Gilbert Melendez is up all the current drama in MMA. The lightweight contender and coach on “The Ultimate Fighter 20” knows recent UFC signee Eddie Alvarez has it in for him, but after calling out the fighter several years ago, he’s moved on.

“No big deal on my part,” Melendez today told MMAjunkie Radio. “Apparently, I’m on his hit list. Back in the day, I just wanted to fight Eddie. I thought he was top in the world at the time. We were two guys who were top four in the world outside (the UFC), and I just wanted to fight him. That’s it. Nothing personal. I just thought it would make for fireworks.”

Melendez (22-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who fights champ Anthony Pettis (17-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at UFC 181 in December, first called for a fight with Alvarez (25-3 MMA, 9-1 BMMA) when he was the lightweight champion of the now-defunct Strikeforce promotion and Alvarez held the belt in Bellator. For a brief moment, it appeared the competing promotions would join forces to make the fight happen, but it was not to be.

Melendez went on to sign with the UFC, and Alvarez, after losing his belt to Michael Chandler, staged an impressive comeback following a legal battle with Bellator.

Keen on testing himself against best in the world, Alvarez won his release from Bellator and signed with the UFC, where he immediately debuted in the promotion’s top-10 rankings (he is No. 5 in the world in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA lightweight rankings). He’s now set to fight No. 10 ranked Donald Cerrone (24-6 MMA, 11-3 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 178 on Sept. 27.

In a recent scrum with reporters, No. 2 Melendez was asked to weigh in on the UFC’s acquisition of Alvarez. It was a chance for him to discuss his potential opposition down the road. But it was clear his opinion of the fighter had changed over the years.

Melendez said Alvarez had lost his edge in his recent appearances, which prompted Alvarez to issue a harsh rebuttal.

“Oh, is that what he thinks?” Alvarez told MMAFighting.com. “Tell you what, I think Diego Sanchez must have really landed good with those uppercuts when they fought last year, if that’s the case. He must still be feeling them.”

Alvarez hopes the former Strikeforce champ finds success against Pettis so he can “finally get my hands on Melendez.”

Today on MMAjunkie Radio, Melendez sounded a little surprised that Alvarez had such a strong response, but he didn’t back away from his previous comment.

“Lately, I’ve seen him fight, and again, I think he lost his (step), and he’s been off my radar for a while,” he said. “I have bigger fish to fry right now. I think he’s a good fighter, but he’s off my radar.

“But apparently I’m on his still, so cool. If we cross paths, I’m definitely down to do that.”

If Melendez manages to take the title from Pettis, and Alvarez beats Cerrone, it’s very possible both will get their wish.

For more on UFC 178 and UFC 181, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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