Melendez On New UFC Deal: ‘Everyone thinks I’m this millionaire now, but that’s not the case’

“I feel like I got a fair offer. I’m very happy. I think it’s fair and I think I’ve earned this and I think I’m a smart fighter. Everyone thinks I’m this millionaire or something now, but that’s not the case. Things can go well and I feel like it’s a very fair deal. I think I did well for myself and my team, we played it smart. I didn’t try to go crazy on it. I got job security and I’m happy with it all. I think it’s a great deal and I think it’s fair.”
While Melendez declared UFC was the only company he wanted to fight for, he did reveal that he was ready to make the jump over to Bellator, but a conversation with Fertitta changed his mind.

“I felt like I was choosing my own adventure. Going into this, I was serious, I was ready to make the jump (to Bellator) and I was going to make the best out of it and succeed either way, in my mind. You do go back and forth, and, where I’m at right now, I’m completely happy. I’m fighting for the belt, I’m doing the TV show and I’m in the UFC. I’m very stoked on that. Once I had that conversation with Lorenzo, I was very happy to be a part of the UFC. It’s the best platform out there, it’s great to be here and to finally be somewhere where I can call a home to where I think will be the rest of my career.”

During a stint on this morning’s ‘The MMA Hour’ with Ariel Helwani, UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez, openly discussed his new contract with the UFC.

Everyone is making a big deal about what is supposedly a landmark deal for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, but ‘El Nino’ calls the deal ‘fair’ and stops short of calling himself independently wealthy.