UFC vet Melvin Guillard and Authentic Sports Management part ways

For the moment, Melvin Guillard is on his own.

A rep for Authentic Sports Management today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the management firm will continue to represent the UFC lightweight, whose recent announcement of a return to Jackson-Winkeljohn’s MMA was rebuffed, but that Guillard will no longer train at the company’s Blackzilian camp.


ASM publicist Jen Wenk called the split "friendly and mutual." Although she initially stated via text that ASM no longer managed Guillard, she later clarified that the firm still managed him. Attempts to reach Guillard were unsuccessful.

It’s been a hard week for Guillard (30-12-2 MMA, 11-7 UFC), who is 1-4 in his past five octagon outings after a win streak of the same length. “The Young Assassin” migrated to Florida full-time this past year to join forces with ASM and the Blackzilians MMA team, whose ranks include Rashad Evans, Anthony Johnson and Michael Johnson, among others.

Previously, Guillard split time between Jackson’s MMA and Florida. He joined up with the former in 2009.

However, the Albuquerque, N.M.-based gym made it clear that the lightweight isn’t welcome back to the team. A team vote was unanimous that Guillard not be allowed to rejoin the ranks of pro fighters. It also was revealed that Guillard faced a pair of assault charges from separate incidents in 2010.

ASM head Glenn Robinson said he remains on good terms with Guillard.

“Melvin called me up and Melvin said he felt it was time for him to go back to Jackson’s,” Robinson told SI.com. “We only want what’s best for Melvin, so I spoke to the coaches, and they agreed it was a good chance for him to make a change that he probably needed. We support the decision.

“Wherever he does end up, we’re sure that Melvin will come out and have some great fights. He’s still an incredible athlete, and I think the world will see still a lot of great things to come from him – [he just won't be] trained by us.”

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Story updated on 3/28/13 at 7:35 p.m. ET to reflect an updated statement from Authentic Sports Management.