Melendez: Fighting Aoki a ‘Nerve-Wracking Honor’

Watching Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez talk about his pending title defense against No. 2 world-ranked lightweight Shinya Aoki is like watching a kid on Christmas morning. Melendez, who faces the bone-breaking submission specialist this Saturday at Strikeforce “Nashville” at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., knows this bout has heightened significance, both for the fight community and for himself. “I think this is what’s going to separate me from the rest, the fact that I can go to the ground with Aoki and I can ground-and-pound him,” said Melendez in this Sherdog.com video exclusive. “Yeah, his jiu-jitsu poses threats, but I think my ground-and-pound does as well.” Sherdog.com’s No. 8 ranked lightweight also discusses why he’s the ideal candidate to end the Japanese star’s latest reign of terror in the sport.