TEMECULA, Calif. – Keri Melendez is a unique commodity on the Bellator roster in that she continues to be booked in strawweight bouts when the promotion has no formal division.
Melendez (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) picked up another win in the weight class on Friday when she defeated Mandy Polk (6-5 MMA, 0-1 BMMA) by unanimous decision at Bellator 229, which took place at Pechanga Resort & Casino.
Thus far, Bellator only officially carries women’s featherweight and women’s flyweight classes. Melendez would like to see another added, and she hopes her latest victory contributes to the process of making it happen.
“I’m hoping I can prove to them that there’s a division to be built here, and there’s a lot of 115ers out there,” Melendez told MMA Junkie post-fight at Bellator 229. “They haven’t said anything to me yet, but they have been keeping me on the roster, taking care of me really well.”
Melendez, the wife of former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran Gilbert Melendez, has only fought four times since her MMA debut in November 2016. She’s taken the slow-and-steady approach to her career, but said she’s still very much learning.
She didn’t hesitate to admit glaring mistakes took place in the fight with Polk, and even revealed some of the criticism she received from her husband.
“I got bum-rushed for the takedown, and I hit her with that right hand and then I still got taken down,” Melendez said. “Gilbert was saying I need to not admire my work. I hit her, and I was waiting to hit and uppercut or a knee, and I maybe delayed on it a little bit. I’ll have to watch it.”
Nevertheless, Melendez walked out of Bellator 229 with her undefeated record intact. That’s the ultimate objective, but she vowed to continue learning as she goes into her next fight.
“I do feel more comfortable in there, and the compliment I’m getting is I’m a calm fighter, and I’m prepared very well,” Melendez said. “I have great coaches, great training partners. Of course I can always improve on certain things, and I’m still going to improve on the mistakes I made in this fight, but I am very calm. That’s how I like to be.”
