Melendez Reclaims Strikeforce Lightweight Title
Gilbert Melendez (17-2) shed the interim title from his Lightweight championship belt, unifying the division title with an impressive victory over Josh Thomson. With the victory, Melendez avenged a previous loss to Thomson (16-3), to whom he lost the title. In the process, they may have just earned 2009’s fight of the year. Although Melendez won the fight convincingly, earning scores of 49-47, 49-46 and 49-46, Thomson showed heart and determination by continuously coming forward.
Right from the bell, this fight was an all out brawl. Both fighters put martial arts techniques aside and turned this bout into a street fight that rarely found the canvas. Each fighter stunned the other and both had their opportunities to take the upper hand.
The difference in the fight came down to Melendez’s ability to get his punches off quicker, stay more active and unleash flurries of punches. Punch stat number showed that Melendez threw more than double the strikes of Thomson, frustrating Thomson throughout the bout due to Melendez’s speed and counter strikes. Melendez also fended off Thomson’s takedown attempts, a big difference from their first fight.
Thomson entered the cage after a 15 month layoff due to various injuries. His time away from the cage was evident, as he appeared slow and loafing from the start. Melendez took advantage, getting a clear cut victory with a dominating performance.
Despite the Melendez showcase, it was disappointing to see Strikeforce force Thomson back into the cage not only too soon, but also without a primer fight to get back into a fighting groove. Where former champ Cung Lee gets a warm-up fight as the night’s headliner, Thomson’s desire to schedule the fight in January due to his injury recovery was declined by Strikeforce executives.
Strikeforce owes Josh Thomson a re-match with Melendez soon given their actions that may have led to Thomson being unprepared for the bout. Hopefully this matchup will occur sooner than later, as it will no doubt be another entertaining affair. While Strikeforce is in a heated battle with UFC, the promotion’s success should not supercede the welfare of the fighter.
