Professional sports are a “What have you done for me lately” world. When athletes do not have a good enough answer to that question, it becomes the norm to see them jettisoned and forgotten, no matter how good they were when at their best. As UFC on Fox 8 approaches, there is one fighter in particular that needs to perform as if his career hinges on a successful outcome, and that athlete is Melvin Guillard.
At just 30 years of age, Melvin has 45 fights and is one of the elder statesmen of the UFC, as his Octagon career dates back to 2005, when he stopped Marcus Davis at the Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale. To say he’s had an up and down career since then would be an understatement, but his recent streak of ill results may be the most costly.
Since 2009, Guillard is 6-4 in the UFC, but this includes a five-fight win streak that had many individuals believing he would be a future champion in the lightweight division. He was working with Greg Jackson and training with one of the best teams in the world, but just like other moments in his MMA life, Melvin took a sledgehammer to the positive vibe. Leaving Jackson’s, he ventured to the Blackzilians, a team that has suffered since its inception. A few quick losses as a part of that camp had Melvin looking to go back to Jackson’s, but that was quickly shot down.
Come July 27th, Guillard will be the favorite against Mac Danzig, but the former Ultimate Fighter Season 6 winner does pose a serious threat. This is especially true when you take into account that Melvin’s greatest weakness has been his propensity to get submitted, which is Danzig’s strength. The uncertainty surrounding his training camp and preparation for this fight does not make things any easier for Guillard. “The Young Assassin” does possess the striking power and quickness to finish any opponent, yet those abilities are so well known that the upper echelon of the division have been able to game plan against him very effectively.
Guillard is going to have to keep this bout on the feet to take advantage of his striking advantage, while implementing defensive wrestling if and when Danzig looks for the takedown. Quick scrambles have always led to Guillard’s demise on the ground, and Danzig is astute enough to take the fight if that situation comes up.
From five straight wins to 1-4 in his last five, Melvin Guillard is now fighting for a spot on the UFC’s roster. And after this weekend we will know whether “The Young Assassin” is going to take the first step towards turning his career around, or if he will have taken his last walk to the Octagon for an extended period of time.
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UFC on Fox 8 is due to take place on July 27, 2013 at the KeyArena in Seattle, Washington.
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