Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez in UFC? Count UFC prez among proponents

It might be a while before we see Strikeforce champions in the octagon.

But there's one whom UFC president Dana White can't wait to give a shot.

That champ, lightweight Gilbert Melendez, is working behind the scenes this week as his longtime friend Jake Shields prepares to meet Georges St-Pierre in the main event of UFC 129, and teammates Nate Diaz and Daniel Roberts go to work on the pay-per-view event's prelminary card.

White, however, can sense that Melendez is chomping at the bit to fight in the UFC, and he looks forward to the day where he can put the fighter front and center.

"Gilbert's one of the top guys in the world, no doubt about it," White said on Wednesday following a pre-fight press conference in support of UFC 129, which takes place Saturday at Rogers Centre in Toronto. "I love that kid."

Melendez, who recently defended his belt a second time with a vicious TKO of Tatsuya Kawajiri earlier this month at "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley," was an early advocate of the purchase of Strikeforce by UFC parent company Zuffa LLC. He said it opened doors to cross-promotional superfights, namely in a lightweight division in which he holds the crown. It put behind him the full weight of the world's biggest fight promotion, which could bring a new level of name recognition after several years competing on the fringe of the mainstream.

White, however, pumped the brakes on seeing Strikeforce vs. UFC fights following the buyout, and he stated that Strikeforce fighters will fulfill their current contracts before any of them are considered fair game by his promotion. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker echoed that sentiment and said Melendez's next opponent will come from within his ranks – not the UFC.

But the UFC president also can see how much Melendez wants the opportunity to fight those considered to be the world's best lightweights, and how that's not an entirely reachable goal until he fights in the UFC.

With the Strikeforce lightweight champion walking around on the edges of this weekend's historic event, it's clear to White that there's perhaps no one waiting as anxiously as Melendez for the day he can fulfill his wish.

"It's always (that) when we get these kids that come out of some other organization, they're just so fired up and ready," White said. "They see this stuff and what's going on here, and obviously (he's a) longtime Jake Shields friend and training partner and sees what Jake's going through right now.

"This is what guys dream about. If you're a fighter, this right here – what's happening today is what you dream about. He's sitting back there happy for Jake and pumped for him but going, 'Goddamn. When am I going to get my turn? I want something like this.'

"I see that in that kid every time I talk to him."

While White may not be able to make Melendez vs. Frankie Edgar or Gray Maynard happen now, it appears all but certain that fans will see it someday.

"He's a great guy and a talented fighter, and I'm excited for the day when we can make these fights happen," White said