Gilbert Melendez

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

Known For

NCIS: Los Angeles

The Ultimate Fighter

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg

Supreme Champion

UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III

UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum

Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal

All Movies (30)

• Quintet Ultra2019
• UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos2019 · as Self
• Submission Underground 82019 · as Self
• UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 22017 · as Self
• UFC on Fox 20: Holm vs. Shevchenko2016 · as Self
• UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum2015 · as Self
• UFC 181: Hendricks vs. Lawler II2014 · as Self
• Mexican Fighter2013 · as Self
• UFC 166: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos III2013 · as Self
• UFC on Fox 7: Henderson vs. Melendez2013 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier2012 · as Self
• Fight Life2012 · as Himself
• Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal2011 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley2011 · as Self
• Supreme Champion2010 · as Logger
• Strikeforce: Nashville2010 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Evolution2009 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg2009 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz2009 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson2008 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Le2008 · as Self
• Yarennoka!2007 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Playboy Mansion2007 · as Self
• Pride Shockwave 20062006 · as Self
• Pride Bushido 122006 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Revenge2006 · as Self
• Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Gracie2006 · as Self
• WEC 10: Bragging Rights2004 · as Self
• WEC 6: Return of a Legend2003 · as Self
• WEC 5: Halloween Fury2002 · as Self

All TV Shows (3)

• Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown2013 · as Self
• NCIS: Los Angeles2009 · as Self - Strikeforce Fighter
• The Ultimate Fighter2005 · as Head Coach