UFC 132 Preview Part One: Melvin Guillard vs. Shane Roller

Previews, Top Story

Back before Charlie Brenneman was receiving canned praise as a real live Rocky Melvin Guillard (27-8-2) pulled off the exact same stunt only from a higher platform and in much more exciting fashion. It was back at the Fight for the Troops 2 in January. Kenny Florian pulled out of the main even, Guillard was plucked out of the prelims to face the now opponent-less Evan Dunham, the UFC kept it as the main event and the rest is history. Guillard demolished Dunham in under three minutes, winning his 7th fight in his last 8 outings.

His reward for such success is a non-main card tilt against Shane Roller (10-3), respectable in his own right but somebody Guillard should be able to wipe out without much trouble. Roller is coming off of two wins of his own both against name fighters. In his last bout he looked downright Rocky-ish himself as he got kicked around the Octagon for the entire first round by Thiago Tavares only to score a miracle knockout at the beginning of the second. You can go ahead and record that as the only Knockout of the Night bonus Roller will ever receive.

It’s hard to say exactly where this fight will leave these two fighters. Guillard did a lot of chest beating after his Dunham win about how he should be considered a title contended which makes a certain amount of success until you remember which division he is in. Still he probably deserves more credit than he gets especially considering that he competes in that loaded lightweight division. His biggest problem seems to be avoiding controversy. There’s also that loss to Joe Stevenson on his record, that’s hard to get around. Roller is a bit further away from title consideration but a win here would do wonders, and with the right strategy it is attainable.

Usually when I think about fights between UFC and WEC guys I envision the WEC guys as the ones who will happily throw caution to the wind and fly off the cage just to secure victory, that is not the case here at all. Roller is the much more grounded fighter and unless his recent knockout left him seriously deluded he will work hard to ground the fight and staple Guillard to the mat. If he is able to utilize his All American wrestling background in the right way there is no reason why he couldn’t steal two of the rounds and thus the fight. I just don’t see Guillard even getting close to getting taken down and instead I expect him to uncork another showstopping performance and wow us with a memorable first round KO. He’ll be fighting with a cause and a chip and should make quick work of Roller in one of the night’s more predictable affairs.