UFC 136 Edgar vs Maynard Preview
Melvin Guillard is on a tear. This lightweight standout is riding a five fight win streak and three of those wins have not made it out of the first round. You can always expect fireworks when Melvin steps in the Octagon. Guillard is one of the most athletic fighters on the UFC roster and has, many will agree, some of the best striking skills in the lightweight division. Melvin’s devastating power, lightning fast hands and desire to finish the fight make him a top contender for the 155 lb title. ‘The Young Assassin’ has a tough challenge ahead of him, as his opponent Joe Lauzon looks to keep on the winning track as well. Lauzon has been hot and cold of late, but when he is on his game Joe can be a handful for anyone. Lauzon is a grappling ace and will look to exploit the ‘limited ground game’ of Guillard. Melvin has different plans as his ground game may not be as suspect as some think. Guillard has continued to train at Greg Jackson’s academy in New Mexico and, since his return to Jackson’s, has been undefeated. Melvin’s takedown defence and overall grappling game have improved dramatically. Guillard used to be hesitant to commit fully to his striking because of the chance he might be taken down. Due to the dramatic increase in his grappling and takedown defence, Melvin can now unleash his full destructive power without being concerned about the take down. This is a pivotal fight in his career, as it could be the fight that puts him in line for a #1 contender’s match or even next in line for a title fight. Guillard will be fighting on the same card as Edgar and Maynard, who will be finishing their trilogy for the lightweight title, and he will be paying close attention to the outcome. Melvin, again, has chosen to train and compete in Hayabusa. We are proud of the continued partnership between Melvin Guillard and Hayabusa and we look forward to another great performance from ‘The Young Assassin’.
Jeremy Stephens may not have the “flashy” striking of his opponent Anthony ‘Showtime’ Pettis, but he throws some of the hardest punches in the lightweight division. Stephens combines this power with a relentless attack, a willingness to engage and a never give up attitude. Jeremy has the heart of a lion and will fully engage for the entire fight. There is no back stepping for this 155 lb slugger. He has had some notable battles and 12 of his wins have come by KO or TKO. Stephens has multiple post fight bonuses for KO of the night (twice) and a fight of the night. Jeremy plans on keeping his two fight winning streak alive and moving up the ladder towards a UFC championship. Hayabusa is proud to once again partner with Jeremy ‘Lil Heathen’ Stephens and can’t wait to witness another exciting fight. Jeremy is excited to enter the Octagon, again, wearing the best fight shorts available. Hayabusa #1 Trusted Brand in MMA.
Nam Phan doesn’t want his fight with Leonard Garcia to go to the judges again. Their last fight ended in a controversial decision win for Garcia, which many people considered a huge mistake. Phan, who most thought won the first fight, has learned to heed the warning, “Never leave it in the hands of the judges” and will be looking to finish the fight. Nam, a former TUF contestant, will use his well-rounded skill set to get back on the winning track. With seven KO’s and five submission wins in his career, Phan is a threat standing or on the ground. In his last fight with Garcia, Nam was baited into a three round brawl which favoured his opponent. This time around Phan will look to utilize more precise striking techniques and avoid the wild, reckless punches that Garcia throws. The ground game will play a big factor as Nam will look to drag Garcia down and either ground and pound or submit him. This is a pivotal fight for Nam as he looks to get back on the winning track and take the next step in his fighting career. Hayabusa wishes Nam Phan the best of luck in his upcoming fight.
Make sure to check out Hayabusa (booth 1637) during the UFC Fan Expo at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. The Expo will be held on October 7 and 8, so if you are in the Houston area come check us out. There will be some great deals, fighter meet and greets, future product announcements and lots more. Hayabusa #1 Trusted Brand in MMA.