E. Alvarez (photo) spared no criticism of Melendez. Photo: Disclosure
The soap opera involving the future of Gilbert Melendez, which has shaken the world of MMA in recent months, still continues to resonate among fighters. After the athlete flirted with Bellator, but ended up renewing with the UFC, Eddie Alvarez criticized his compatriot for his choice.
According to Alvarez, current Bellator champion, Melendez renewed with the UFC to avoid facing him in the future. “Regardless of where Gilbert goes, he wants to be the big fish, and that's why he avoided me and will continue to avoid me in the coming years”, said Alvarez, in an interview with the North American website “MMA Fighting”.
“Gilbert had the opportunity [to face him] in the DREAM tournament, but he didn't accept it. He had the opportunity to sign with Bellator and participate in the Bellator tournament, but he didn't accept it. And now he had the chance to come to Bellator, where I am. He doesn't want to fight at the event I'm at. He’s a fake, he’s a facade, he says he wants to fight me, but he doesn’t want to,” continued the fighter.
Melendez decided to renew with the UFC and received two important opportunities: he will be one of the coaches of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter and will then compete for the lightweight belt, currently held by Anthony Pettis.
Alvarez, in turn, will also participate in a title fight. He will defend his belt against his arch-rival Michael chandler on the 17th of May.
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