Melendez wants to face Pettis for the UFC belt in Mexico City

G. Melendez (photo) will face Pettis at the end of the year. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

As far as Gilbert Melendez is concerned, the UFC's first visit to Mexico will feature two title fights. The North American of Mexican descent expressed his desire to participate in the event that will be held in the country's capital, Mexico City, at the end of the year.

The attraction, which will take place on November 15th, has already confirmed the fight between Cain Velazquez e Fabricio Werdum, which will be worth the UFC heavyweight title. Melendez, who will be the next challenger for the lightweight crown, declared his preference to face Anthony Pettis in Mexico City, as he has Mexican ancestry.

“I would love to fight in Mexico, and I see doors opening there. I only went to Mexico City once, but I visited the pyramids there and I could see my roots. I didn't learn about this in high school. You see your roots, you know the origin of your blood and everything,” said Melendez, in an interview with the North American website “MMA Junkie”. “I’m proudly American, but I’m also proud of my roots. I felt good energy just being there. If I was fighting there, in front of my people, I would probably get caught up in the emotion of the moment. It could be something positive for me,” he continued.

However, it seems unlikely that the fight between Melendez and Pettis will take place in November. The two fighters will lead the 20th season of TUF in the United States, which will air between September and December. The fight between the coaches should be held shortly after the end of the program. The fight is most likely to take place at UFC 182, which will close the Ultimate season, on December 27, in Las Vegas (USA), although nothing has been officially confirmed.

This will be the second time that Melendez will attempt to win the UFC lightweight title. In the first of them, in April 2013, he lost to Benson Henderson in a controversial decision by the judges. Henderson lost the title to Pettis shortly after, after being submitted in the first round.