Gilbert Melendez
Born: 1982-04-12
Known For: Acting
Biography
Gilbert "El Niño" Melendez is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist who has fought at Featherweight and currently fights at Lightweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a two-time Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and a former WEC Lightweight Champion. He also competed in PRIDE FC, Shooto, and Rumble on the Rock. Melendez holds the distinction of being one of a select group of fighters who have ever been ranked #1 in the world in two weight classes in MMA, among the likes of Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, Randy Couture, Kazushi Sakuraba, and BJ Penn. Melendez was nicknamed after the infamous El Niño storm that wreaks havoc across the Pacific Rim. It was given to him by a Japanese broadcaster describing his fight-style and the manner in which he stormed through the Shooto Featherweight division
Filmography
2019
- Submission Underground 8 as Self
- Quintet Ultra
- UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos as Self
2017
- UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2 as Self
2016
2015
- UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum as Self
2014
- UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II as Self
2013
- Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown as Self
- UFC on Fox 7: Henderson vs. Melendez as Self
- Mexican Fighter as Self
- UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III as Self
2012
- Fight Life as Himself
- Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier as Self
2011
- Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley as Self
- Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal as Self
2010
- Supreme Champion as Logger
- Strikeforce: Nashville as Self
2009
- NCIS: Los Angeles as Self - Strikeforce Fighter
- Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg as Self
- Strikeforce: Evolution as Self
- Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz as Self
2008
- Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le as Self
- Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson as Self
2007
- Yarennoka! as Self
- Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion as Self
2006
- Strikeforce: Revenge as Self
- Pride Bushido 12 as Self
- Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie as Self
- Pride Shockwave 2006 as Self
2005
- The Ultimate Fighter as Head Coach
2004
- WEC 10: Bragging Rights as Self
2003
- WEC 6: Return of a Legend as Self
2002
- WEC 5: Halloween Fury as Self