After years of verbal jabs, heated exchanges, and insults hurled online and in the papers, a pair of former lightweight champions, Gilbert Melendez and Eddie Alvarez, will finally get their chance to settle the score inside the Octagon as the co-main event bout featured on UFC 188 in Mexico.

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Yahoo Sports! has already billed the fight as MMA's version of "Mayweather vs Pacquiao" because Melendez and Alvarez have long been considered as the world's number one and number two in their division. Mixed martial arts fans, however, are not expecting to see a technical and defensive "running and hugging" match between the two, but rather an exciting all-out slugfest as they are known to be two of the toughest brawlers in the UFC stable.

Aside from their fighting styles, they also boast an almost identical win-loss record. As per Sherdog fight metrics, Melendez has 22 wins by way of 11 KO/TKO, 10 decisions, and one submission, while Alvarez's 25 wins are by way of 14 KO/TKO, seven submissions, and four decisions. The key for No.4-ranked Melendez to win is to continuously push the pace making use of his top-notch footwork against one of MMA's slickest boxers. For the No. 9-ranked Alvarez, his superb use of angles and timely sharp jabs will be key in keeping his opponent at bay.

The stakes are also high as both men are working on getting back into title contention after their respective losses. Melendez recently lost to then champion Anthony Pettis via Guillotine choke, while Alvarez dropped his UFC debut to current lightweight No. 1 contender Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone via unanimous decision.

In addition to that, there has been genuine animosity growing between the two ever since "El Nino" Melendez was the champion of Strikeforce and "The Silent Assassin" Alvarez was the former kingpin of Bellator MMA. Prior to them being signed by the UFC, both have lobbied hard for a cross-promotion fight in a bid to prove once and for all who is the best 155-pound fighter in the world. After several failed attempts, Alvarez accused Melendez of "not really wanting to fight him," according to Fox Sports.

In one of the sport's most anticipated grudge matches between two of the top lightweight fighters in the past decade, the Melendez versus Alvarez three-round bout promises to be an explosive affair that has the potential to steal "fight of the night" honors on June 13, Saturday. 

TagsUFC, UFC 188, Gilbert Melendez, eddie alvarez, UFC Lightweight Division, Strikerforce, Bellator MMA, Anthony Pettis, donald cerrone, dana white