KJ Noons to Face Strikeforce Champion Gilbert Melendez with One More Win

Earlier this week KJ Noons revealed to MMAweekly.com that if he gets past Jorge Masvidal on June 18th then he will be the No. 1 contender for top-ranked Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.

Most of the speculation around Melendez's next opponent had revolved around fighting one of the top lightweights in the UFC, if not the champion.

Now it looks like it could very well be the 9-2 MMA fighter and 11-2 pro boxer.

The No.1 contender status for Noons' next fight has yet to be independently confirmed by Zuffa or Strikeforce, but contender status is usually an unofficial label and for all intents and purposes we have reason to believe Noons.  

Noons' last fight was a five-round decision loss in which he moved up in weight to challenge his rival and highly respected Strikeforce welterweight champion, Nick Diaz.

Although victory eluded him, the battle proved that Noons belongs against some of MMA's best, even when competing outside of his natural weight class.

Fans may have to wait longer than originally hoped to see Gilbert Melendez matched up with some of the big names on the UFC roster, but this potential showdown against Noons has all kinds of potential to be a barn-burner of its own.

First and foremost, however, KJ Noons must go to war against talented American Top Team product Jorge Masvidal at Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum on June 18.