Jeremy Stephens Upset with Melvin Guillard for Using Winning Strategy at UFC 119
by S.C. Michaelson on Sep 29, 2010 3:17 PM EDT
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Following his loss to Melvin Gulllard at UFC 119, Jeremy Stephens expressed some dissatisfaction with the way that Melvin chose to fight:
"It really wasn't an exciting fight. Everybody hyped it up to be. For (Melvin Guillard) calling me out, saying he's going to knock me the f*ck out in the first round, I would have rather had that happen, instead of him really not trying to engage with me."
"I was trying to put he pressure, trying to engage. I've never really seen Melvin fight like that; where he is just moving around the whole time. I thought we were just going to go to war, but it is what it is."
"I would have loved to put on a show for the fans, but you can't make the other guy fight. I'd rather of him come at me like he does everybody else. I was chasing him around the whole damn time, he was in and out, but what the f*ck, we're not fighting. Why not go out and put on a f*cking war and get knocked out."HT: Bloody Elbow
What is going on with UFC fighters losing and then complaining about the strategy their opponent uses to win? Did Jeremy ever think that Guillard's pre-fight talk was all strategy to get him in a mindset to be overly-aggressive and then use his speed, footwork and head movement to avoid basically all his strikes? I mean look back at Melvin's teammate Rashad Evans in his fight against Rampage Jackson, same strategy.
While it wasn't a knockout barnburner, what I saw was a technical display of standup and defense by Melvin Guillard to win the fight. Win, what a novel concept in a sport. I could understand if it was a Winner/Lentz type of fight, but it wasn't. How can anyone fault a fighter for doing what it takes to win as long as they aren't just ridiculously boring? Stephens should take this loss and use it to improve on his skills as a fighter which he can then utilize against a strategy like this.
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Ok, I saw this pop up on Twitter and thought, I love the title for this post. Props. Nothing but Props.
I was surprised, thinking that Guillard being an aggressive striker was going to be more like . . . Guillard. But he did eek out a victory via split decision. So he better watch out because the pendulum may swing the other way in future fights.
I kind of agree with Stephens until he said,
but what the f*ck, we’re not fighting. Why not go out and put on a f*cking war and get knocked out
Sure fans love to see some one get knocked out, but I would never volunteer to get knocked out to entertain anyone. The possible physical damage, not to mention the possible ensuing headache won’t be cool.
What was that? Keith Jardine was experiencing terrible migraine headaches just prior to his fight against Trevor Prangley? I wonder why. Some one should ask Stephens that question.
- - - - -
VEe is ANIMated!
I’m torn on this issue. I appreciate fighters who show more evolved talent than just winging haymakers, but I’m not down with point-fighting. Guillard was clearly aiming for a decision right from the get-go. It’s one thing to employ a smart strategy, but that strategy should still involve trying to finish.
Those blitzes weren't for points
He has the speed to pull-off pointing his way to a decision without sitting on his punches like that. It would actually make it easier to get back out if he didn’t put any heat on them. But they seemed to have plenty of power on them.
Too bad Stephens moved his chin from the knuckles every time Melvin came offering. Could’ve been a great fight.
I just got to see the fights as I was occupied with work till now, but I didn’t see this one as being bad. Just because someone can’t finish a particular fight doesn’t mean they aren’t trying.
Jab, jab, towards, short, fierce.
The gameplan was to win a decision. Guillards coaches told him prior that it would be very surprising for a finish using the strategy they employed
jeremy was looking to make an extra $70k and smelvin ruined it for him
I'm not paid to believe, I'm paid to fuck shit up
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I was so hyped for this fight
I hate the idea of fighting for a decision. Its one thing to not have alot of power or finishing ability like Sam Stout where you cant fault the guy, but Melvin has plenty of both and did not look to use either. He used his speed to win a decision. Worked perfect but damn was it uneventful
100% correct
The best was Josh Neer’s manager openly questioning why Zuffa kept making his guy fight wrestlers.
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by Derek Suboticki on Sep 29, 2010 4:20 PM EDT reply actions
UFC 119 left such a bad taste in my mouth, I didn't feel like writing ANYthing (to the rejoice of many)
And RL busyness.
/sarcasm
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by S.C. Michaelson on Sep 29, 2010 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Fighters are going to need psychiatric services pretty soon. They know they can only lose a few times before being cut. They are only paid so much. They know fans boo at the drop of a hat. They know the word from Dana & Co. is that they like exciting fighters.
I wonder if Dana & Co. are waiting for fighters to get the message that you have to take matters into you’re own hands if your opponent is not “engaging”.
I wonder if there is a point within the fight that Stephens says to himself a) Melvin is not engaging me AND b) I might lose this fight. If he fails to recognize b), then he loses a boring fight. If he recognizes b) then maybe he goes apeshit on Melvin’s ass and tries to blaze a path to a win. If he fails to win, at least he made it exciting. IDK, is that idiotic?
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Agreed, even though there were 4 decisions, they were all wars. Guillard was swinging for the fences. Melvin came out aggressive to start the fight and got dropped, he then changed gameplan midfight and ended up winning, a brilliant performance imo. Stephens is one tough SOB, it was a great fight!
by zuffazombie on Sep 30, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
When both guys are apologizing afterwards, chances are it was not a war
Guillard fought smart and well, but his movement made that fight what it was
Apologizing because of whiny fans booing
"Boy you got me confused with a man who 'peats himself"
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by S.C. Michaelson on Sep 30, 2010 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions
He apologized for not fighting the way he is used to and knows that he did not live up to those expectations of going all out….he showed arguably too much respect to Stephens and chose to stick and move the entire fight. It looked more like a chase at times than it did a fight because of his speed
Fight wasnt pleasing to watch, wasnt the worst thing I ever saw, but epically failed to live up to expectations
If the fans didn't boo, he wouldn't have apologized
The fans booed because he didn’t go out there swinging with reckless abandon.
"Boy you got me confused with a man who 'peats himself"
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by S.C. Michaelson on Oct 1, 2010 7:11 AM EDT up reply actions
