Guillard Looking For His Ticket To A Title Shot
UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard understands politics, and knows that Gray Maynard will still be afforded his title rematch against Frankie Edgar in the near future. When he earned a dominant first round knockout over Shane Roller this past weekend at UFC 132, rather than demand a title shot, Guillard requested the next best thing; a fight with Jim Miller. Still, Guillard’s desire for a title opportunity should not be confused, as he’s put the belt on the top of his priority list.
"The UFC is by far the biggest sport in the world to me, and I'm happy to be a part of this," Guillard told MMAJunkie. "I always tell myself that I would hate for a kid to walk up to me and say, 'Hey, when's your next UFC fight?' and I'm no longer in the UFC. That's why I work so hard to fight to stay in. I'm in, and nobody is going to take my position.
"I'm going to just keep knocking guys out until I get a title shot."
The stacked lightweight division has recently settled out, at least momentarily. Former WEC lightweight champion, Anthony Pettis, was due the his title shot against the winner of the Maynard and Edgar rematch, but a loss to Clay Guida has redirected that path. Clay Guida on the other hand, has been told by UFC President, Dana White, that he still needs to prove himself before title consideration. Evan Dunham was on a hot streak, but Guillard himself derailed that train with a first round TKO over Dunham. George Sotiropoulos was previously on the rise prior to two consecutive losses to Dennis Siver and Rafael dos Anjos. That leaves Guillard and Miller in the immediate discussion.
“I want another top contender next,” Guillard said after his crushing defeat over Roller. “I’m looking for my meal ticket to a title shot.”
Guillard also told MMAJunkie about how he’d measure up to the UFC’s top lightweights.
"I am the best 155-pounder," Guillard said. "I'm a finisher. No disrespect to Frankie Edgar or Gray Maynard, but they proved it in the last fight when they fought each other. Gray had him on his heels and didn't finish. I'm a finisher. I go in for the kill. I smell blood.
"I guess you could say I've been through so much in my life, getting in the cage and swinging hands and putting people away, that's easy for me. Growing up with a mother that was a Baptist minister whipping me all the time, that's the stuff I'm afraid of. I can get in there and throw hands with anybody. It's just all about the organization and the bosses giving me my opportunity."
When asked if he’d fight his teammate, Guillard admirably agreed so long as it was for the championship, which many other fighters have said they’d refuse regardless of the situation.
"The only way I would fight a teammate is for the title," stated Guillard. "At the end of the day, we all have this understanding. I'm not going to fight my teammate for nothing when there's all these [lightweights]. It just doesn't make sense to me, but we're all in here for one thing.
"I want to have a kid one day, and I tell my kid, 'Your dad would have been a great champion, but I let Clay Guida have my spot.' I can't live like that. That will ruin my legacy.
"We're all here for one reason. This is business. I'll fight my brother for that UFC title. I'll fight my mother for that UFC title. I mean that, and that's from the heart. When that time comes and I have to fight a teammate, we have to sort out how we're going to do the training camps, but may the best man win. I will be the better man that day."
With five-straight wins and eight out of nine including two knockouts and two TKOs, Guillard has earned the right to call out anyone in the lightweight division. Should he and Miller meet in the cage, the winner will have certainly proven themselves ready for the next title opportunity.
