Clark Kent
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12-20-2009 06:45 PM:
Josh “The Punk” Thomson and Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez are thirsting for more respect.They closed 2009 with an absolute top five candidate for Fight of the Year setting up another chapter in a trilogy somewhere down the road. Both fighters said that can wait because now they want to send a message to rest of the top lightweights around the world.
Melendez, who moved to 17-2 by winning back his Strikeforce lightweight title via unanimous five-round decision, suggested that the rankings are ridiculous and he feels dissed (2:15 mark).
"Now that we got our stuff done with, it’s up to us to prove we’re the best 55ers," said Melendez, who is ranked 13th in the USAToday/Bloody Elbow lightweight top 25. "Me and him are badass. I think me and him can take out all the dudes in UFC and all the dudes in DREAM. It’s about the respect. We can beat a lot of those guys. We’re complete MMA fighters. A lot of guys aren't."
Thomson dropped down to No. 24 after the loss.
"We’ve delivered great fights. Now it’s time for us to keep pushing [Scott Coker] to bring in the bigger name fighters and for Gilbert and I to start laying them out," said Thomson, "I welcome them with closed fists."
Coker, the Strikeforce CEO, said he’s headed to Japan for the Dynamite! 2009 New Year’s Eve show. His goal is to get DREAM’s lightweight prodigy, Shinya Aoki, to agree to a 2010 fight against Melendez. Next up for Thomson may be recently signed K.J, Noons, the former 155 champ with EliteXC.
Even if you don’t respect their cage work you have to rank both as top 10 fighters from a sportsmanship and class standpoint.
Thomson gave a great salute in the cage and during the post fight to his conqueror. After two wars, fighters aren’t always so cordial but Melendez and Thomson hugged, laughed and joked. The new champ paid respect to Thomson by saying he’s had enough of the guy (0:30 mark).
"There’s gonna be a third one, huh? I’m not looking forward to it. I left my heart out there. I don’t know if they showed it on TV but I puked a little bit afterwards. I think we put on a great show. I‘m cool with calling it even," said Melendez.
"Just like rocky, I don’t want another one," Thomson chimed in with his best Rocky Balboa. “There ain’t gonna be a third."
Thomson also delivered the line of the night (8:31 mark) when asked about how their cardio was so good for five round. A favorite of female MMA fans, The Punk said, "lots of sex!"
More...
Yahoo! Sports.
Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield.
Josh “The Punk” Thomson and Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez are thirsting for more respect.They closed 2009 with an absolute top five candidate for Fight of the Year setting up another chapter in a trilogy somewhere down the road. Both fighters said that can wait because now they want to send a message to rest of the top lightweights around the world.
Melendez, who moved to 17-2 by winning back his Strikeforce lightweight title via unanimous five-round decision, suggested that the rankings are ridiculous and he feels dissed (2:15 mark).
"Now that we got our stuff done with, it’s up to us to prove we’re the best 55ers," said Melendez, who is ranked 13th in the USAToday/Bloody Elbow lightweight top 25. "Me and him are badass. I think me and him can take out all the dudes in UFC and all the dudes in DREAM. It’s about the respect. We can beat a lot of those guys. We’re complete MMA fighters. A lot of guys aren't."
Thomson dropped down to No. 24 after the loss.
"We’ve delivered great fights. Now it’s time for us to keep pushing [Scott Coker] to bring in the bigger name fighters and for Gilbert and I to start laying them out," said Thomson, "I welcome them with closed fists."
Coker, the Strikeforce CEO, said he’s headed to Japan for the Dynamite! 2009 New Year’s Eve show. His goal is to get DREAM’s lightweight prodigy, Shinya Aoki, to agree to a 2010 fight against Melendez. Next up for Thomson may be recently signed K.J, Noons, the former 155 champ with EliteXC.
Even if you don’t respect their cage work you have to rank both as top 10 fighters from a sportsmanship and class standpoint.
Thomson gave a great salute in the cage and during the post fight to his conqueror. After two wars, fighters aren’t always so cordial but Melendez and Thomson hugged, laughed and joked. The new champ paid respect to Thomson by saying he’s had enough of the guy (0:30 mark).
"There’s gonna be a third one, huh? I’m not looking forward to it. I left my heart out there. I don’t know if they showed it on TV but I puked a little bit afterwards. I think we put on a great show. I‘m cool with calling it even," said Melendez.
"Just like rocky, I don’t want another one," Thomson chimed in with his best Rocky Balboa. “There ain’t gonna be a third."
Thomson also delivered the line of the night (8:31 mark) when asked about how their cardio was so good for five round. A favorite of female MMA fans, The Punk said, "lots of sex!"
More...
Yahoo! Sports.
Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield.
