WSOF 11's Melvin Guillard: 'I ruffle feathers everywhere I go'

After his release from the UFC, Melvin Guillard sees his role in the upstart WSOF very clearly.

“They brought me to this organization for a reason: to be the face of the organization as far as lightweights, and I’m going to do that,” he told MMAjunkie Radio.

Such confidence is par for the course with Guillard, 31, who made his debut on the national stage as a talkative and fiercely talented contestant on “The Ultimate Fighter 2.”

Now, the self-confident striker looks to reinvent himself outside the promotion for nine years. Guillard expects to fight another decade, but added his main goal is to “make as much money as possible right now.”

The Louisiana native has bounced around four major MMA camps in the past two years of his pro career, looking alternatively brilliant and listless inside the cage. While some might ask whether his seesawing career is a reflection of his issues in the gym, he sees another reason why he’s been a nomad.

“I ruffle feathers everywhere I go,” Guillard (31-13-2) said. “People can’t really handle my personality.”

He might have stumbled out of the gate on Friday by missing the weight limit for his fight with Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante (18-7-1) on Saturday at WSOF 11, but the fighter said he is looking to make up for a lackluster showing this past March against Michael Johnson that led to his release from the UFC.

“I’m going to get a little redemption in this next fight,” he said.

The veteran fighter makes his promotional debut on WSOF 11's NBC-televised main card, which takes place at Ocean Center in Daytona, Fla. Event prelims stream live on MMAjunkie.

Guillard already has tangled with the WSOF’s current lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje, and said it won’t be long before he’s in line for the belt.

“That’s going to be mine by the end of the year.” he said. “I’m coming for Gaethje. By the end of the year, I’m going to be champion. Guarantee it.”

First, though, he needs to come out ahead in his promotional debut. Guillard can also boast inside knowledge on Cavalcante, with whom he trained during a stint with Florida’s Blackzilians. He moved away from the camp this past year amid a losing skid in the UFC.

While Guillard apparently ruffled the feathers of more than a few fighters in that camp, including Johnson, he said his relationship with Cavalcante was positive.

“There were times where he told me, ‘Melvin, shut up, you talk too much,’” he said. “I was like, ‘All right, cool, I’ll shut up,’ out of respect. I have respect for all the guys. There was never any disrespect going on.

He subsequently moved next door to American Top Team, but said there’s no rivalry at play in Saturday’s fight.

“It’s two fighters fighting to get a title shot, and that’s what it is,” he said. “It’s nothing more, nothing less.

“We’re going to be boys after; we actually rode here on the plane, and I told him, ‘Loser has to buy the winner dinner, husband and wife,’ because we’re both married. He’s going to be taking me to dinner.”

And while Guillard is predicting big things for himself this year, he certainly doesn’t look down on Gaethje, who makes his first title defense in WSOF’s 11 headliner opposite Nick Newell. After seeing the champ’s skills firsthand, he knows his road to the title isn’t an easy one.

“He’s very misleading,” Guillard said. “You look at him, and he doesn’t look much like an athlete. But the kid has got skills. He’s got heart, too; he can take a beating. He’s one of those guys that he’s tough to knock out, and he’s just hard-nosed. He’s a really good athlete and a good wrestler, too.”

For more on WSOF 11, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.