Win or lose at UFC 202, Conor McGregor may not be done yet with the so-called ‘Skrap Pack’.
Ahead of the second bout in the rivalry between McGregor and Nate Diaz in the main event of UFC 202, Gilbert Melendez has hinted that his next fight may take place in the weight class of which ‘The Notorious’ is currently king.
Melendez, a teammate of Diaz at Cesar Gracie’s, has not had the best start to life in the UFC after going 1-4 since his promotional debut in 2013.
The former Strikeforce lightweight champion has been defeated by former UFC champions Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis, as well as current 155 lbs kingpin Eddie Alvarez, in recent outings and Melendez has since revealed that he is considering a drop to featherweight.
“After my year off, man, after my two fights with Eddie and Pettis, I didn’t feel like I was myself,” Melendez told MMAjunkie Radio. “Just mentally and what I did to prepare and how motivated I was, I just wasn’t myself. This last fight with Barboza, though I lost, I felt like myself in there again. I let my hands go, and I fought calculated out there. I definitely want to scrap again.
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“There’s a lot of things to calculate with who (I want to fight next). We can brainstorm right here. I’m even thinking – 145 lbs crosses my mind, as well.”
Melendez’s most recent defeat came to Edson Barboza at UFC on Fox 20 and he has admitted that he’s in no rush to get back into the Octagon as he returns to training and contemplates the benefits that he might enjoy with a new life at 145 lbs.
That means he will be watching carefully from his vantage point in Diaz’s corner as ‘El Nino’ could find himself standing opposite McGregor if results go in his favour with a drop to a new weight division.
“I’m kind of waiting it out right now,” he continued. “What I want to focus on these next two months before I do book something, I just want to become a better athlete – stronger, faster, everything. I want to work on my athleticism. I feel like I have a lot of tools already when it comes to skills.
“I just want to see where I’m at weight-wise and how I’m feeling. Do I want to cut a lot of weight? No, that’s kind of a lot on your body. But, am I going to take less damage at 145 as opposed to 155? That’s what I weigh out as well.”
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