By John Moody UFC Lightweight Champion, Frankie Edgar, is deep into his training camp for the trilogy fight with Gray Maynard in May.  Part of that training includes tutelage from John Danaher, one of the best Jiu Jitsu coaches and strategists in the game based at Renzo Gracie's gym in New York City. Recently, Edgar took time to talk with Fighters.com about training with Danaher, fighting Gilbert Melendez in the future, his new T-shirt, Ricardo Almeida's retirement, and if he has decided the walk out music for his third consecutive title-fight defense. Click through to watch the interview. ...

Last Saturday, arguably strikeforce's most successful event went off without a hitch, as two of the organization's more dominant champions successfully defended their titles before an electric crowd in San Diego, California. Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez, teammates under the infamous Cesar Gracie brand, were both successful in their respective title bouts, with Diaz laying claim as one of the best and most dangerous welterweight fighters in the world with his first-round TKO over UFC castout Paul Daley, and Gilbert with his highly anticipated rematch with Japanese sensation Tatusya Kawajiri, which resulted in a one-sided TKO win for "El Nino". While the two men were perhaps among the nights most impressive winners, they were also among the top-earners for the entire event. ...

Nick Diaz wasn’t the only Strikeforce champion to turn in a very dramatic, decidedly awesome performance at Strikeforce’s recent “Diaz vs. Daley” event. Coming off of a layoff that spanned almost a year, Gilbert Melendez stormed into “Diaz vs. Daley” and rolled right through Tatsuya Kawajiri. But now that Melendez has just put on one of the best performances of his career, it’s time to ask: what’s next? Here’s my answer to just that: my top 5 opponents for Gilbert Melendez. ...

While the victory wasn't necessarily the cleanest "knockout" finish, bare with me. It's a known fact that Gilbert Melendez is, at the very least, one of the top-3 best lightweight fighters in the world. Though if you asked "El Nino" he would try to convince you otherwise. With his time and dedication spent in the world of mixed martial arts, not too many people can rival the skill or experience that Melendez is acquired over the years. And while his original meeting with "The Crusher" Tatsuya Kawajiri has in the past been panned as a bad decision resulting in the favor of the Cesar Gracie product, there is no denying now his place as one of the best, if not the best, lightweight fighter in the world after his own "crushing" of the battle tested Japanese fighter. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to another new edition of “Best of the Rest”! I really enjoy taking the time to give my detailed thoughts on a show after watching it, but after the serious discussion and debate I’ll raise in topics like “Top 5 Best Moments” and “Best Performance of the Night”, I think it’d be nice to have a tongue-in-cheek topic where I give out some other “awards”. It’s all in good fun, so don’t take any of it too seriously. So let’s dive right into this latest edition, now featuring Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”. ...

A great night of fights, Saturday, with the quality of combat tilted heavily to the Strikeforce card emanating out of San Diego compared to Bellator 40 out of Oklahoma.  Nick Diaz and Gilbert Melendez laid down inspired performances giving notice to their new boss, Dana White, that there may not be much of a talent gap between Strikeforce Champions and UFC belt holders.  Farther east in the Sooner state, the favorites won in pedestrian fashion while setting up some intriguing matches going forward.  Lets get to the chum. ...

Strikeforce’s recent “Diaz vs. Daley” event featured several big finishes from some of Strikeforce’s brightest stars. And above all else, it was Team Cesar Gracie that showed their dominance, with Gilbert Melendez dramatically finishing Tatsuya Kawajiri while Nick Diaz became the first man to ever legitimately TKO Paul Daley. But which stars shined brightest, and what moments will fans be talking about in the following weeks? Here’s my take on the matter: my top 5 best moments of Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”. ...

Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley” was an interesting event to say the very least. It was a night of fights that featured brutal stoppages, fantastic submissions, and one very controversial Majority Draw. Now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold after “Diaz vs. Daley”? Here’s my answer to just that: a new edition of my “What’s Next for the Winners and Losers” series of articles, now featuring Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”. ...

The first Strikeforce “Arena Series” show held under the Zuffa banner took place tonight, and “Diaz vs. Daley” is now in the history books. It was a night of fights that started big and got progressively bigger. Two championships were on the line tonight, and several amazing finishes occurred throughout the broadcast . Here are the full results as well as some early commentary on Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”. ...

We’re now only a couple of days away from Strikeforce’s “Diaz vs. Daley” event. It’s a live, free night of fights on the Showtime network that I’ve spent a lot of time talking about. And for good reason: it’s a stacked “Arena Series” show with two dominant champions taking on two very worthy challengers. But now it’s time for my final say: this is another “Finally Final Thoughts”, covering my last, assorted thoughts and feelings before “Diaz vs. Daley”. Let’s get to it. ...

On April 9, 2011, Strikeforce will hold its highly-anticipated “Diaz vs. Daley” event, featuring Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz defending the belt against one of the hardest strikers anyone at 170 could possibly face: KO machine Paul Daley. Also, Gilbert Melendez returns after an extended hiatus to defend his Strikeforce Lightweight Championship against Keith Jardine. Still, some fans may be asking themselves: what are the best reasons to check out this card? Here’s my answer to just that: 5 reasons to watch Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”. ...

We’re now only a few days away from Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley. In the main event, Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz looks to successfully defend his belt for the third time (which would make him the most dominant champion in Strikeforce history) by beating challenger and notorious bad-boy Paul Daley. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez returns after almost a year off to make the second defense of his championship, this time against Tatsuya Kawajiri. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring Strikeforce: "Diaz vs. Daley". ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” is a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA event. Everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event, and even where and when you can find it on TV is all covered in detail. So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley” ...

Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz will fight anyone. He's proven such accolades in the past, as he has taken fights in the lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, and even light heavyweight division. So now with the acquisition of Strikeforce into the Zuffa fold, things have gotten a little bit skewed once again. The loyalty that him and his team (Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu) share is undeniable--arguably the most loyal team in the sport of mixed martial arts. When Jake Shields and Nick Diaz were both under the Strikeforce banner, Shields moved up to the middleweight class exclusively, just so he can avoid having to run into his teammate, and eventually both men became champions. So when people ask whether Diaz will fight any of his teammates, the answer is clear. So in Diaz' opinion, were Rashad Evans and Jon Jones ever "real teammates"? Definitely, not. Because that's not loyalty. ...

While his participation in an upcoming title fight with strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez had been in question, Japan's Tatsuya Kawajiri will continue to be a fixture on the upcoming April 9 event. Since Japan has been ravaged with many natural disasters, including flash floods, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, and after shocks that have taken the lives of upwards of 10,000 people, several prominent mixed martial arts have pulled out from their respective bouts in upcoming events, most notably Yoshihiro Akiyama who was originally scheduled to face Nate Marquardt this past weekend. The Japanese Judoka pulled out of his middleweight bout with the Greg Jackson product due to the torrential conditions that have plagued Japan, and many have since sympathized with him and the many others that have been effected by this tragedy. Kawajiri, however, is not looking for sympathy and will continue to drive forward in order to become possibly the first fighter from Japan to win a title in a major U.S. promotion. ...

Everyone has been talking about it: Strikeforce is now a Zuffa-owned company. It’s become apparent that the upstart promotion will continue to operate as its own entity for at least the next two years or so, but after that it’s anyone’s guess. So of course, many are hoping that there comes a day where the UFC’s best meets Strikeforce’s best. I too can’t wait for that day, so here’s a little something we’ve all been discussing lately: my top 5 Strikeforce vs. UFC matches. Let’s get to it. ...

While largely the acquisition of Strikeforce under the Zuffa banner hasn't changed much, if anything, in the mixed martial arts community, one thing will change for certain. Long has the UFC adopted the unified rules of combat, which allows fighters to use elbows to a grounded opponent, which is something that Strikeforce has exclusively stayed away from since their tenure. However, now that Strikeforce has become part of the Zuffa umbrella, it looks like that said fighters will now be able to utilize elbows to a grounded opponent, which will be detrimental to the style of several prominent fighters under the banner of the San Jose based promotion. ...

One fight back in the promotion, and Jorge Masvidal has now possibly found himself right back into the title hunt at 155-pounds. The American Top Team product was last inside the cage when he bested then undefeated lightweight prospect Billy Evangelista with a dominating decision win just a few weeks ago. The Cuban fighter has stated that he would like to fight on a consistent, rapid basis and he might now get his wish. Originally, Jorge was expected to possibly clash with KJ Noons in Texas this April, however with the recent tragedies in Japan, Masvidal could next fill in for Tatsuya Kawajiri in order to face reigning lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez. ...

Although strikeforce fans will have to wait longer than originally expected for the second half of the opening round of the Strikeforce World Heavyweight Grand Prix to get under way, Strikeforce has still plenty left in their arsenal besides big names like Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. In fact, Strikeforce recently confirmed four matches for their upcoming April 9 event, with each one sounding absolutely awesome on paper. Here’s the latest on Strikeforce: “Diaz vs. Daley”. ...

An anticipated rematch in the lightweight division, could finally be coming to ahead. Though both men have spent a majority of their careers on opposite sides of the globe, both are touted as some of the best lightweight fighters in their division. Current Strikeforce titleholder Gilbert Melendez has been rumored for sometime to be taking on former rival Tatsuay Kawajiri in the foreseeable future, though nothing has been certain as of yet. However recently, the bout's likelihood has become more and more relevant, as their appears to be a date and location anticipated for said lightweight match-up. ...

That question is posed honestly and not cynically, by the way. It’s recently been confirmed that Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez has extended his contract with the promotion, to the point where he should be calling Strikeforce home for the next several years. But what’s left for him to do? I think it’s a valid point to state that the UFC has the better Lightweight division, but even so, I think Melendez has some interesting bouts ahead of him in Strikeforce. So, in order to flesh out why I think Melendez made the right decision, here’s a “Top 5” list of five things “El Nino” has left to do in Strikeforce, in no particular order. ...

Currently riding a three-fight win streak and premiering as on of the consensus top-3 lightweights in the world, Gilbert Melendez had a lot of leverage in picking and choosing where his career could go with some of his recent success. With dominating victories over the likes of Mitsuhiro Ishada and Josh Thomson, which avenged two of the sole losses on Melendez' 18-2 record, Gilbert capped off his impressive career so far with a one sided five-round affair of DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki last April. However, the Cesar Gracie product has remained loyal to the San Jose based organization, and will remain with Strikeforce for the foreseeable future. ...

Looks like the San Jose based promotion will be gearing up for a rematch in pitting current Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez for his second title defense as he may be taking on former rival Tatsuya Kawajiri for the 155-pound title. The two standouts originally met a little over four years ago under the now defunct PRIDE banner, where Melendez scored a pretty close decision victory over the Japanese superstar. Since their encounter, both men have found tons of success in their division, with Kawajiri clearing house in Japan while Melendez took care of all comers that Strikeforce had to offer him here in the States. ...

Two of Strikeforce’s top lighter-weight fighters have agreed to fight each other in theory, although in practice, nothing has come close to being confirmed and the bout does seem a bit unlikely. In a recent interview, Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez stated that he would like to take on any and all comers, even outside of his weight division, and mentioned feared striker and newly-signed Strikeforce star Paul Daley in particular. “Semtex”, who fights at Welterweight, recently responded by saying that he’d take the fight if it was offered to him even though he’d likely get some negative press from the MMA media for doing so. Here are all the details. ...

The famed New Year's Eve “DYNAMITE” show in Japan has traditionally been one of the most star-studded events of the year, combining both K-1 and MMA fights into one super-show that usually sells out arenas with ease. But this December, Japanese fight fans won’t be able to look forward to seeing one of their biggest stars get a shot at both revenge and redemption. According to a new report, Gilbert Melendez vs. Shinya Aoki 2 has now been officially scrapped from the upcoming “DYNAMITE 2010” card. Here are all the details. ...

Former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson has a lot going for him these days. He remains one of Strikeforce’s biggest lighter-weight stars, he’s won his last two fights, and he seems poised to take part in a third and final encounter with Gilbert Melendez, with the first two fights widely regarded as Fight of the Year contenders. However, Thomson recently put his foot in his mouth to such a degree that it’s probably in his lower intestine by now. When asked for his thoughts on the pending merger between the UFC and the WEC, Thomson lashed out at the WEC and its roster of Lightweight talent. ...

With the limited number of quality opponent's to adhere to Melendez' request, Scott Coker finds himself in a bind. The Strikeforce CEO has put "El Nino" through the ringer, and he has delivered each and every time. Having defeated the likes of Tatsuya Kawajiri, Rodrigo Damm, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Josh Thomson and now Shinya Aoki last April, Melendez is looking for new and exciting quality opponents. While a third match with Thomson, who has recently bounced back from the loss to his fellow Californian native last December with two consecutive wins over Pat Healy and "JZ" Cavalcante, would be appealing to fans, it's something that Melendez has openly criticized, wanting to face new competition. With a potential fight with Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez dangling in the wind after Bjorn, the organization's CEO, and Coker have had it out in the media, the back and forth has nearly solidified the fact that the two parties may never come to an agreement. ...

Although Bellator FC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez stands out as the fighter most talked about in regards to next opponents, when it comes to strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez nothing is certain. It had been rumored that Melendez would rematch DREAM Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki at the annual end-of-year Japanese super-show “DYNAMITE”. Aoki famously lost to Melendez stateside at Strikeforce: "Nashville" earlier this year. But according to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, there’s a large possibility that Melendez/Aoki 2 won’t be happening now that rumors of fiscal irresponsibility have begun to plague DREAM. ...

The back and forth between CEO's Bjorn Rebney and Scott Coker has gone on long enough, with no resolution in sight. I don't think there was really any outcry for a Gilbert Melendez vs Eddie Alvarez fight to begin with, at least not until both champions of their respective organization's went on a media frenzy calling out one another like kids before recess. Would I like to see this fight? Absolutely. But, according Rebney, it looks like the possibility of a match up between these two stellar lightweights seems to be thinning as we speak. Bjorn, the Bellator owner and founder, has now responded in kind to Coker, the Strikeforce CEO, asking him to "Have (Gilbert Melendez) stop talking about the fight, so that Eddie can not have to respond to it and I don’t have to respond to it, or just sit down with me and let’s work it out". ...

The once-friendly rivalry between Bellator FC and Strikeforce has begun to fully emerge as a real-life MMA promotional war. Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has been on the attack for the last several weeks, his latest salvo involved the posting of text messages online that show him frequently talking to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker about a supposed “Champion vs. Champion” match revolving around Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez and Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker had in fact denied receiving any texts from Rebney prior to these texts going online. Not phased in the slightest and definitely not amused, the soft-spoken Coker recently said that Rebney simply texted a number that is no longer used and that his “high school” tactics are detrimental to a working relationship. ...