UFC: Fight Night 23 “Fight for the Troops 2” Melvin Guillard – “On a Mission”
Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard is on a mission. His mission is to keep putting his opponents out of contention just as fast as the UFC can set them up. This time around the UFC had to do a little re-arranging after Guillard’s original UFC Fight Night 23 “Fight for the Troops 2” opponent, Kenny Florian, had to pull out due to injuries. Instead of putting him on the back burner or shifting him somewhere else on the card, the organization decided to keep him in the main event slot against rising lightweight Evan Dunham.
Guillard began his UFC career after 22 professional bouts and a stint on The Ultimate Fighter 2 in late 2005. He came in as a talented but emotional and trash-talking mixed martial artist who would rather talk about fighting instead of actually fighting. He did win three of his first four inside the octagon but lost back-to-back bouts against Joe Stevenson (UFC Fight Night 9) and fellow Louisiana-native Rich Clementi (UFC 79) and found himself fighting to get back into the organization. A March 2008 Rage in the Cage victory earned him a return ticket and proved to be just what he needed to re-energize his floundering career. Since being welcomed back, Guillard has won five of six including his last three in a row.
Victories over newcomers Ronnys Torres (UFC 109) and Waylon Lowe (UFC 114) were par for the course, but it was his split decision victory at UFC 119 last September over Jeremy Stephens that helped begin to separate him from others in the crowded middle-tier of the lightweight division. In that bout, Guillard rode his evolving kickboxing skills and superior quickness to outscore Stephens on two of the three judges’ scorecards for his 8th career octagon victory. For him to be successful against Dunham however, he will have to show that his ground game is evolving just as quick as other parts of his repertoire.
Both rising lightweights actually match-up nicely on paper and it at least looks like a competitive bout. Truth is, Dunham has the distinct advantage on the ground and Guillard has the advantage in the stand up aspect. As far as skills, Dunham should be able to keep the fight close on his feet but would be wise not to slug-it-out with Guillard. Guillard is fast on his feet, but quick, would be the more accurate description. He is able to get from point “A” to point “B” much quicker than Dunham, so if he can utilize that as he did against Stephens, he will likely find himself in solid position to secure the victory. As far as power is concerned, yes, Guillard has the ability to knock his opponent out, but it is more than likely to come courtesy of a knee rather than one of his wild hooks or looping uppercut punches. All in all, the stand-up is where Guillard wants to keep this pivotal bout.
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When the fight goes to the ground, more than likely it will be initiated by a Dunham takedown. While on the ground, Guillard is not at his best, but will not look like a fish out of water either. He trains out of Greg Jackson’s fight team in New Mexico, so it is sure that he is drilled regularly in all aspects of the sport, especially for this specific opponent. Although Dunham has the overall advantage on the mat, Guillard is confident enough and talented enough to hold his own just expect it to be from a defensive standpoint.
Now, what does this bout mean for “The Young Assassin”? As the UFC continues to grow, especially with the addition of the WEC 155-pounders, and becomes more competitive as up-and-coming fighters begin to train from an early age, it means a great deal for Guillard. The lightweight division is already a crowded division and there is a long line forming to fight for Frankie Edgar’s championship belt, the only thing that he can control at this point is what direction he moves. If he continues to win, there are only a couple of possible lightweights that are ahead of him; however a loss would not only drop him out of contention but also out of the lightweight contender picture all together.
Every fight is important, but a headlining feature means a lot as you approach a contender’s position. It’s obvious that Melvin Guillard has put his past behind him and put in the hard work needed to get to where he is. If he continues this path and meets 2011 much like he left 2010, it will not be hard to predict where he will be at year’s end. This fight will not vault him into the front of that title line, but it will get him one step closer to that ultimate goal.
By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer