Here is a list of Melendez's best fights. For a list of Melendez's losses, refer to "Gilbert Melendez Losses".
On April 9, 2011 Gilbert Melendez met Tatsuya Kawajiri in a lightweight (Strikeforce Championship) title defense fight. Melendez was 28 years old and with a record of 19-2 (12), and Kawajiri was 32 years old and with a record of 27-6-2 (16). Melendez stopped Tatsuya Kawajiri via 1st-round TKO and successfully defended his title.
On August 15, 2009 Gilbert Melendez met Mitsuhiro Ishida in a lightweight (Strikeforce Championship) title defense fight. Melendez was 27 years old and with a record of 16-2 (11), and Ishida was 30 years old and with a record of 18-5-1 (5). Melendez stopped Mitsuhiro Ishida via 3rd-round TKO and successfully defended his title.
On April 11, 2009 Gilbert Melendez fought Rodrigo Damm in a lightweight title fight for Damm's Strikeforce Championship title. Melendez was 26 years old and with a record of 15-2 (10), and Damm was 29 years old and with a record of 8-2 (7). Melendez stopped Rodrigo Damm via 2nd-round KO and is crowned the new Strikeforce lightweight champion.
On December 17, 2011 Gilbert Melendez met Jorge Masvidal in a lightweight (Strikeforce Championship) title defense fight. Melendez was 29 years old and with a record of 20-2 (12), and Masvidal was 27 years old and with a record of 22-6 (11). Melendez won the fight via 5-round unanimous decision and successfully defended his title.
On December 19, 2009 Gilbert Melendez fought Josh Thomson in a lightweight title fight for Thomson's Strikeforce Championship title. Melendez was 27 years old and with a record of 17-2 (11), and Thomson was 31 years old and with a record of 16-2 (12). Melendez won the fight via 5-round unanimous decision and is crowned the new Strikeforce lightweight champion.
On August 20, 2005 Gilbert Melendez faced off against Rumina Sato in a lightweight bout at age 23. He was coming in with a record of 8-0 (7), and Sato was 31 years old and with a record of 23-8-2 (16). Melendez stopped Rumina Sato via TKO.
On June 9, 2006 Gilbert Melendez fought Clay Guida in a lightweight title fight for Guida's Strikeforce Championship title. Melendez was 24 years old and with a record of 10-0 (8), and Guida was 24 years old and with a record of 19-4 (14). Melendez won the fight via 5-round split decision and is crowned the new Strikeforce lightweight champion.
On April 17, 2010 Gilbert Melendez met Shinya Aoki in a lightweight (Strikeforce Championship) title defense fight. Melendez was 28 years old and with a record of 18-2 (11), and Aoki was 26 years old and with a record of 23-4 (14). Melendez won the fight via 5-round unanimous decision and successfully defended his title.
On May 19, 2012 Gilbert Melendez met Josh Thomson in a lightweight (Strikeforce Championship) title defense fight. Melendez was 30 years old and with a record of 21-2 (12), and Thomson was 33 years old and with a record of 19-4 (13). Melendez won the fight via 5-round split decision and successfully defended his title.
On March 27, 2003 Gilbert Melendez faced off against Jeff Hougland in a lightweight bout at age 20. He was coming in with a record of 2-0 (2), and Hougland was 24 years old and with a record of 1-2 (1). Melendez stopped Jeff Hougland via TKO.
