Gilbert Melendez

Biography

Gilbert "El Niño" Melendez is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist who has fought at Featherweight and currently fights at Lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a two-time Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and a former WEC Lightweight Champion. He also competed in PRIDE FC, Shooto, and Rumble on the Rock. Melendez holds the distinction of being one of a select group of fighters who have ever been ranked #1 in the world in two weight classes in MMA, among the likes of Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, Randy Couture, Kazushi Sakuraba, and BJ Penn. Melendez was nicknamed after the infamous El Niño storm that wreaks havoc across the Pacific Rim. It was given to him by a Japanese broadcaster describing his fight-style and the manner in which he stormed through the Shooto Featherweight division

Known for

HD

UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos

2019 ⭐ 8.0

HD

UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2

2017 ⭐ 6.5

HD

UFC on Fox 20: Holm vs. Shevchenko

2016 ⭐ 6.0

HD

UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum

2015 ⭐ 8.5

Career timeline

2019

Quintet Ultra

2019

UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos Notable

Self · 2019

⭐ 8.0

Submission Underground 8

Self · 2019

2017

UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2

Self · 2017

⭐ 6.5

2016

UFC on Fox 20: Holm vs. Shevchenko

Self · 2016

⭐ 6.0

2015

UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum Notable

Self · 2015

⭐ 8.5

2014

UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II

Self · 2014

⭐ 6.0

2013

UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III Notable

Self · 2013

⭐ 7.4

UFC on Fox 7: Henderson vs. Melendez Notable

Self · 2013

⭐ 7.5

2012

Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

Self · 2012

⭐ 6.3

2011

Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

Self · 2011

⭐ 3.8

Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley

Self · 2011

⭐ 3.8

2010

Supreme Champion

Logger · 2010

⭐ 2.8

Strikeforce: Nashville

Self · 2010

⭐ 3.8

2009

Strikeforce: Evolution

Self · 2009

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg

Self · 2009

⭐ 4.0

Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz

Self · 2009

2008

Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson

Self · 2008

⭐ 4.2

Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le

Self · 2008

2007

Yarennoka! Notable

Self · 2007

⭐ 9.5

Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion

Self · 2007

2006

Pride Shockwave 2006

Self · 2006

⭐ 6.0

Pride Bushido 12

Self · 2006

Strikeforce: Revenge

Self · 2006

2004

WEC 10: Bragging Rights

Self · 2004

2003

WEC 6: Return of a Legend

Self · 2003

Frequently appears with

Jon Jones

Self

Thiago Santos

Self

Amanda Nunes

Self

Holly Holm

Self

Jorge Masvidal

Self

Valentina Shevchenko

Self

Rafael dos Anjos

Self

Neil Magny

Self

Henry Cejudo

Self

Full filmography

HD

Quintet Ultra

2019

HD

UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos

2019 ⭐ 8.0

HD

Submission Underground 8

2019

HD

UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2

2017 ⭐ 6.5

HD

UFC on Fox 20: Holm vs. Shevchenko

2016 ⭐ 6.0

HD

UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum

2015 ⭐ 8.5

HD

UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II

2014 ⭐ 6.0

HD

UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III

2013 ⭐ 7.4

HD

UFC on Fox 7: Henderson vs. Melendez

2013 ⭐ 7.5

HD

Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier

2012 ⭐ 6.3

HD

Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

2011 ⭐ 3.8

HD

Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley

2011 ⭐ 3.8

HD

Supreme Champion

2010 ⭐ 2.8

HD

Strikeforce: Nashville

2010 ⭐ 3.8

HD

Strikeforce: Evolution

2009

HD

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg

2009 ⭐ 4.0

HD

Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz

2009

HD

Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson

2008 ⭐ 4.2

HD

Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le

2008

HD

Yarennoka!

2007 ⭐ 9.5