Biography(references)Melendez is from Santa Ana, California, of Mexican descent. Melendez always enjoyed combat sports and competition, but did not start training in MMA until after college when he was introduced to the sport by his good friend and MMA fighter Jake Shields. Melendez attended San Francisco State University and was studying in liberal arts, he anticipated becoming a teacher but did not finish his college education and get a degree, on account of training for MMA and working outside of college. He has stated that someday he plans on finishing his college education. Before becoming a professional fighter, he worked as a waiter and he also had a job at a Fairtex gear shop, which would later be one of his sponsors.
Fighter Trivia(references)Gil and Keri Melendez teach soldiers martial arts techniques at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in 2019 Melendez and his wife Keri Anne Taylor-Melendez have a daughter born August 8, 2010. Keri Anne is a Muay Thai fighter with a 3–10 record as a pro . She also has a knockout win as an MMA fighter.
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