Former Strikeforce Lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez will make his return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Octagon this Saturday (July 23, 2016) at UFC on FOX 20 opposite elite striker Edson Barboza after serving a one-year suspension dating back to a failed drug test at UFC 188.
While the 34-year-old veteran has compiled a lackluster 1-3 divisional record since entering the promotion back in 2013, Melendez believes he's always one big win away from a title shot. After all, every one of his UFC loses have came against former or current UFC champions (Eddie Alvarez, Anthony Pettis and Benson Henderson).
"This is not an unfamiliar situation for me," said Melendez in a recent interview with FOX Sports. "I've been in this sport since 2003, top 10 in the world, fighting to fight the champion. I'm always one fight away from being in the No. 1 spot again or fighting for the title. What's pretty crazy is that I am in this spot again. This is another chance for me to take advantage of an opportunity."
Even though Melendez has gone 0-2 in UFC title fights, he believes his efforts opposite Alvarez at UFC 188 are proof that he still belongs in the 155-pound elite.
"I really feel like that's the fight gods talking to me," Melendez said. "Sometimes you think it's been a long road in this sport and maybe it's time to cash in on some big paydays so we take a different road. But I feel like these are the fight gods talking to me 'Gilbert, you beat Eddie, he's the champ, beat this guy, you still have it, you can still do it'."
"Everybody knows I busted up Eddie Alvarez so it makes things interesting."
UFC on FOX 20 will be headlined by a women's Bantamweight tilt between former champion Holly Holm and undefeated title contender Valentina Shevchenko.