Melvin Guillard: I Will Be A UFC Champion In 2011

Melvin Guillard UFC 119

Melvin Guillard says he’ll be a UFC Champion in 2011

Some fighters don’t like to make predictions. Melvin Guillard isn’t one of them.

Heading into the biggest fight of his career against Evan Dunham in the main event of “UFC Fight Night 23: Fight for the Troops 2,” Guillard not only predicts victory, he claims by year’s end that he’ll be the champion.

“My mental focus right now is I will be a UFC Champion in 2011,” said the 27-year old fighter. “I went undefeated in 2010 and I called that in the beginning of 2010.”

Guillard entered 2010 coming off a submission loss to Nate Diaz. Following the defeat, he began training fulltime at Team Jackson-Winkeljohn in Albuquerque and the stable of fighters they’ve assembled in New Mexico.

Since the change, Guillard has gone 3-0.

“This past year under coach Greg (Jackson) and building my confidence as a person and a fighter, I really feel I’m the best fighter at 155,” said Guillard. “It’s just I have to have my chance to show it.”

Guillard is one win away from being a contender in the UFC’s lightweight division, but Evan Dunham is no easy obstacle to navigate.

Dunham enters the fight with Guillard coming off the first loss of his career, a controversial split decision to Sean Sherk at UFC 119 in a fight most had him winning.

“The way I look at Evan Dunham right now is this kid’s undefeated. He got screwed,” said UFC president Dana White about Dunham and the split decision loss to Sherk. “I think Evan Dunham won that fight. So, you know, on his record he’s 11-1, but this kid’s one of the most talented, up and coming kids in the division.”

Guillard agrees with the UFC president that Dunham is still undefeated despite his official record stating otherwise.

“I know for a fact Evan Dunham is going to be a tough opponent. He’s a very worthy opponent, and I also feel he’s still undefeated. I feel he did win that Sherk fight as well,” stated Guillard.

“So, you know, I get to go in and fight an undefeated fighter and show this kid that I’ve been fifteen years in the game. You know, I’ve been doing MMA since I was fourteen. I turned pro when I was sixteen and I have fifteen years under my belt and I think I have the experience when it comes to the ring,” he added.

“I take nothing from Dunham at all. This guy is going to be tough. He’s going to bring it, but I’m ready for that test. You know what I mean?”

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