Gilbert Melendez vs Pat Healy headlines September Strikeforce event

[Best80smovieRAD]

mmajunkie

Gilbert Melendez (21-2 MMA, 11-1 SF) returns to action in September, and Pat Healy (28-16 MMA, 6-1 SF) will be the next man to try and take his Strikeforce lightweight title.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the matchup with sources close to the fighters.

Melendez and Healy will meet in the headliner of the previously announced event, now entitled "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy," which takes place Sept. 29 at Power Balance Pavilion (formerly ARCO Arena) in Sacramento, Calif.

Melendez returns after a May win over longtime rival Josh Thomson. The hard-fought split-decision victory was Melendez's seventh-consecutive win and earned him a 2-1 victory in the trilogy series with Thomson. The win also served as Melendez's fourth-straight defense of the Strikeforce lightweight title.

Healy earned his shot with five consecutive wins under the Strikeforce banner, and he is 8-1 in his past nine overall fights. A blue-collar grinder, the Team Quest product fought most recently in July and earned a come-from-behind decision win over Japanese import Mizuto Hirota. Healy's current run also includes victories over Caros Fodor, Maximo Blanco, Eric Wisely and Lyle Beerbohm.

[funkin]

good fight healy will win.

[mmasteve]

I dislike Melendez but Healy has nothing for him. 2nd round tko for Gil

[Emmery Myers]

Melendez was expected to tear through Thomson last time, and he did not. With Henderson, Diaz, Edgar and even Chandler, it gets harder to say Melendez is a clear top 3 fighter.

[Emmery Myers]

Melendez needs to put this guy away convincingly to retain his standing in the rankings.

[Tallica1981]

I really don't honk Gil was up for the Thompson fight, and I think that's understandable. Combine that with the fact that josh has championship level skill and tough for any fighter on a good day and you've got the ingredients for a rough showing. I think Gil will be more motivated to face new blood and prove the last fight was a fluke.

That said, I expect Healy to put up a better fighter than many expect. I expect a 50-45 or 49-46 card for Gil, that is actually closer than the score implies.

[Emmery Myers]

Gil is gonna knock this dude out.

[mmasteve]

Gil is gonna knock this dude out.

It's been over 3 years since Gil knocked anybody out, and that man is Rodrigo Damm and he got to the UFC before Gil. Poor Gil

[Emmery Myers]

Melendez destroyed Crusher last year in under a round partner.

[mmasteve]

Melendez destroyed Crusher last year in under a round partner.

That was a tko I'm talking knock out, like catching zzzz's