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Melvin Guillard Dubs Himself 'Jiu-Jitsu Killer' Prior to Fight With Joe Lauzon

By Mike Chiappetta
/ new
Joe LauzonMelvin Guillard

to the mat and submit him.

UFC

have come by way of tapout, the last coming as recently as two years ago. And most see Guillard's ground game as his one area of weakness. But Guillard thinks he has that problem solved.

UFC 136

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Shane RollerEvan Dunham

respectively. Both fighters are considered grapplers, but Guillard blew through both with first-round knockouts.

And though he acknowledged that Lauzon -- who boasts 16 of his 20 career victories via submission -- does present some dangerous possibilities, he predicted another knockout win.

"They're going to call me the 'Jiu-Jitsu Killer' when I'm done with Lauzon," he said.

For his part, Lauzon said some of Guillard's recent comments make him feel a bit overlooked.

"I think he's being a little bit arrogant acting like it's a done deal," said Lauzon (20-6). "We still have to fight."

Lauzon full well knows that for him to get the fight to the ground, he's going to have to wade into dangerous territory. Guillard is one of the few lightweights with true one-shot knockout power, a gift he's flashed repeatedly throughout his six-year tenure in the UFC.

But things have seemed to truly gel for Guillard over the last two years. Since moving camps to Team Greg Jackson in New Mexico, he's started a nice streak, winning five straight. He also seems to have shored up some of his shortcomings and found more comfort in the cage, allowing him to let his hands and feet fly without fear of what might happen if he goes to the ground.

That confidence will serve him well against Lauzon, who has won eight nightly bonus awards for his fearless aggression even in the face of risk. Despite Guillard's power, he'll take the same philosophy to battle on Saturday.

"If I can't get the fight down, I'm going out on my shield," he said. "I'm going to do my best to get the fight to the ground. If I find I can't get it, I'm going to keep working at it. I'm going to have to throw punches the entire time. The days are gone when you can just shoot on a guy from way out and take him down. Melvin's a great wrestler. He's not going to give up any easy takedowns. I'm going to have to fight for every one. I could get clipped going in for a takedown, I could get clipped trying to set it up with my punches. There's a lot of things that could happen but we're definitely looking to get it down."

Lauzon said that if worse came to worse, he would stand and trade with Guillard with the hopes that his punches, which he considers straighter, would land faster than Guillard's power strikes. Another option might be pulling guard to drag the fight down.

That's just fine with Guillard. The newly self-proclaimed "jiu-jitsu killer" says he's ready for every possibility.

"My standup is good, but I can also finish a fight on ground, too," he said. "I know he's limbsy, but when I'm in there, I'm a powerhouse. I put every ounce of muscle behind everything I throw. I'm not trying to outpoint a guy, I'm trying to knock a guy out. So even if he tries to play the jiu-jitsu game off his back, it still might be a bad night for Joe."

  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Melvin Guillard throws a jumping knee during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Melvin Guillard practices his ground and pound during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Melvin Guillard warms up during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Kenny Florian poses with his team at the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Kenny Florian warms up during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Kenny Florian stands on his hands during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos

    Jose Aldo shakes the hand of Kenny Florian at the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

    Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos

    Kenny Florian plays with a soccer ball during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

    Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos

    Kenny Florian plays with a soccer ball during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

    Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Jose Aldo shows off his soccer skills during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Kenny Florian and Jose Aldo kick around soccer balls during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Jose Aldo and Kenny Florian hold up custom Houston Dynamo soccer jerseys during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Joe Lauzon hits the mitts during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Joe Lauzon hits the mitts during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Brian Stann takes part in the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Brian Stann kicks the pads during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Brian Stann hits pads during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Jose Aldo throws a kick towards the camera during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Jose Aldo puts his fists up during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Jose Aldo punches mitts with Marlon Sandro during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Jose Aldo hits the mitts during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Frankie Edgar in attendance at the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Frankie Edgar hits the pads during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Frankie Edgar hits the pads during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Frankie Edgar hits the pads during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Frankie Edgar hits the pads during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Chael Sonnen speaks to Ariel Helwani at the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Chael Sonnen works up a sweat at the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Chael Sonnen poses for a photo at the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Chael Sonnen throws a back kick at the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Chael Sonnen throws a kick during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Chael Sonnen hits the mitts during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Gray Maynard goes for a takedown against Chael Sonnen during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Gray Maynard tries to take down Chael Sonnen during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Gray Maynard hits the mitts during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Gray Maynard practices during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Gray Maynard throws a knee during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Gray Maynard in attendance at the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
  • UFC 136 Workout Photos Gray Maynard warms up during the UFC 136 workouts on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

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