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Strikeforce lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez (19-2 MMA, 9-1 SF) doesn't yet know when he'll fight next, but company brass says it definitely will not be in a UFC contest.
While the promotion has yet to sign Melendez's next title defense, which is expected to be against Jorge Masvidal (22-6 MMA, 4-0 SF), Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said it's not because "El Nino" is following Nick Diaz to the UFC's octagon.
"Right now, there are no other fighters that are going to go over there," Coker said. "We expect him to continue fighting in Strikeforce and getting ready for a fight in the fall.
"Personally, I think all these guys should fight each other. But where and when, if that happens, it will be down the line. We're going to keep everything separate for right now."
Currently riding a five-fight win streak, Melendez claimed Strikeforce's lightweight crown with a December 2009 win over Josh Thomson. Melendez has since defeated Japanese superstars Tatsuya Kawajiri and Shinya Aoki with relative ease, prompting some rumors of an impending departure to the UFC.
Those rumors gained further traction when former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz recently vacated his title in favor of a shot at a UFC belt.
However, Coker insists the Diaz migration was merely a one-off decision fueled by a unique clause in the former champ's Strikeforce contract that allowed the Cesar Gracie to compete in boxing contests. When Zuffa purchased Strikeforce and looked to remove that clause, Diaz and his team played hardball.
"When Nick was working his way over to the UFC, we had talks with Cesar," Coker said. "It was quite a process. That was a very unique situation because of the boxing allowance – that we allowed him to box. That's how it ended up working out the way it did.
"The idea was to keep him in MMA, and Nick used that as a little chip. … Gilbert doesn't have a boxing provision in his agreement."
Meanwhile, Masvidal established himself as a top contender with a recent one-sided decision win over former EliteXC champion K.J. Noons. While Coker in June called Masvidal a "frontrunner" for a shot at Melendez, the Strikeforce exec insists the fight is still not official.
"That fight is not signed, so I don't want to comment or say fights are happening that are not signed," Coker said. "I will say this: Gilbert Melendez will fight in the fall, and when we get that fight put together, we'll let everybody know."
Coker: Melendez vs. Masvidal not yet signed, but Strikeforce champ not bolting to UFC | MMAjunkie.com
While the promotion has yet to sign Melendez's next title defense, which is expected to be against Jorge Masvidal (22-6 MMA, 4-0 SF), Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said it's not because "El Nino" is following Nick Diaz to the UFC's octagon.
"Right now, there are no other fighters that are going to go over there," Coker said. "We expect him to continue fighting in Strikeforce and getting ready for a fight in the fall.
"Personally, I think all these guys should fight each other. But where and when, if that happens, it will be down the line. We're going to keep everything separate for right now."
Currently riding a five-fight win streak, Melendez claimed Strikeforce's lightweight crown with a December 2009 win over Josh Thomson. Melendez has since defeated Japanese superstars Tatsuya Kawajiri and Shinya Aoki with relative ease, prompting some rumors of an impending departure to the UFC.
Those rumors gained further traction when former Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz recently vacated his title in favor of a shot at a UFC belt.
However, Coker insists the Diaz migration was merely a one-off decision fueled by a unique clause in the former champ's Strikeforce contract that allowed the Cesar Gracie to compete in boxing contests. When Zuffa purchased Strikeforce and looked to remove that clause, Diaz and his team played hardball.
"When Nick was working his way over to the UFC, we had talks with Cesar," Coker said. "It was quite a process. That was a very unique situation because of the boxing allowance – that we allowed him to box. That's how it ended up working out the way it did.
"The idea was to keep him in MMA, and Nick used that as a little chip. … Gilbert doesn't have a boxing provision in his agreement."
Meanwhile, Masvidal established himself as a top contender with a recent one-sided decision win over former EliteXC champion K.J. Noons. While Coker in June called Masvidal a "frontrunner" for a shot at Melendez, the Strikeforce exec insists the fight is still not official.
"That fight is not signed, so I don't want to comment or say fights are happening that are not signed," Coker said. "I will say this: Gilbert Melendez will fight in the fall, and when we get that fight put together, we'll let everybody know."
Coker: Melendez vs. Masvidal not yet signed, but Strikeforce champ not bolting to UFC | MMAjunkie.com