Melendez vs. Masvidal -- 5 things to watch for

Nitesh Dutt
CSNBayArea.com

As 2011 draws to an end, fans of Strikeforce were reassured that the promotion will be around in 2012 and after. However, it is still unsure how much star power the company will have at its disposal. They have already lost the likes of Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, Cung Le and Nick Diaz. It is believed that Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez is next.

There is one slight problem with that. Melendez, #1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in Northern California, will defend his title against Jorge Masvidal on December 17 in San Diego.

A win for Melendez would all but promise him a spot in the UFC, as Dana White and Co. have made it clear that they want Gilbert as soon as possible. However, Masvidal would love nothing more than to put those plans on hold and take the title away from Gilbert.

What can fans expect to see between these two men, each of whom are fighting for something major? Melendez a chance to soon fight with the best in the world. For Masvidal, a chance to prove that he will not be a mere footnote in the lightweight division.

Here are five things fight fans should look out for in this title fight:

Melendez’s mat work vs. Masvidal’s stand-up: Both fighters are skilled strikers, but Masvidal will have a slight reach advantage in this fight. The two-inch difference in reach might force Melendez to use more of his wrestling and BJJ skills.

Will either fighter suffer from cage rust?: Melendez hasn’t fought since April of this year and Masvidal hasn’t stepped inside a cage since June. Those aren’t considered long layoffs, but it is still worth wondering if that’ll be cause for concern.

Cardio, cardio…CARDIO!: Both fighters are known to have impeccable conditioning and, chances are, they’ll need it in this title fight. Melendez is 7-2 in fights that go to decision, while Masvidal is 11-3. Both have knockout power, but look for cardio to be the deciding factor on Saturday night.

Can Masvidal accept the pressure?: This Masvidal’s first title shot in Strikeforce and his first championship fight since 2006, he won the Absolute Fighting Championship Welterweight title. It is not a question of whether or not he is ready to fight, but is he prepared to take that step to become champion?

Melendez focus on Masvidal or the UFC?: With so much being said about his future in MMA, where will Melendez’s focus be? He’s said countless times that he is focused on the task at hand, which is Masvidal, but will the thought of a possible 2012 UFC debut be on his mind?

Follow me on Twitter at @NiteshDutt