You’d think that a move from Jackson’s MMA to Imperial Athletics, aka The Blackzilians, would be the reason why Melvin Guillard dropped a second straight bout by rear-naked choke at the UFC’s debut on FX, but the reality is that the move had nothing to do with Guillard losing to Jim Miller.
Guillard lost because when the time came to answer questions about his submission defense, his submission defense just was not there. But, there are a few other things to consider.
Guillard had a shot to put it all together, and he was on his way to winning the fight with a big knee and a few punches that would have knocked anyone else out. So, definite props go to Miller for showing that he’s still got a hell of a chin.
Also, Guillard does still have a good wrestling game—which he has used in the past—but many figured that he was probably going to want to stand with Miller; as good as Guillard’s wrestling was, he would still be playing into MIller’s strength by trying to work his wrestling game on a talented submission artist like the Sparta-born Miller.
So on one end of the spectrum, Guillard hurt Miller and did what he needed to do once he realized that his opponent was injured, which was to finish him on the spot.
On the other end of the spectrum, however, he handed Miller his back on a silver platter, and the result was another highlight-reel-submission win for Mr. Miller.
Don’t get it twisted, though; Guillard’s departure really had nothing to do with this because Guillard had lost fights as a Jackson boy as well.
Guillard has a great camp with some great fighters, but he still was unable to defend Miller’s submission attempts. And that’s why we wonder exactly what is going on in Guillard’s head, considering he has come all this way, and yet, he’s still unable to avoid submissions on his own free will.
If the move to the Blackzilians isn’t the problem and if submission defense isn’t the problem, Guillard would be wise to figure out what the problem is and fix it. Otherwise, he might find himself out of the UFC before he knows it.
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