[Cat--Smasher]

Gilbert Melendez:

“I am coming to take that belt. I’m not defending my belt anymore and I’m coming to take his. I’m coming with bad intentions and I’m not counting on squeaking anything out on the scorecards,” said in an interview with the UFC’s website. “People are going to see a focused Gilbert Melendez, ready to put it all on the line to get that title. I’m ready to entertain and I’m coming to win. I’m coming to get that belt.”

Of course, he also understands beating “Bendo” is no easy feat. Henderson is 18-2 with sixteen wins in his last seventeen fights including five in a row.

“Benson is a total athlete. He has a lot of strengths and very few weaknesses, if any,” admitted Melendez. “One thing I do see in him as a big strength is that he is very mentally strong. That is one thing I see in him that I don’t see in every fighter. He is very focused and keeps his game face on at all times. He gets dropped in fights but he recovers quickly and keeps the same face on.”

“There is no look of desperation and he maintains his composure,” Melendez continued. “I think it is going to be a tough mental battle for both of us. We are going to push each other hard and it is going to be just as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one.”