Strikeforce
Gilbert Melendez defends Strikeforce Title against Pat Healy on Sept. 29
Jul 25, 2012 - 4:00:13 PM Gilbert Melendez defends Strikeforce Title against Pat Healy on Sept. 29

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Gilbert Melendez has his next title defense set, as Strikeforce announced on Wednesday that he'll take on Pat Healy in the main event of their Sept. 29 event in Sacramento, Calif.

Melendez won his seventh straight title fight in May, defeating Josh Thomson for a second time at Strikeforce "Barnett vs. Cormier." That decision win brought him to 9-1 lifetime in Strikeforce title bouts, his sole loss coming against Thomson by decision in their first meeting.

Healy has won five straight fights into this title bout, and is 6-1 in his Strikeforce run, his sole loss coming against Thomson as well in 2010. In his most recent bout, he edged past Mizuto Hirota on the "Rockhold vs. Kennedy" card a week and a half ago.

The event will take place from the Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, and in addition to the Lightweight Title bout, a heavyweight bout featuring Daniel Cormier will take place on the card. His opponent will be announced in the coming days.

"There's no doubt that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but he's facing a tough test when he defends the Strikeforce Lightweight Title against Pat Healy in Sacramento," Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said. "Pat has been around the sport a long time and has put together an impressive winning streak. This is the biggest fight of his life and he doesn't want to waste this opportunity."

Penick's Analysis: Healy was getting out-wrestled by Hirota to start their bout, and really didn't have an impressive showing, but when the only other option for Strikeforce right now was a fourth fight between Melendez and Thomson, this is the way they went. This is the spot Melendez is stuck in for now, and the biggest battle he has in this matchup is with himself. He had a poorer performance against Thomson in May in part because of a lack of motivation for the fight, and he has to make sure that doesn't happen this time around.