Gilbert Melendez wants to pull out his beast for Josh Thomson on April 11

by Jesse Holland on Mar 19, 2009 10:59 AM EDT

Quoteworthy:

"I want to make things really clear – I’ve only got one friend in the 155-pound weight division, and that’s Nathan Diaz. Josh is a training partner. Yeah, if I win this fight, and he never wants to fight me again, we can (train together). If I lose this fight, I’m not going to be very happy and I’m going to want to fight him again. It’s just awkward, because he’s a good guy and I respect him, but at the end of the day, I can’t be making friends with 155-pounders. Maybe some guys can hug and be friends – it’s just not in my nature to do that and go fight a guy like that. I’ve gotta get some aggression towards him and want to hate him. It’s nothing personal, but that’s just how you’ve gotta to be. At least I have to be, to pull out the beast."

Top-ranked lightweight and former Strikeforce 155-pound champion Gilbert Melendez draws a line in the lightweight sand in preparation for his rematch with Josh Thomson at the upcoming Strikeforce event on April 11. "El Nino" has not seen action since losing his title in a decisive unanimous decision to "The Punk" last June. The loss was only the second of his sparkling 16-fight career, which includes notable wins over Hiroyuki Takaya, Clay Guida, Tatsuya Kawajiri and others.

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Whoa… leave the beast in your shorts..

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 11:01 AM EDT reply actions

I strongly believe that Gilbert will win this fight!

by john on Mar 19, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Y’know John, I like Gilbert, but I’m gonna have to go with Josh on this; I think it’s going to be a close fight but I see Thomson as the more calm/collected of the two. The only fighter I bet on that runs on emotion is Wandi; not sure what it is, but when a fighter has to work themselves up and develope anger to feed off of for a fight, it usually doesn’t sit well with me. However, with Wanderlei, the more riled up, the better lol.

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

and I could be wrong, maybe Josh does work himself up for a fight and create a little animosity, but I just haven’t heard/read an interview with him being vocal about it.

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I am a big fan of Gilbert but i see this fight going down like that first one did.

by belfort_fan on Mar 19, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

truth is, its really a toss up. Both these dudes are GAME and highly skilled. Keep in mind Gilbert’s young age. He is far from a finished product so expect improvement from previous performances. I think if this was a 7 fight series it would go to “game 7”.

Should be a war, and even if Josh wins, I expect it to be better than the 1st fight!

Hopefully, Gilbert wins…I wouldnt mind seeing a rubber match down the line, when they are both older!

by john on Mar 19, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

War Gilbert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

by The Philicutioner on Mar 19, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions

lol

by Milk on Mar 19, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

The beast? What if his girlfriend/wife wanted to name it?

by A Lynch on Mar 19, 2009 11:11 AM EDT reply actions

He might wanna find better friends, Nate Diaz might be a pretty good fighter, but not the kinda guy you want to be friends with in my opinion

by Dave on Mar 19, 2009 11:20 AM EDT reply actions

Some people don’t want friends, they just want to hang out with people who make them feel superior. Hanging out with Nate Diaz probably makes Melendez feel intelligent and articulate. :)

by MattNY on Mar 19, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Why not Dave? He may be the most loyal friend you could ever have. I have never heard or seen on TUF anything to the contrary.

by BNF on Mar 19, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Agree with you BNF. I went to a private school and hung out with some of the smartest people I have ever known. They are also back stabbing douche bags. My “gangsta” buddies average about 105 IQ points and are cool, down to earth, & loyal. I would imagine Nate to be the same way based on Stinky’s past posts.

by OJR on Mar 19, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

What “hood” are you from OJR? I would never classify “gangstas” as intelligent, down to earth people.

by RealDrew on Mar 19, 2009 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

You got a point Drew, all the “gangstas” I’ve known in my time are rude, self absorbed, inconsiderate pricks. My friend used to hang out with a bunch of bloods, they’d come over, drink the beer, trash his place and leave; didn’t meet one that I didn’t think was a complete douche.

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions

We are talking about Nate Diaz, a professional athelete??? What the hell are you guys talking about a bunch of lowlives for? That is the problem right there you think Diaz and you automatically assume the worst.

by BNF on Mar 19, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I am a straight up crip gangsta, i went to private school and only bang on the net though.

by OJR on Mar 19, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Drew-

Grew up in Humboldt Park, Chicago, IL. And I never wrote that they were intelligent. Re-read my post.

I don’t believe in generalizations. For every 100 pricks, you get 2 or 3 cool guys (I am making up numbers but you get the general idea). Gangstas, rich guys, black, white, asian, etc.

by OJR on Mar 19, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like the “fake” john decided to give me his attention.

I am honored.

Here is a spelling lesson from private school.

L
O
S
E
R

by OJR on Mar 19, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

BNF-

Just to set the record straight, I don’t think Nate or Nick are lowlives or criminals. Period.

by OJR on Mar 19, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I know you don’t OJR, but it seemed like maybe the other guys do or at least associate the Diaz name with that type of person.

by BNF on Mar 19, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

the “fake” john being who??

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Nm, being as you don’t have a reason to talk sh!t to drew or BNF it’s obvious your troll personality is aimed directly at me. I post under one name, and thats this one. And I wasn’t responding to you, I was following up with Drew and BNF; I could care less what your opinion on anything is. And while I’m here, lemme give you a spelling lesson from public school.

T
R
O
L
L

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL. ODamn. Read carfully :

I was referring to this quote,

“Comment by OJR
2009-03-19 11:22:21
I am a straight up crip gangsta, i went to private school and only bang on the net though.”

I wasn’t singling you out ODamn…

That other post was not me. Probably the same guy who uses john’s name. He does it all the time…

Wow. You take things too personally, dude.

Chill out, my man.

by OJR on Mar 19, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry, I didn’t see a John comment on this thread except for under mine at the top. The direction of the troll comment can be transferred over to the name spoofer then =P

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

is this…take shots at john day?

by john on Mar 19, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Not at all, some guy impersonated OJR, I mistook his response comment as accusing me of impersonating you; but the debacle was caused by whoevers stealing names. No offensive comments directed at you john.

by O damn he got caught on Mar 19, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions