*Melendez gameplan against Barboza*

[Seiryoku Zenyo]

Melendez had two totally different gameplans for his last two fights:

1. Against Pettis, he always tried to bring the fight to the ground, attempting several TDs. His stand up, kindda sloppy, wasn't bad, trying to push forward and close the distance. He tried no kicks.

2. Against Alvarez, he didn't tried a single TD. Eddie proved he was the superior wrestler, being succesful in almost all his attempts to bring Gilbert down. El Niño scored a big elbow in the 1st round, but that was it. He lost the next two rounds. He tried no kicks.

Overall Melendez looked better against Pettis than against Alvarez. Maybe it was due to the motivation of fighting for the belt. Something i've noticed is that Gilbert has no kicks in his arsenal. And his stance, with his leading left leg would be an invitation for Barboza's nasty low kicks.

Is Gilbert gonna be able to "fitch" and pool a decision against Barboza?

 

[KjOr]

I don't think Gil stands in front of Edson and just Trades. Either gil puts a lot of pressure on him and wins a classic dirty Gil fight, or Edson shows he's taking the next step in his career and keeps Gil at range and picks him apart with kicks. Interesting fight for both fighters, gonna be a good one.

 

[SimonNova]

Melendez should try to clinch/TD. Like he did vs Pettis. If he stays at kickboxing range, lol.

I hope he stays at kickboxing range.

 

[bigconan]

Melendez should try to clinch/TD. Like he did vs Pettis. If he stays at kickboxing range, lol.

I hope he stays at kickboxing range.

Unlike aldo, Barboza hasn't forgotten about leg kicks. I suspect he's going to chew up Melendez' legs bad. I think a stoppage in round 3 or 4

 

[KhabibTheBeagle]

Barboza trains with Alvarez and Edgar. I don't see him getting wrasslefucked in this one.

Barboza via UD

 

[chitoortiz]

Unlike aldo, Barboza hasn't forgotten about leg kicks. I suspect he's going to chew up Melendez' legs bad. I think a stoppage in round 3 or 4

Round 4?

 

[LongTermLurker]

Unlike aldo, Barboza hasn't forgotten about leg kicks. I suspect he's going to chew up Melendez' legs bad. I think a stoppage in round 3 or 4

Round 4? In the parking lot?

 

[Seiryoku Zenyo]

Unlike aldo, Barboza hasn't forgotten about leg kicks. I suspect he's going to chew up Melendez' legs bad. I think a stoppage in round 3 or 4

It's a 3 rounds fight

 

[Seiryoku Zenyo]

Barboza trains with Alvarez and Edgar. I don't see him getting wrasslefucked in this one.

Barboza via UD

Barboza is nothing con lose to Alvarez or Edgar in terms of wrestling. Even Ferguson was able to took him down. Holly trains with Greg Jackson and he has no TDs in her arsenal.

 

[TeamTanner]

Melendez should try to clinch/TD. Like he did vs Pettis. If he stays at kickboxing range, lol.

I hope he stays at kickboxing range.

Barboza is way stronger in the clinch than Pettis is. I don't think Gil has many good options in this fight. He's going to have to take a lot of punishment like Ferguson did just to get into boxing range and have a chance. But I foresee Gil staying too much on the outside and dropping a decision.

 

[FadeLess]

Pressure and takedown.

 

[SimonNova]

Barboza is way stronger in the clinch than Pettis is. I don't think Gil has many good options in this fight. He's going to have to take a lot of punishment like Ferguson did just to get into boxing range and have a chance. But I foresee Gil staying too much on the outside and dropping a decision.

You just made sense, careful with that, most people hate that kind of attitude around here.

Gil might also fight ring rust, he has not been very active in the last few years. He might simply be overwhelmed by Edson's speed and technique.

 

[KhabibTheBeagle]

Barboza is nothing con lose to Alvarez or Edgar in terms of wrestling. Even Ferguson was able to took him down. Holly trains with Greg Jackson and he has no TDs in her arsenal.

I'm not saying Barboza is as good a wrestler as Eddie and Frankie, but his TDD is usually pretty great.

 

[HelloJapan]

Get him against the cage, "grind" and wear him out, try for decision.

 

[BJ@LW&WW]

he's presumably off the T. i expect his performance to reflect that.

 

[Rebel_LioN]

Melendez had two totally different gameplans for his last two fights:

1. Against Pettis, he always tried to bring the fight to the ground, attempting several TDs. His stand up, kindda sloppy, wasn't bad, trying to push forward and close the distance. He tried no kicks.

2. Against Alvarez, he didn't tried a single TD. Eddie proved he was the superior wrestler, being succesful in almost all his attempts to bring Gilbert down. El Niño scored a big elbow in the 1st round, but that was it. He lost the next two rounds. He tried no kicks.

Overall Melendez looked better against Pettis than against Alvarez. Maybe it was due to the motivation of fighting for the belt. Something i've noticed is that Gilbert has no kicks in his arsenal. And his stance, with his leading left leg would be an invitation for Barboza's nasty low kicks.

Is Gilbert gonna be able to "fitch" and pool a decision against Barboza?

His left leg is ripe for the kicking yes. I think that notion is predicated that he will be able to push forward with pressure so that liability is masked behind his 1-2 combo which he's really good at.

Barboza has gotten wise over the years and but the fact that he doesn't have an offensive grappling game still makes him 1 dimensional, albeit he's very dynamic in his striking.

But my pick would be Barboza by decision. First round is going to decide the entire fight whether Gibs gets inside or not.

 

[TeamTanner]

Pressure and takedown.

Gil only has 3 successful takedowns since he's been in the UFC and none of the guys he's taken down are anywhere near as difficult as Barboza is to take down. I don't see it.


Pressure will help Gil a lot in this fight but I think he'll be unable or unwilling to sustain it.

 

[TeamTanner]

I'm not saying Barboza is as good a wrestler as Eddie and Frankie, but his TDD is usually pretty great.

And it's gotten even better in recent times. Barboza has only been taken down 2 times in his last 10 fights. And although Gil is a wrestler, he's not dominant in that area. The TD is likely to be almost a non-factor in this fight.

 

[Sidecontrol87]

His strategy will be to avoid fighting lol. Wall n stall, tds, and pressure.

 

[KeepItRealist]

Work that jab and jump on his back if he gets the chance.