By Jim Edwards

A year is a long time to be out of the game, but for Gilbert Melendez, it's given him the opportunity to reflect on what it is he wants from mixed martial arts. Speaking earlier this week to the UFC, Melendez revealed just how his goals had been realigned since sitting out on the sidelines.

"You visualize your career, and believe me, I've visualized it several times," Melendez said. "You reach goals, and you have to find a way to motivate yourself to get out there and keep doing it. For once in my life, I now don't need to fight, but I still want to fight. Once I realized that, it made me feel really good. I know that I want to fight, that I could've run away, I could've walked away right now, but why? 

"I've been top 10 in the world now for 10 years. I've been pound-for-pound in the world for a few years, and I think that a lot of people forget that. I'm still relevant in this sport and I want to prove it."

Melendez has been through a turbulent time since entering the UFC in 2013. Since his first fight with Benson Henderson, he's gone on a run of 1-3 having lost two title fights and dropping a split decision to Eddie Alvarez in June 2015. 

Shortly after the fight with Alvarez, Melendez was suspended for 12 months for violating the USADA anti-doping program and was one of the first fighters to fall foul of the system. 

"Initially, it was a little rough, but then I realized how many people supported and loved me was a beautiful thing," Melendez said. "I'm supported, I'm loved, I'm blessed by my family, my friends, my community, my training centre and of course my fans.

"You got to look at the glass half full, not half empty, and I just tried to make the best out of the situation. It was my time to reinvent myself. I'm now a father, a gym owner, I've opened up a fight shop, I'm an analyst, I'm traveling and of course, No. 1, I'm a fighter."


While some people have left his side during his layoff, one group of people that has always stayed loyal are his fellow "Skrap Pack" members. The group, comprised of fellow Cesar Gracie jiu-jitsu students Jake Shields, Nick Diaz, Daniel Roberts, Nate Diaz and David Terrell, have always stood by Melendez, and the former Strikeforce lightweight champion recalled the bond they shared.

"All these guys are known as being 'tough,'" Melendez said. "These guys are all go-getters, but we stand for way more than just that. We stand for loyalty, for a brotherhood, for family.

"Sometimes, the team is down and out but then we go on a roll. We've been quiet lately, but then all of a sudden, Nate Diaz beats Conor McGregor and you can't help but get excited, you can't help but get motivated. Something like Nate's victory leads to me thinking I can do it."

Nate Diaz, normally a man of few words, praised his Skrap Pack brother.

"I've got nothing but good things to say about Gilbert," Diaz said. "He's a guy I've looked up to for a long time. When he's on point, he's one of the best fighters I've ever trained with—he's the best in the weight division that I've ever trained with. When he wins, I win so I do whatever I can. I'm always on call when he's fighting and vice versa he's always there for me."