With a 1-4 record since joining the UFC as one of the top-ranked lightweights in the world, Gilbert Melendez is looking for a way to turn around his career. That may mean a trip to featherweight in the near future.

Melendez (22-6 MMA, 1-4 UFC) is on a three-fight losing skid, most recently dropping a unanimous decision to Edson Barboza at UFC on FOX 20 this past month.

Melendez, a former Strikeforce champion, entered the UFC with a 21-2 record and had avenged both of his career losses (Josh Thomson and Mitsuhiro Ishida), leading some to consider him the best 155-pound fighter in the world. Four losses in five trips to the octagon and a failed drug test after his loss to Eddie Alvarez at UFC 188 have caused a reevaluation of his place in the sport.

He’s now an honorable mention in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings but isn’t willing to view himself as anything other than a top player, especially since he said he figured out his main issue.

“After my year off, man, after my two fights with Eddie (Alvarez) and (Anthony) Pettis, I didn’t feel like I was myself,” Melendez told MMAjunkie Radio. “Just mentally and what I did to prepare and how motivated I was, I just wasn’t myself. This last fight with Barboza, though I lost, I felt like myself in there again. I let my hands go, and I fought calculated out there. I definitely want to scrap again.

“There’s a lot of things to calculate with who (I want to fight next). We can brainstorm right here. I’m even thinking – 145 (pounds) crosses my mind, as well.”

With the idea of a move to featherweight knocking around in his head, Melendez is forced to weigh the pros and cons of losing an additional 10 pounds.

Melendez is in Las Vegas to corner Nate Diaz in tonight’s big UFC 202 rematch and headliner with Conor McGregor. He’ll corner his teammate and cruise through the coming months, he said, then see how he feels about his health and career.

“I’m kind of waiting it out right now,” Melendez said. “What I want to focus on these next two months before I do book something, I just want to become a better athlete – stronger, faster, everything. I want to work on my athleticism. I feel like I have a lot of tools already when it comes to skills. I just want to see where I’m at weight-wise and how I’m feeling. Do I want to cut a lot of weight? No, that’s kind of a lot on your body. But, am I going to take less damage at 145 as opposed to 155? That’s what I weigh out as well.”

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