On Saturday, UFC featherweight contender Jeremy Stephens earned one of the biggest wins of his career when he defeated Gilbert Melendez at UFC 215.
Melendez showed a lot of heart in his UFC featherweight debut. Early in the fight, Stephens landed a leg kick that severely damaged Melendez’s leg.
Even though he was clearly injured, Melendez refused to stop fighting. Throughout the fight, Stephens dropped Melendez on numerous occasions with kicks to his damaged leg. However, every time Melendez got knocked down, he got right back up and kept on swinging punches.
In the end, Stephens was not able to finish Melendez, but he did earn a unanimous decision victory.
Many UFC fighters were watching the fights Saturday and were impressed by both Stephen’s performance and Melendez’s toughness. Below, you can see how fighters reacted on Twitter to Stephens’ win against Melendez at UFC 215.
This could well be the best fight on the card. It might be all downhill after this folks… #BanginHeads #ScrappinHeathens #UFC215
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) September 10, 2017
Rooting @GilbertMelendez always! #UFCEdmonton
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) September 10, 2017
Physically speaking, Gil looks great at 145. Let's see if he carries the same tenacity to the smaller division
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 10, 2017
Great fight !!! Gil vs Jeremy # fireworks ?
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 10, 2017
Interested to see how Melendez fights tonight after a long layoff
— Bonecrusher (@Marc_Diakiese) September 10, 2017
Dude did Stephens just break Gil's leg with a leg kick?!? That looked nasty
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 10, 2017
Injured leg alert ? ouch #UFC215
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) September 10, 2017
Stop the fight his leg is broken #Melendez
— Angela Magana (@AngelaMagana1) September 10, 2017
Gilbert got ❤️? #ufc215
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) September 10, 2017
Much respect @GilbertMelendez u are a tough SOB!!!!!!!!!
— Dana White (@danawhite) September 10, 2017
This fight is OVER! Brutal leg kicks. #UFCEdmonton
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) September 10, 2017
Gil needs to go southpaw to protect that leg. The damage is done
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 10, 2017
Those low kicks suck!! Melendez is a warrior #UFC215
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) September 10, 2017
Wow Gilbert answers the bell !!! Straight Warrior
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 10, 2017
Irresponsible as fuck if they let him keep going. Why is the dr not there???
— Angela Magana (@AngelaMagana1) September 10, 2017
? this is tough to watch!! Team Mate vs my #TUF20 coach & friend #UFCEdmonton
— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) September 10, 2017
So much respect @GilbertMelendez he is a fucking warrior!!
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) September 10, 2017
If I do that to your leg no way you makin it to a decision #MoveForward #NeverForget #IPushedYouOnYourAss #YouDidntDoShit
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) September 10, 2017
Wow what a fight ?? congrats @LiLHeathenMMA ? damm @GilbertMelendez you're a savage!! ❤️?? #UFCEdmonton #AllianceAMA #skrappack
— Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) September 10, 2017
I admire Melendez's "never say die" attitude but there was no way Gil was going to win that fight after that leg injury. #UFC215
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 10, 2017
Holy shit man Jeremy fought beautifully, but Do you understand what Gilbert just gutted thru ???? Amazing show of Heart
— Eddie Alvarez (@Ealvarezfight) September 10, 2017
Jeremy Stephens looked great tonight. Congrats on the win #UFC215
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) September 10, 2017
Let's hope there's no permanent damage to that leg. Gil has always been an awesome fighter to watch. Stephens was excellent tonight. #UFC215
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) September 10, 2017
