Gilbert Melendez vs. Benson Henderson set for April Fox card
UPDATE: Yahoo! Sports Kevin Iole has confirmed that Melendez vs. Henderson and Mir vs. Cormier will happen on April 20 at HP Pavilion in San Jose for UFC on Fox 7. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Feb. 15.
Though other Strikeforce fighters have been matched up for bouts within the UFC, the first of the current champions has a bout. Gilbert Melendez, the longtime Strikeforce lightweight champion, will reportedly take on Benson Henderson at the UFC on Fox's show in April.
It will be Melendez's first fight since May, when he beat Josh Thomson in a split decision. Melendez was supposed to fight in September, but an injury kept him from the card. Again, he was scheduled to fight on Strikeforce's final card in January, but shoulder problems kept him off the card.
By contrast, Henderson was incredibly active in 2012. He fought three championship bouts: two against Edgar, and one against Melendez's teammate Nate Diaz. All three were won by decision.
No matter who wins this bout, it's interesting that the UFC will have a champion who was crowned first in another promotion that was owned by the same company as the UFC. Henderson was the WEC lightweight champion, but lost the belt to Anthony Pettis in the show's final fight. He won the UFC belt with a win over Edgar.
Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier also asked to be on the Fox card. After his win on Saturday night, Cormier said he wanted to fight Frank Mir on Fox's April event. Cormier was originally slated to fight Mir in November, but Mir had to withdraw because of an injury. Henderson-Melendez and Cormier-Mir is the start of a fun set of fights for Fox.
