With his next fight looming at UFC 136, a win might just put Melvin Guillard in the position he’s coveted for so very long.Getting a shot at the UFC lightweight title.
Guillard has long rallied for his shot at the 155lb belt, and with his recent winning streak, which includes three first round knockouts or TKO’s, he’s well on his way.
UFC President Dana White believes if Guillard is successful in his next fight against Joe Lauzon at UFC 136, the former ‘Ultimate Fighter’ competitor could be the man to face the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard. So long as he can keep his head on straight.
“In my opinion, if he can keep his head together cause he’s such a nutball, Melvin Guillard is very nasty at 155,” White said on Wednesday. “But the problem with Melvin is, is the problem he’s had for years, and hopefully he can keep that under control. Season 2 of the ‘Ultimate Fighter’ he ended up losing the fight and was out of the house, and we sent people to another house then, he was out in Vegas like he was Anderson Silva. Like he’s been the longest reigning champion ever, he’s always had this problem of getting ahead of himself.”
What White seems to be speaking about is the ‘old’ Melvin Guillard. Even by his own admission, Guillard will point out mistakes he made throughout his career, but now that he’s been training under coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn for the past couple of years, he has appeared to turn his life around.
Now married and settled into his life in New Mexico, Guillard has solely been focused on fighting and becoming the best he can be over the last few years and it’s shown in his performances.
“Since he’s been with this (Greg) Jackson camp, it seems like he’s in a much better place. I don’t know, we’ll see,” White stated.
“If he can control himself and focus and keep training and stay serious, I think Melvin Guillard is a force to be reckoned with. That kid is nasty, he’s fast, explosive, talented.”
Guillard has been talking about getting into title contention for a long while, but if he’s successful at UFC 136 he might finally get his wish. In his mind, he’s already the top fighter at 155lbs, now he’s just waiting to prove it.
“I’m not being cocky about it or anything like that, but I have confidence right now, and it’s my time,” Guillard told MMAWeekly recently. “I know (I’m going to) be a world champion in the next couple of months. Right now, that’s my focus.”
The realization of that dream may only be one fight away. Guillard faces Joe Lauzon on the main card of UFC 136 in Houston on Oct 8.
source:mmaweekly
No comments:
Post a Comment