Gilbert Melendez resigns with UFC, set to coach opposite Anthony Pettis on TUF 20
Feb 25, 2014, 7:07 PM | Updated: 7:08 pm
On Sunday, the UFC announced that No. 2 ranked lightweight Gilbert Melendez has agreed to a new contract with the organization.
All of this comes after several weeks of negotiations that saw Melendez agree to a massive contract with the UFC’s rival promotion Bellator MMA. However, the UFC retained matching rights, which they apparently exercised as Melendez agreed to one of most lucrative contracts in MMA history.
Melendez’s new contract would include (via MMAFighting.com):
… at least 75 percent of the 31-year-old’s fights will be contested on pay-per-view moving forward. Additionally, income earned from Melendez’s contracted pay-per-view points will kick in at a lower minimum buy rate than for any contract in UFC history, meaning Melendez will still earn pay-per-view point earnings on an event that performs poorly at the box office.
Melendez will also earn pay-per-view income regardless of his placement on an event, i.e., regardless of whether he fights in the main event, co-main event or main card.
UFC officials also announced Melendez would coach The Ultimate Fighter 20 opposite lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. The two will then compete for the belt later this year.
TUF 20 begins filming in May and will feature the launch of the women’s strawweight division. The winner of the season will be crowned the first UFC women’s 115-pound champion.