You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do. You have to go out and do it.
Melvin Guillard said in a interview he was going to ask the UFC to fight me. I think the media blew it out of proportion a little bit and really ran with it saying he challenged me. I posted a blog saying if thats what the UFC wanted, then lets do it. I have always said, I will fight whoever they want. They are the bosses and they tell me who to fight.
Yesterday, I got a call from Joe Silva saying that Melvin and I were making his job easy and that if I wanted the fight, he thought it would be exciting. I told him again, anything he wants. While no contracts have been signed, verbal agreements have been made.
Melvin challenged. I accepted.
Melvin is on a 5 fight win streak, and has won 7 of his last 8 fights. He’s got wins over tough guys like Jeremy Stephens, Evan Dunham and Gleison Tibau. He is definitely one of the most explosive guys in the division and a ridiculous athlete. He can hurt people in a flash and he starts fast.
If the UFC’s lightweight division weren’t so stacked and congested at the top, I am sure Melvin would have been fighting for a title right around now. I am eager to get in there and get my chance against a guy like that.
One way or another, someone is getting hurt. Pretty much all of his losses in the UFC are to submissions and thats where I really shine. While I’m sure he will be looking for the knockout bonus… I will be looking for the submission bonus. This fight is guaranteed excitement.
Now you all get to see it… October 8th at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas. I think there is also a UFC Fan Expo that weekend. If you can’t make it in person, as you SHOULD, it will be on the main card of the PPV.