Melvin Guillard Pulled From UFC 90 Card

by themachiavellian on Sep 10, 2008 8:51 AM EDT Comment 22 comments

Fronted by Chris Nelson

While I've enjoyed, so to speak, the tributes to the late Evan Tanner, the rest of the world goes on.

Melvin Guillard will not meet Spencer Fisher at UFC 90 on Oct. 25 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., Sherdog.com has learned. Reasons for Guillard’s removal from the card were not immediately known.

In Guillard’s absence, Fisher will face Shannon Gugerty, an up-and-comer who will enter the bout on an eight-fight winning streak.

“Melvin is off the card, and they went through three or four opponents and settled on Gugerty,” Fisher told Sherdog.com.

Can't say I'm disappointed. While Guillard has a nice little KO reel, he wasn't advancing in the division, was too chaotic, and tested positive for cocaine - an unholy trifecta I thought should have had him drummed from the UFC. I don't know how final this is, but I'm hoping it is permanent. The UFC brass needs flashy knockouts, but they need respectable fighters more.

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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Gugerty vs. Fisher will be a more exciting fight anyway! Gugerty pulled a nice little upset and submitted Dale Hartt in the first round on the last UFN.

by Chris Nelson on Sep 9, 2008 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t care what anybody says, I was looking forward to this fight. I read somewhere where the UFC didn’t want to risk the possibility of Fisher losing.

Guillard made some mistakes in life obviously… who hasn’t? Instead of concentrating on his mistakes, lets re-post the article where he saved lives in Katrina.

by steveoc24 on Sep 9, 2008 11:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The kid did coke after his dad died. Not an intelligent coping mechanism, but it’s understandable in some small way. He can be wild eyed, sure— but I think it’s an admirable quality when implemented properly. He’s a fun kid to watch. I hope he gets another shot..

by Blackout612 on Sep 9, 2008 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

God forbid the kid made a mistake after a tragedy. Melvin is literally unknown to anyone outside hardcore MMA fans. Let the dude fight!!

by steveoc24 on Sep 9, 2008 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really? He’s had a bunch of fights on Spike, and I figure casual fans would know him from TUF.

I wasn’t a Melvin fan but I don’t fully agree with themachiavellian’s feelings either. At the moment it’s probably better for him to main event on some smaller shows, pick up a few wins and make equal/more money.

by Chris Nelson on Sep 9, 2008 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know a bunch of UFC fans who have seen his main event on Spike w/Stevenson and also saw him on TUF… I guarantee you they couldn’t name his last 2 opponents outside of the hardcore’s who visit MMA sites on a daily basis where people still discuss peoples mistakes from the past.

by steveoc24 on Sep 9, 2008 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m actually from south Louisiana, 10 miles from Vermilion Bay, so I saw the Katrina Clusterfuck first-hand. I’m glad for anyone who didn’t go Lord of the Flies during the mess. I just think that his antics are a business liability (Metaphysically, I hope the life-saving goes a long way). I also hope the story of protecting Fisher isn’t true. Where did you read it?

by themachiavellian on Sep 10, 2008 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://mmamania.com/2008/09/09/spencer-fisher-vs-shannon-gugerty-ufc-90-fight-set-with-melvin-guillard-out/

"No reason is known at this time for the opponent switch, but it appears on the surface to be a much safer fight for "The King."

I know that doesn’t say much, but unless Melvin is injured I would love to know the reasons. This was a great fight, and it definitely had FOTN written all over it.

by steveoc24 on Sep 10, 2008 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree it’s safer, but it seems more of an editorial comment than an accusation. However, unless the UFC says why Guillard was pulled, it will be fishy.

I saw it going like Fisher/Alves – Fisher gets beat down for a while, then somehow finds a sub. However it went, it would have excellent.

by themachiavellian on Sep 10, 2008 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wait…forgetting about Fisher/Edgar…Nope, Guillard would have won.

by themachiavellian on Sep 10, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This fight to me was like watching Fisher/Stout part 4.

by steveoc24 on Sep 10, 2008 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wish Guillard could get back on track. The fact that he got popped for doing cocaine once doesn’t really bother me, either. If there were a pattern, it would be different. The guy’s a hell of an athlete. I think he could do some big things if he could adhere to a good gameplan during a match.

by Cannon Jacques on Sep 9, 2008 11:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I See I'm Outnumbered

I would LOVE to see him get his head on right. He’s got great hands, great KOs, and tons of potential. I just don’t feel that where he is UFC material in terms of maturity. He’s made many mistakes, yes, but for me the cocaine (a highly illegal and dangerous) plus the fight that almost happened after the Clementi fight (which contributes to the bar-room brawl stereotype) just convinces me he needs to fight in some smaller promotions and learn to control himself. At UFC 86, he got $10K/$10K for a KO of an 11-5 fighter (1-2 UFC). What if that money went to some other homeless fighter, or pay a rising star better?

Now, if Guillard gets a ground game and a cooler temper, then bring him on!

by themachiavellian on Sep 10, 2008 12:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One of his hands isn't that great..

..because he’s broken it like ten times!

by Blackout612 on Sep 10, 2008 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually...

He did fight in some smaller promotions after his fight with Clementi. The UFC told him to go get a few wins after his loss in another promotion, and he did, and the UFC accepted him back. As for his salary compared to his opponent, that makes no sense. We see that kind of shit on every UFC event. LOL, Jensen vs Gouveia at UFN??

by steveoc24 on Sep 10, 2008 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought he had a tune-up fight, he could probably use a few more where he could practice his ground game without fear of getting caught in a submission.

As for the money, the meritocratic/idealist part of me thinks if you can only fight meager competition, you be be paid accordingly, and what’s the biggest name he’s beaten? Marcus Davis before his winning streak? Gabe Ruediger? I know that’s not how it works (Tank Abbot, Kimbo Slice, etc), but I can dream, can’t I?

by themachiavellian on Sep 10, 2008 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“As for the money, the meritocratic/idealist part of me thinks if you can only fight meager competition, you be be paid accordingly”

What happened to Fisher when he fought Edgar?? No ground game what-so-ever and proved he could only fight meager competition. With his fight with Edgar, he was exposed! So does that mean he should be eliminated from the UFC? I don’t think so. But he has an exciting style and has fans just like Lytle and that is reason why the UFC won’t let them go. So why do you say Melvin shouldn’t be on their level? I think it’s a great match, that definitely deserves to be televised.

by steveoc24 on Sep 10, 2008 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn your logic!

I do think it would have been an exciting fight, and I probably would have enjoyed watching it, except that realistically Guillard would probably have won (ignore my previous prediction, I forgot about Fisher/Edgar, I feel like an idiot).

I’ll say that my biggest complaint is his behavior/antics, and not necessarily his abilities. If he would calm the ego, I’d say let him stay. Guys like Lytle and Clay Guida probably have reached their upper limit, but I say let them stay. I do think Guillard/Fisher would have been a hell of a fight, though.

Since most everything else I’ve asserted has been refuted effectively , I think I’ll tuck tail for now.

by themachiavellian on Sep 10, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand you have problems with how he acts. Just don’t forget, even the most popular fighters (Liddell/Rampage) have had their problems in the past whether it was their fault or not and they are still headlining PPV’s. I pay money to watch the sport every month (just like you) to watch the skill involved and the great competition ahead. Their personal lives, attitudes, and mistakes they have made in the past does not effect me because many of us had done the same and they are no way on a higher pedistal than me.

by steveoc24 on Sep 10, 2008 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think my problem is that his behavior is more in-ring than most others. I don’t think Babalu should have been affected for being arrested, nor Rampage for also being arrested. By acting up inside the ring, Guillard is much more visible. Or something like that. I’ll need to recalibrate my moral compass as I untangle this one.

Seriously now, I’m off to remove my foot from my mouth…I hope…

by themachiavellian on Sep 10, 2008 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs