The world of mixed martial arts is truly a “what have you done for me lately” community. Many times stars are forgotten after a single misstep, especially when it happens on the grand stage that is the Octagon. At UFC 166, two lightweights will square off in a bout that will put the winner on the short list of title contenders for early 2014. Gilbert Melendez and Diego Sanchez have both come up short in bids to capture the UFC lightweight title, so this fight is vital to them both.
Just this past April, Melendez lost his first bout in four years when he dropped a close fight to Benson Henderson via split decision at UFC on Fox 7. The former Strikeforce champion was looking to prove that despite all those years outside of the UFC, he still deserved to be thought of as the best in the division. The Skrap Pack member had his high points during the contest, but was unable to sway the judges his way. While still considered amongst the best at 155, that fight pushed “El Niño” back down the ladder and made his path towards receiving another title shot a lot tougher.
Sanchez, on the other hand, has become a journeyman of sorts in the UFC. One of the last active members of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, Sanchez is hoping to make one final run at a championship reign. However, bouncing back and forth between lightweight and welterweight since 2009 hasn’t given him the spark needed to rejuvenate his career. And while the record books have Sanchez as 3-3 in his last six fights, there are numerous arguments to be made that he should be 1-5, had the judges gone the way of the popular majority in favor of Martin Kampmann and Takanori Gomi.
When looking at this bout, Melendez should be the favorite, however there are ways that Sanchez can win this bout, especially with his overactive style, which can sometimes sway judges.
Melendez may not be a very technical striker, but he knows how to put punches together that score and cause damage. In his last three fights in the Strikeforce cage against Josh Thomson, Jorge Masvidal, and Tatsuya Kawajiri, he displayed an ability to land cleanly as he sought to control the standup aspect of each fight. He should be able to do the same against Diego, who normally keeps a fast pace, but comes in wildly throwing blows.
An area where “The Dream” may be able to control this fight is the wrestling and ground aspect of the competition. Before Melendez’s last bout, it was expected that Henderson would try to out-wrestle him similarly to the way Thomson did in their third fight. However, the fact that he didn’t do so helped to make that fight so close. Sanchez should try to implement that game plan to get the fight to the floor, where he is very effective at both ground and pound and submitting opponents. While Melendez has never been stopped in such a way during his career, Sanchez could score enough points in what should be a close three-round affair.
As the line for shots at Anthony Pettis‘s lightweight title forms behind Josh Thomson and T.J. Grant, both Diego Sanchez and Gilbert Melendez have a key opportunity to grab a prime position. Their matchup at UFC 166 should be filled with intensity and action, as both of these men push the pace in a way that could end up stealing the show.
• Gilbert Melendez vs. Diego Sanchez
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UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III is due to take place on October 19, 2013 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
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