BOUNTIFUL -- His nickname may be "The Murderer," but Brandon Melendez, mixed martial arts champ, Ultimate Fighter 5 star and Bountiful resident, is really more of a family man at heart. "When my son Malakhai sees me on TV, he'll go up and put his hands on the screen and say 'Daddy, Daddy,'" said Melendez. "It's really cute."

He and his wife, Monika, also have a daughter named Alycia.

Melendez has been in the public eye recently due to his run on the Spike TV series Ultimate Fighter 5, produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The series focuses on a single-elimination, mixed-martial arts competition, combining boxing, Ju Jitsu, grappling, Judo, and a variety of other fighting styles.

Though Melendez was eliminated in the second quarterfinal round of the competition, he is currently in Las Vegas at UFC's request to film an appearance for the final episode of the series. Afterward, he is signed for a three-year fight contract with UFC, which can be renewed depending on Melendez's performance and personal feelings.

"UFC is like the top show," said Melendez. "Mixed martial arts is probably the fastest growing sport in the world, and UFC is still the biggest there is."

Another milestone Melendez has reached is that his family is less worried about him. Though Melendez's grandmother has gone to every one of Melendez's local matches since he started into mixed martial arts at age 18, she used to be concerned that he would get himself seriously hurt while fighting.

"But she's seen me fight over 37 times now, and the most I've ever gotten was a black eye," said Melendez. His wife, Monika, met him after he started fighting professionally, so "it was just part of the package." But she knows that I always protect myself really well, and I'm usually the one doing the beating up instead of the other way around."

Melendez has had several years to sharpen his defensive abilities, starting with the street fights his protective nature used to lead him into as a teenager.

"There are knuckleheads out there who think they're tough," said Melendez. "But I was one of those guys who would see someone getting beaten up and step in to defend the person getting picked on."

Just after high school, however, someone suggested that Melendez start training in mixed martial arts, where fights are governed by a very specific series of rules. Melendez agreed and found a passion and focus that led him to choose the sport as his career.

"Even just training can help someone control themselves and let them compare themselves with professionals to see how good they really are," said Melendez. "You don't fight on the street anymore because you've already proven yourself."

These days, Melendez competes regularly and spends four hours a day training, always managing to spend the rest of his time with his family. His current professional record is 11 wins and five losses, attributing the early losses to entering the professional circuit too fast. He has won several Utah mixed martial arts titles and one world title and has won all of his last six matches.

"I'm going to keep doing this as long as I can. There's so much money to be made in this sport," said Melendez. "Then when I'm done I'll retire, start a small business and take care of my family."

jwardell@davisclipper.com