Growing up, Melendez was already exposed to various types of sports. His routine frequently involved working out, which justified his tough and strong physique. On one occasion, a guy approached him and said that he had the potential to fight. He trained and eventually got hooked in tournaments.

His initial fight proved to be very encouraging as he was able to successfully knock down a bunch of guys and even made it in the championship round. Influenced by his buddy, he submitted his application to UFC and the rest was history.

At UFC, Melendez struggled on cutting down his weight. From 188 pounds, he had to trim down his weight to reach 170 pounds. For him, his fight with Gray was something that matched up. Having fought a number of wrestlers in the past, he was confident of his defensive take down strategy. However, he did not anticipate that Gray would perform better. In the end, Gray prevailed and fought a very good fight.

Looking back at the fight was like relieving the moment. He pondered about things that he needed to do to make him a better fighter, most especially when it came to getting the proper training. Although he didn't really expressed his regret, there were many things that he wanted to do differently. Seeing his defeat, he realized that he did not use his Ju Jitsu enough, which would have probably improve his stance during the fight.

Despite his loss, he remains hopeful in becoming one of the best 170-pound mixed martial arts fighters in the world.