When Strikeforce bought in 2011 and the promotion was later shuttered, Gilbert Melendez by no means imagined he would find yourself working with former proprietor Scott Coker.
For an enormous a part of Melendez’s profession, Coker was his promoter. However now, they’ll staff as much as assist launch a brand new group referred to as Struggle Night time on the Tech, which options a mixture of veterans and up-and-coming fighters competing near the place Strikeforce as soon as referred to as residence.
Melendez mentioned the possibility to put on a special hat as a spokesperson and ambassador for the brand new model – plus working with Coker once more – actually did really feel like a dream come true.
“Scott Coker and I’ve had an ideal relationship for years,” Melendez instructed MMA Combating. “Scott has come to my marriage ceremony. He helped promote me as a fighter, however not solely me however my spouse; my spouse earlier than we even knew one another. So we now have such an ideal relationship, and with getting wind of Bellator ending and realizing Scott, he needed to possibly chill for a bit of bit. However I’m a fighter, he’s a fighter at coronary heart. He’s a martial artist. We began sitting down, brainstorming. determining issues we may do, possibly I’d combat once more, possibly we’ll do some stuff. I used to be actually pressuring him to do one thing with me, and I even threw in some combat stuff, like I’m actually able to step into that avenue in a bit of bit and see what I can do.
“After fixed conferences and us speaking about it, I feel it was essential for him to carry martial arts again to the Bay Space. We’ve a lot expertise out right here, and he feels it’s his obligation to revive Bay Space combined martial arts with all this expertise out right here. He chosen me. He gave me the choice saying, ‘I really need you to guide this, I would like you to be a spokesperson and ambassador for it,’ and right here we’re.”
Coker’s official title is govt producer; he co-owned Strikeforce after which served as president in Bellator for practically a decade. That position ended after the PFL purchased out Bellator and absorbed the promotion, however Coker opted to not stick round in a special position with the group.
As a substitute, he’ll staff up with Melendez on Struggle Night time on the Tech. The primary card is scheduled for Could 18 and the hope is to advertise no less than 4 playing cards per yr shifting ahead.
“It appears like I’m returning to my roots,” Melendez mentioned. “I feel lots of people neglect what Scott dropped at the group. Although we had been all competing towards one another and attempting to kill one another and there have been rivalries, it was a really important and essential ecosystem created by Scott.
“I feel plenty of us don’t keep in mind that or don’t acknowledge that, nevertheless it’s one thing that I perceive very effectively. Scott is basically good at creating an ecosystem the place we are able to all compete, we are able to all eat, we are able to all problem one another. It’s essential.”
Coker scouted, found, and provided plenty of fighters an opportunity to launch their careers, and now, Melendez will get to do the identical in his new position with the upstart group.
“For certain, it’s a full-circle second,” Melendez defined. “Not just for myself, nevertheless it’s a full circle second for the group. As a result of now I’m on this giving stage for my group, and I’ve been a coach, and I’m going to those occasions and I’m there, I look to the suitable and I see Cain Velasquez, I see Urijah Faber, I see myself, I see Dave Terrell. I see all these legendary warriors, and now it’s full circle and we’re coaches, and I’ve this different full circle second, and I get to step into the sneakers of Scott Coker. I’ve all the time acknowledged what he’s accomplished and the way essential he’s, and I all the time play the sport proper.
“I’ve an ideal relationship with Scott, and it’s a full circle second. I’ve been a fighter, a coach, an analyst, a commentator, and I’ll let you know what, I like this sport and I need to be in it till the day that I die. I would like the very best seat in the home, and Scott all the time has the very best seat in the home, so I need to be there with him.”
Melendez mentioned when he first began speaking to Coker about working collectively, he hinted at a possible return to motion; he final competed in 2019 previous to his exit from the UFC. He could not need to e-book a full-time combat schedule once more, particularly with all the opposite commitments occurring his life, however the 41-year-old veteran nonetheless envisions a return to motion sooner or later sooner or later.
“I do need to combat,” Melendez mentioned. “I’d like to combat certainly one of lately. I keep in form on a regular basis. I prepare with my staff however proper now, I’m within the giving stage of my life. I do know my combat profession is finished. I’d like to combat for myself now, which might be enjoyable, however I’m in a giving stage.”
The giving stage includes the following era of fighters on the lookout for alternatives like Coker as soon as gave Melendez when he was competing beneath the Strikeforce banner. Now Melendez desires to do the identical for fighters close to his residence in California.
“We consider there are plenty of diamonds within the tough out right here,” Melendez mentioned. “However there are some established fighters, there are some veterans who actually paved the way in which out right here, who continues to maintain the fireplace alive for Bay Space martial arts and Scott and I and the staff need to spotlight them.”
