May 19, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; Gilbert Melendez enters to fight Josh Thomson (not pictured) during the lightweight bout of the Strikeforce World Grand Prix at HP Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Gilbert Melendez took a huge risk last month when his contract dispute with the UFC hit a brick wall. Melendez decided to test the waters in MMA free agency, and signed a contract with Bellator fighting championships. The signing was easily the biggest in the history of Bellator, and potential fights with Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler had fans salivating in anticipation.

The UFC ultimately matched Bellator’s offer to resign Melendez. To add a cherry on top, Melendez was given a UFC title shot against Anthony Pettis after the two men coach season 20 of The Ultimate Fighter.

While it seems that Melendez signed with the UFC because it was a better offer, Bellator Lightweight champion, Eddie Alvarez has a different idea altogether (Courtesy of BloodyElbow):

Wherever Gilbert goes, he wants to be the top dog, which is the same reason he’s avoided me and will for years to come. Gilbert had the opportunity in the Dream tournament, he didn’t. He had the opportunity to sign with Bellator, and go into a Bellator tournament, he didn’t. And now he had the opportunity to come to Bellator where I am. He doesn’t want to come where I am. He’s a phony. It’s a facade, it’s a mask, he says he wants to fight me, he doesn’t want to fight me. He says he wants to fight me when I make headlines. That’s the only time, so he can get some attention. Other than that, Gilbert Melendez does not want to fight me. He knows its a bad fight for him, a bad night for him, that’s the real truth with that.

Alvarez has plenty on his plate to worry about other than Gilbert Melendez with his rubber match with Michael Chandler on the horizon. If Alvarez wins, it is possible that he could move on to the UFC and ultimately fight Melendez down the road.