STRIKEFORCE NEWS: Gilbert Melendez signs new, multi-year contract extension

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Strikeforce has been doing a good job keeping some of their top fighters under contract since losing Jake Shields last year, re-signing Nick Diaz and Robbie Lawler before the end of the year to multi-year deals, and now Gilbert Melendez can be added to that list.

The organization announced on Tuesday that Melendez, their Lightweight Champion, has signed a new, multi-year deal and will continue his career for the time being in Strikeforce.

"Strikeforce is my home, they've always been like family to me and I?m looking forward to continuing my career with them,? said Melendez in today's release. "There are a lot of great fights out there for me ? lots of challenges. I can't wait to get back into the cage, do my thing and show the world that I'm still at the top of my game."

Melendez has been out of action battling injuries since his win over Shinya Aoki last April in Nashville, but is expected to meet Tatsuya "Crusher" Kawajiri this April in what could be the start of a lightweight grand prix.

"I'm healthy again and excited about fighting again real soon," Melendez said. "It doesn't matter who I fight. I just want to get back in there and rip."

Penick's Analysis: I'm sure primarily this was a money move for Melendez, and much like with Nick Diaz it's a move that makes sense from a financial standpoint. As the big fish in the small pond of Strikeforce's lightweight and welterweight divisions, Melendez can make a lot more money than he would having to go through the stacked murderer's row in the UFC's lightweight division. He wouldn't be thrust right into a title fight, and as a headliner in Strikeforce he'll command a higher payday. But at the same time, he also can't make any claims for being the number one lightweight fighter in the world with the level of competition he'll ultimately face over the next couple of years. There are some great fights to be had, sure, but the UFC's lightweight division is quite possibly the most stacked and difficult division in all of MMA, and whichever fighter is sitting on top will have gotten there by beating more difficult competition more often.

And for Melendez, who recently made comments to the effect of "don't blame the fighters" when matchups can't get put together by a promotion, i.e. the much discussed bout between him and Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez, by signing this contract extension he's contributing to that issue whether he chooses to see it that way or not. But again, from a financial standpoint, this was the right move for him at this time, and though he'd get bigger fights in front of more fans in the UFC, it likely wouldn't pay as much as he'll now be making. For the top, top guys in Strikeforce, this will end up being the case for a while.

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