Gilbert Melendez on BJ Penn - I'd love to fight him.

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MMAyou.com caught up with Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez. Check out what Gil's plans are at 155, his thoughts on facing BJ Penn, Urijah Faber, and much more.

MMAyou.com: First, how are you doing?

Melendez: I'm doing great man. Just training like always and doing pretty good.

MMAyou.com: You're one of the better fighters in the world that has never fought in the UFC. Would you like to fight there?

Melendez: I like to fight everywhere. I like to fight the best fighters, let's put it that way. BJ Penn and Sean Sherk are there so definitelyÂ I'd like to go there and mix it up with those guys. There's definitely some tough guys out there in that weight class in the UFC that I'd like to fight with.

MMAyou.com: That was actually my next question. How do you feel you would do in a fight with BJ Penn at 155?

Melendez: I'm not saying I could beat anyone in the weight class or beat BJ but I think I have enough skills to bang with them and possibly win. I'd love to fight him.Â I think the guy is amazing and I like him as a person even. I think it's time for me to make that move to be the number one guy in the world so I think I could beat anyone in the world right now.

MMAyou.com: Would you like to fight Urijah Faber at 145? Would that be a fight you would be interested in?

Melendez: You know it's always been a cross. A lot of people don't know but I was the number one 45lber in the world before I went up to 155. I was ranked above BR. I beat a lot of guys. I established myself there. It was definitely an option at the time, something I came across.

If he keeps whipping ass at 145 or something like that, maybe I'll meet him at a catch weight at 150. If the money fight is right, yeah, I'll go down there. Once again that guy is a great fighter and a good person, I've talked to him. It wouldn't be easy but for the right price I'd fight anybody.

MMAyou.com: What is more important for MMA, BJJ or wrestling?

Melendez: I gotta say, I was a wrestler first. I gotta say wrestling. I've seen wrestlers, I've seen really great wrestlers pick up a decent base for Jiu Jitsu in a matter of months. It will take a Jiu Jitsu guy sometimes years to get a really good base for wrestling.

I believe they're both equally as important and I think they're both equally necessary. One without the other isn't any good.

MMAyou.com: That makes sense. What has been your toughest fight so far?

Melendez: My toughest fight must of been against to me against Kawajiri. I squeaked it out and won that fight. We just banged and went at it. I felt good that day, felt good that day, and it was a war. That was the only fight I've ever fought and thought "Man, I need to get paid more money for this." Other then that to me it's been pretty easy money.

MMAyou.com: How do you like living in San Fran?

Melendez: San Fran is an interesting, interesting city. I love it. It's home now. I have a great group of friends out here that are like family to me. It's a cool city. Everyone's on their own trip. No one's worrying about my business, I'm not worrying about their business. There's nothing I haven't seen in the world that I can't see here.

I love San Francisco. It's definitely home. I love California. I'm from Southern California originally so I love it all.

MMAyou.com: Let's do a quick word association where you tell me the first thing that comes to your mind.

MMAyou.com: Dana White.

Melendez: Godfather.

MMAyou.com: Frank Shamrock.

Melendez: Pioneer.

MMAyou.com: GSP

Melendez: One of the best in the world, no doubt.

MMAyou.com: Gina Carano.

Melendez: One of the best females in the world. And good lookin.

MMAyou.com: Eddie Bravo

Melendez: Another evolution in Jiu Jitsu.