Introduction
Former Strikeforce lightweight king and UFC contender Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez is one of the classiest fighters in MMA history. Melendez fought for a plethora of organizations including UFC, Strikeforce and Pride during his 20-plus-year career. Melendez was known for his aggressive fighting style, cardio like a marathoner and relentless will to compete…and he also left an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts.
Total Fights: 27
- Wins: 22
- Losses: 8
- Knockouts: 11
- Submissions: 1
- Decisions: 10
Early life and career beginnings
Gilbert Melendez was born in Santa Ana, California on April 12, 1982, and raised in a big Mexican-American household. He was the State Champion in wrestling when he entered high school and shifted to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) after his enthusiasm for the sport grew at a time when it became popular. He trained at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy, which is a very popular gym that has given birth to many successful MMA fighters.
Fight Record
Notable Wins:
- Clay Guida vs Josh Thomson (Strikeforce, 2006) – Decision Win for the inaugural Strikeforce Lightweight Champion.
- Tatsuya Kawajiri (Pride Shockwave 2006): Knockout win in one of the best lightweight fights ever.
- Josh Thomson (Strikeforce, 2012) Decision win in their third bout to confirm Melendez as one of the best lightweights.
- Shinya Aoki (Strikeforce, 2010) : An undeniable dominance performance by the submission artist of Japan.
- Jorge Masvidal (Strikeforce, 2011) – Defeated Masvidal via unanimous decision to retain the Strikeforce Lightweight Championship.
Notable Losses:
- Benson Henderson (UFC on Fox 7, 2013) — Losses to Melendez are nothing to be ashamed of; Lanca lost a close split decision in Melendez’s only UFC title shot.
- Anthony Pettis (UFC 181, 2014) — Submission loss (title fight, UFC Lightweight Championship bout)
- Vs. Jeremy Stephens (UFC 215, 2017) – Lost via Decision in a FOTN performance that saw both men go back and forth for victory.
Strikeforce Legacy
Strikeforce is where Melendez did the bulk of his greatest work. In 2006, he became the world champion in the lightweight belt of the organization. Melendez went on to have an epic trilogy with Josh Thomson, exchanging wins in all three meetings of the pair that became a defining rivalry at lightweight.
He went on to successfully defend his Strikeforce belt against top-tier fighters such as Jorge Masvidal and Shinya Aoki, solidifying himself as one of the best 155 lb fighters in the world. Melendez cut his teeth at Strikeforce where he was the golden boy — so to speak — before that promotion fell on hard times, and the UFC absorbed them in 2013.
UFC Career
Four years ago, Melendez finally made his UFC debut when he challenged Benson Henderson’s hold on the UFC Lightweight Championship back in April 2013. Even in defeat, a razor-thin split decision lost kept him right near the top of the UFC rankings. He later faced and defeated Anthony Pettis for the belt, but was choked unconscious in the second round by guillotine choke.
Those losses led to Melendez’s slide down the UFC rankings. He last fought in the UFC in 2019, when he lost a decision to Arnold Allen. The former Strikeforce and WEC champion announced his retirement from MMA in 2020 at the tail-end of an illustrious career.
Family Life
Melendez is married to Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez who happens to be a professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist. Both Keri Anne and her partner share a love of combat sports, as she competes at Bellator. He has two children with his wife, a daughter, and son, and they enjoy spending time together.
Melendez has frequently acknowledged the support of his wife — who’s a sparring partner and completely gets what it means to be a fighter. The family lives a martial arts and fitness lifestyle and Gilbert remains very active in his children’s activities.
Net Worth
So, let us know that Gilbert Melendez with an estimated net worth of $500K since 2024. Of that, $45 million comes from his in-fight earnings, sponsorships and business endeavors outside the cage.
Latest News
Melendez has since retired from the sport to coach and operate his gym, El Niño Training Center in California. He no longer competes, instead training fighters, teaching the next generation all of the knowledge that he picked up through the last few years. In addition to those primetime appearances, Melendez has taken on a bit of commentary/analysis work, providing his insight during MMA broadcasts and chats.
Interest in Melendez has waned over the years since 2024, lifetimes ago in chronic care America, and he only plays very minor roles as a personality for an MMA media outlet reflecting on how things have changed or attending charity-related combat sports events. Even though he has been out of the cage, his voice in the MMA world is loud.
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