Noons Likes How He Matches Up Against Melendez
After outpointing Billy
Evangelista on Saturday, K.J. Noons is
already getting asked about a potential matchup against Strikeforce
lightweight champion Gilbert
Melendez.
“I think Gilbert’s a great champion,” Noons told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I think he’s definitely one of the best. Styles make fights. I think I’m getting better as a fighter just all around, everywhere. I think I match up well.”
Melendez also fought Saturday, defending his belt with a unanimous
decision over Jorge
Masvidal -- an opponent Noons knows well. Masvidal actually
earned his shot at the title with a win over Noons in June. He went
the distance with Melendez but won only one round on one judge’s
scorecard. Still, Noons was impressed with the performance.
“He was very successful with the jab,” Noons said of Masvidal. “I don’t think he did enough to win the fight. I personally don’t think Gil would stand that much with me. I think [Melendez] has a great ground game too. I think he would go wherever his advantage is.”
Noons is also content to stick with Strikeforce.
“The UFC said they’re going to build it and make it successful,” he said. “We’ll just kind of see what they do. Every time they say they’re going to do something, they do it. We’ll kind of see where it goes from there. I think as long as I can progress as a fighter and get better and put exciting fights on, and as long as I win, I’ll have a job somewhere, under Strikeforce or UFC.”
Noons said as long as he’s busy, he’ll be happy. He added, though, that some day he would like a shot in the UFC -- particularly if Melendez ever makes the move.
“I would be disappointed if Gilbert went over,” Noons said. “Then it’s like they just took the number one guy. Then I’d be like, ‘OK, let’s get over there,’ because the goal is to be the best.”
Listen to the full interview (beginning at 12:19).
“I think Gilbert’s a great champion,” Noons told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I think he’s definitely one of the best. Styles make fights. I think I’m getting better as a fighter just all around, everywhere. I think I match up well.”
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“He was very successful with the jab,” Noons said of Masvidal. “I don’t think he did enough to win the fight. I personally don’t think Gil would stand that much with me. I think [Melendez] has a great ground game too. I think he would go wherever his advantage is.”
For now at least it seems the bout could happen since both fighters
will be staying in Strikeforce. Melendez had expressed a wish to
move over to the UFC. However, Zuffa, which owns the UFC and
Strikeforce, has since vowed to keep Strikeforce running and make
it worthy of fighters like Melendez.
Noons is also content to stick with Strikeforce.
“The UFC said they’re going to build it and make it successful,” he said. “We’ll just kind of see what they do. Every time they say they’re going to do something, they do it. We’ll kind of see where it goes from there. I think as long as I can progress as a fighter and get better and put exciting fights on, and as long as I win, I’ll have a job somewhere, under Strikeforce or UFC.”
Noons said as long as he’s busy, he’ll be happy. He added, though, that some day he would like a shot in the UFC -- particularly if Melendez ever makes the move.
“I would be disappointed if Gilbert went over,” Noons said. “Then it’s like they just took the number one guy. Then I’d be like, ‘OK, let’s get over there,’ because the goal is to be the best.”
Listen to the full interview (beginning at 12:19).
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