Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Strikeforce Fights

2. Gilbert Melendez vs. Josh Thomson 3 | May 19, 2012

Melendez vs. Thomson is one of the greatest trilogies in MMA history, cruelly ignored because it didn't occur on a canvas with the UFC logo. Melendez may well have been the best lightweight of the early 2010s in any promotion, and indeed, he was robbed when he later fought Benson Henderson, the UFC champion during that time. Despite Strikeforce boasting many great future UFC champions like Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, Ronda Rousey and “Cris Cyborg,” it was Melendez who topped Sherdog's list of the greatest Strikeforce fighters ever. However, Thomson wasn't far behind, easily being a top 5 lightweight of that era himself. Melendez had lost his Strikeforce title in a shocking upset to Thomson in their first meeting, with “The Punk” winning every round. Melendez had convincingly won the rematch, taking it 49-46 on two scorecards and 49-47 on another. However, it was their final meeting that was a true masterpiece, with Melendez taking a split decision which everyone had either 48-47 one way or the other, with no clear agreement to this day. I won't summarize all the major events of the fight as it would take too long, but I urge everyone to watch this incredible war, with Melendez and Thomson waging uncompromising war in every aspect of MMA: striking, grappling and the clinch.

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