Gilbert Melendez Plans On Breaking Anthony Pettis In The Third Or Fourth Round

Set to take part in his second UFC lightweight title bout in only three fights with the promotion, former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez will throw down in the biggest fight of his life when he collides with Anthony Pettis in the co-main event of UFC 181 this Saturday night’s (Dec. 6, 2014) UFC 181 from Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The 33-year-old “El Nino” knows that his window of opportunity to obtain the biggest belt in MMA may be closing. Speaking candidly in a recent interview with FOX Sports, Melendez said that he’s now at ease with the pressure of what could be his last title shot:

“It’s huge. This is probably my last shot at gold. If not, it’s probably going to be a couple of years before I earn that shot again.  I recognize the opportunity and it could be my last shot at it. There is a little bit of pressure about it, but now I feel at ease.  The pressure was getting to me a little bit, but now I’ve let it all go.”

As for his opponent Pettis, the hyped champion who has still yet to defend his belt after a nearly 15-month absence due to knee surgery, Melendez believes that “Showtime” has earned his lofty position among MMA’s best.

However, he also acknowledges that Pettis hasn’t exactly had to travel the hardest road to the belt, noting that his flashy striking may have propelled him to the top a bit faster than normal.

Pettis has made a habit of finishing his opponents in the first round, and only injuries have held him back from truly dominating. But Melendez doesn’t think that makes him invincible:

“I think he’s a true champion. I just also think part of being a champion is the road.  The battles you go through and overcoming adversity.  I’ve been through so much.  I went through so many wars before fighting for a title. 

Sometimes people show a little bit of flash and they get that shot early. I think I could have been the champ since 2006 or 2007. Part of it is just going through the ringer and the fire and the hell to get that shot.

Pettis has been fortunate enough to skip a lot of the bulls–t that we’ve gone through to get that shot.  He kind of got that shot easy.  I’m not trying to take too much credit from him.  He’s a real champ but he’s a beatable champ.”

Citing the world’s No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, Melendez said that Pettis wouldn’t dominate his division like the UFC’s light heavyweight champion has:

“”I don’t think he’s the Jon Jones of our weight class.”

Pettis would of course disagree with that statement, as he’s predicted another first round finish of Melendez at UFC 181. “El Nino” has never been stopped in his lengthy MMA career, yet Pettis’ dynamic striking can deal out damage in ways never before seen in an MMA cage.

Even with Pettis’ ruthless first-round stoppage ability, Melendez believes that he’s running his mouth too much, which in turn creates even more pressure for the returning champion:

“”I think that just sounds like a little bit of plagiarism from Conor McGregor. He’s trying to pump himself up as much as he needs to.  No one’s ever finished me let alone in the first round.  It’s just a lot of pressure to put on himself.”

Ultimately Melendez plans on withstanding “Showtime’s” early rush to use his toughness and seal up a grinding win. He doesn’t necessarily plan on his victory coming on the judges’ scorecards, however:

What’s he going to do at the end of the first round and he’s down one round to zero and I look him in the face and let him know he’s in a for a long night. I plan on breaking him and I plan on breaking him in the third or fourth round.”

“El Nino” has countered Pettis’ bold prediction with one of his own. The odds may not be in his favor, but it’s far from a good idea to count Melendez out of any fight. Can he shock the world on Saturday night?

Photo Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports