UFC London: Michael Johnson vs. Melvin Guillard Fight Breakdown

Michael Johnson’s recent form in the UFC lightweight division has really been a sight to behold. The Blackzilians fighter lost two on the trot against Myles Jury and Reza Madadi after beating Danny Castillo, Tony Ferguson and Shane Roller in 2012. Since the 2013 loss against the Iranian-Swede ‘Mad Dog’, Johnson has really lived up to his nickname ‘Menace’.

Two wins in the back end of 2013 showed that Johnson’s game had been upped; a dominant decision win over Joe Lauzon in August and a UFC 168 knockout of mainstay Glieson Tibau have earned ‘Menace’ a tough fight against Melvin Guillard. The two will battle at this Saturday’s Fight Night: London event, in a fight that could very well place Johnson in the top 10 at 155 pounds.

Originally booked to face Ross Pearson at the festivities in England’s capital, I feel Guillard’s fight against Johnson is a much bigger test. ‘The Young Assassin’ had previously smashed Pearson in their first meeting, only to have the fight stopped due to an illegal, but unintentional knee to a grounded Pearson’s nugget. Until that point in the fight it was all Guillard.

Johnson comes in with a new sense of vigour, and a much more honed striking game. He will face in Guillard a more experienced foe, with very heavy hands. Let’s take a look at there assets:

Striking

Johnson holds seven T/KO victories to Guilard’s impressive 20, but its not always about power. As famed boxing coach and M.D Teddy Atlas once said ‘It’s not always about the size of the bomb, but the ability to deliver it to the target’. Johnson, I feel, has the advantage in striking technique, whereas Guillard is the raw power striker.

That being said, I think Guillard has a slight advantage with the one-shot variable on his side. I’m calling it 55-45 Guillard.

Wrestling

Johnson was an All-American at junior college, and has proved to have very technical wrestling abilities during his 22-fight MMA career. I wouldn’t describe him as your lay-and-pray type of fighter, but I do think he’d have the edge on Guillard come fight night.

More of your stand up type, ‘Young Assassin’ has had trouble with wrestlers in the past. A clear edge for Johnson in wrestling at 60-40

Submission grappling

Both men have proved to be vulnerable in the submission game, Guillard losing nine times by choke or hold, and Johnson tapping or napping/snapping six times as a pro. With neither guy holding any known rank in Jiu-Jitsu, or showing much of their game offensively in MMA, it is a bit of a moot point.

All in all, I think these two are probably on-par in the Jits department. Don’t expect to see much of it, but I’m calling it 50-50 nonetheless.

Photo credit Jayne Kamin Oncea for USA Today