Melendez has no plans for Aoki in near future
On Saturday, Shinya Aoki made the impromptu announcement following his submission win over Tatsuya Kawajiri, that he would be facing…
On Saturday, Shinya Aoki made the impromptu announcement following his submission win over Tatsuya Kawajiri, that he would be facing Gilbert Melendez at Dream 16 in September. Apparently, Aoki forgot to check with Gilbert Melendez on that whole idea.
Speaking with MMAWeekly.com via text message on Monday, Strikeforce official Mike Afromowitz shot down the possible match-up, as Melendez doesn’t expect to return till later this year.
“No chance,” Afromowitz answered about a September fight for Melendez and Aoki. “He won’t be back till later in the fall.”
“I want my baby to come, I want to be able to take care of her, and spend some time with her, and help my girl out as well. So maybe towards the end of the year I’m thinking about fighting,” Melendez told MMAWeekly Radio after the fight with Aoki in April. “I’m going to have to talk to Scott Coker, see what he thinks, but yeah I want to spend some time with my family, get rested up.”