MMA Sports: So what’s up man? How’s the new gym?
Gilbert: The new gym is going great. It’s just a really cool experience, and it’s designed for my own training center.

Mike: Sounds nice, you still train with Cesar Gracie and the Diaz boys?
Gilbert: I always train with Cesar, and all of those guys (Nick Diaz/Nate Diaz/Jake Shields) and I have got a lot of good bodies there. A bunch of tough up and comers.

Mike: You have about 15 fights now, do you have a most memorable?
Gilbert: Probably the Guida fight or the Kawajiri fight. I'd say Kawajiri is the most memorable. It’s the first time I really had to overcome adversity in a fight. If you remember, I got dropped early in the fight…but came back from it and won. That is the fight that made me realize I need to be getting paid more for this…haha.

Mike: Lets talk about your fight with Josh Thomson quickly, what were your thoughts on that one?
Gilbert: Well it didn’t go how I wanted it to, obviously. He was just the better fighter that night. I could have trained a little better, or smarter and fought better, but it was a good time. I love my job and what I do man, you just learn from it.

Mike: Growing up, and watching the sport…who is someone that inspired you to become a fighter?
Gilbert: Wow man, I was young and a high school wrestler. So it was Tito. He was the man, and still is. He's a social guy and so am I...and I just always cheered for him, and to this day I still do!

Mike: If you could be matchmaker for a day, what is one fight you would love to see as a fan?
Gilbert: Umm…wow! I wanna see Fedor vs Barnett. I think Barnett is an underrated heavyweight, he's a big boy and that would be a good fight. Aoki vs Penn too. that would be a good one. But they are doing a good job lately of making all these awesome matches that everyone wants to see.

Mike: If they were to make a movie about your life, who would they get to play Gilbert Melendez?
Gilbert: Play me? hmm… They'd have to get some Latin Actor, and they'd have to find one that’s really pretty…haha, I'm joking. I don’t know man, I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head man…sorry…haha.

Mike: No problem man, any thing you wanna close with?
Gilbert: shootouts to my sponsor and fans!