UFC Fight Night Comes to Oklahoma City

UFC fighter Melvin Guillard relishes his newfound freedom by stepping into the Octagon at the Cox Convention Center on Wednesday.

Wednesday, September 16th 2009, 1:38 pm

By: News 9


By Andrew Topps, News 9 sports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- UFC fighter Melvin Guillard relishes his newfound freedom by stepping into the Octagon at the Cox Convention Center on Wednesday. But when Guillard did his time there were no physical bars, the cell was on his mind.

In April 2007 Guillard was choked out in 27 seconds by Joe Stevenson, who Guillard later accused of using performance enhancing drugs. However, it was Guillard who tested positive for cocaine, leading the Nevada State Athletic Commission to suspend him for eight months and fined him $2,100.

The New Orleans native was arrested for possession of a controlled substance four months after the positive test. He was let off with a fine and two years probation.

But in September 2008 he was arrested again for violating that probation. Guillard spent time in a rehabilitation center. However this was not one of those cushy celebrity clinics.

"When I had to sit in rehab, to me it was jail," the 26-year-old said. "I had to sit there for six months. Those six months gave me time to miss my family, I missed my wife. I missed the sport. I'd sit there all the time night and day just thinking about, man I hope and pray that (UFC President) Dana (White) understands what's going on, and I still have a job once I get out."

Read a Q&A With UFC President Dana White

Guillard points to that time as a defining moment in his life. Now he is riding back-to-back wins into his upcoming bout with Nate Diaz, and is in a better place both inside and out of the cage.

"I feel reborn again," the lightweight fighter said. "Me and my wife will be married for a year October 27. It's been great. I've always learned growing up that you don't know how the good times are unless you endure the bad. I went through a whole lot from (hurricane) Katrina, to a year later losing my dad. A lot of people never asked certain questions of why I was going through what I was going through, people are just so judgmental."

"You're going to have the positive people and you're going to have the negative people. I love the positive people and thrive of the negative. When people tell me I won't be anything, or you're never going to be good at anything, that's my drive. It's been tough, it's been an emotional rollercoaster, but it's finally good to have all that negative behind and just fight."

Now The Ultimate Fighter Season 2 cast member is setting his sights on another former TUF-er. Diaz dropped a pair of decision bouts in his last two fights. Primarily known for his submission skills, Diaz has said he wants to stand and throw hands. Guillard warns Diaz to be careful what he wishes for.

"I don't feel his standup is great at all, he's mediocre to average standup," the former Louisiana high school wrestling champ said. "I'm not really going into this fight worried about anything. I just have to go in and fight my fight and execute the game plan. I've noticed Nate having trouble with good wrestlers who have kept the pressure on him."

"He won the ultimate fighter so of course people are going to talk a lot about him. As far as him bring anything special to the ring, I don't see anything special about his game."

Guillard and Diaz have met at a UFC event before. The duo cut weight in a sauna prior to their June bouts at TUF Season 9 Finale. Guillard said he and Diaz "had a friendly conversation" while preparing for their bouts. But after those verbal jabs, the punches at UFC Fight Night 19 will not be pulled back.

Send Andrew a question or comment about the UFC at andrew.topps@okblitz.com.

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