a split decision, but had proven that the hype was warranted. On the other hand, matchups against the likes of Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez were compelling and would draw a lot of attention.
“Gilbert Melendez sits atop the UFC’s lightweight division. With victories over Josh Thomson, Diego Sanchez, Shinya Aoki and Jorge Masvidal, “El Nino” is ready for a new crop of challengers as the Santa Ana native has agreed to a multi-fight, multi-year deal structure with Bellator that can pit Melendez against some of MMA’s best, including Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, Will Brooks, Dave Jansen and a host of top lightweights from around the world,” read the press release from Bellator.
Melendez stoked the fire throughout the night by tweeting that Bellator offered him an opportunity to accomplish his dreams.
We do not know exactly what went down between February 14 and February 23. What we do know is that the UFC released a press release confirming that not only had Melendez resigned with the promotion, but he would be a coach on The Ultimate Fighter and receive another world title opportunity, this time against Anthony Pettis.
Attempts to strong-arm the UFC in the past have not gone well. We’ve seen them temporary release fighter’s over frivolous things such as video games rights, and suspend or release fighters over social media antics they felt were unacceptable (despite the things White is allowed to say, but that’s another story). Simply put, they have always had the upper hand.
The UFC’s allure has been the fame and potential fortune they offer fighters, which has proven enough to attract nearly all of the major stars of the sport. Since Strikeforce folded, the UFC has had a near monopoly on ranked talent in nearly every weight division, and elite level fighters have not had another place to fight.
Melendez fought the UFC on what he was worth, and in return was granted a contract and title shot. He went from a man teetering on the verge of heading to Bellator straight into a UFC world title opportunity. No one has ever made a move like that.
What Melendez did could have a major impact on the sport. Like any other sport, competition is a good thing. Even if the UFC does not want to lose their market share to Bellator or World Series of Fighting, the evolution and growth of those brands can only help promote and expand the sport. Melendez confirmed that the UFC does see Bellator as competition, even if they will not admit it.
It might be a stretch to say that Melendez has revolutionized the sport of mixed martial arts, but he certainly has done his part to open the eyes of UFC fighters. Those who are not getting an offer that is satisfactory can now look to other promotions for what they feel they are worth. If these promotions can remove the UFC monopoly on high-level fighters and give fighters a place where they can establish and test themselves, it will force the UFC to pay fighters more money to stay with the promotion.
Kudos to you, Mr. Melendez. Kudos to you.
