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Widely recognized as one of the best fighters in the world, Gilbert Melendez is preparing for what might be the biggest fight of his career. Coming up in just a few weeks, Melendez defends the Strikeforce lightweight championship against highly regarded Josh Thomson.
Thomson is riding a six-fight winning streak, but Melendez only has one loss in 15 fights. Melendez has fought all over the world, including for Pride FC, the WEC (the pre-Zuffa days) and Shooto. Now, Melendez makes his home with Strikeforce.
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| Melendez faces Thomson on June 27. (Strikeforce) |
Question: What are your thoughts on the upcoming fight with Josh Thomson?
Gilbert Melendez: I have trained with Josh before. I respect him. I know he's going to be a tough opponent. He's very well-rounded. It will make for a very exciting fight for the fans and for myself.
Q: How long has your training camp been for this fight?
GM: As a fighter, I train all year round, but I have really picked it up in the last two months.
Q: You've mentioned in the past that yourself and Josh Thomson worked out together and that you and Josh are friendly. Is it hard for you to fight a friend of yours?
GM: We haven't had any recent contact. At this point, he's in the way of my dreams and goals. As far as I'm concerned right now, we're not on speaking terms. My mindset has to be that I don't like the guy right now. Once we go into the cage, I am definitely going to go for the kill. Afterwards, we can have a talk, hang out and have a beer.
Q: Will this be the biggest fight of your career?
GM: Yes, I think so. It's very important for me to win. I've had big fights in my career. But as of right now, this is the biggest fight. I'm expected to win, and I'm planning to win. Josh is a tough opponent, but I have to stay on top and remain the Strikeforce lightweight champion. Thomson is one of the pioneers for the 155-pound weight class. In my opinion, he is in the top 10.
Q: A lot of the fights you've had have been in Japan, and of course, you've also fought in the U.S. Do you have a preference?
GM: I'm ready to fight in the states. Initially, I just wanted to fight. I wanted to go to Japan to fight in Pride because some of the top lightweights in the world were there, but now, I'm ready to get some respect in the states and take all the titles over here.
