Slugger Melvin Guillard's (23-8-2 MMA, 6-4 UFC) tour of the UFC lightweight division's best submission fighters isn't over just yet.
MMAjunkie.com has learned from sources close to the organization that Guillard and Brazilian Thiago Tavares (14-3-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) have verbally agreed to meet at UFC 114.
While not yet officially announced by the organization, UFC 114 is expected to take place on May 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
A devastating striker, Guillard has been fed a heavy diet of grapplers in recent contests. "The Young Assassin" has won four of his past five outings – a stretch that includes victories over Brazilian jiu-jitsu players Ronys Torres and Gleison Tibau.
Guillard recently moved to the famed Jackson's camp in New Mexico, and prior to his UFC 109 win this past weekend over Torres, he jokingly told MMAjunkie.com that UFC matchmaker Joe Silva must have it in for him considering the recent stream of submission-wizard opponents.
"I think (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva has it out for me," Guillard joked. "No, it's not frustrating. That's the one hole in my game, and once I can convincingly start beating these jiu-jitsu guys, then that sets the mark for me as one of the greatest fighters. Even before I win a title, I can be labeled one of the greatest fighters if I can take out some of the guys that are very, very great and good at submissions."
Meanwhile, Tavares comes into the fight likely needing a positive result. After earning his way into the UFC on the strength of a perfect 10-0 record, Tavares has had mixed results with a 4-3-1 mark in the world's biggest MMA promotion.
Tavares most recent outing was a majority draw with Nik Lentz at January's UFC Fight Night 20 event. Tavares had earned the first two rounds of the fight before a spirited third-round effort by Lentz coupled with a one-point deduction for Tavares after a low blow left the fight a draw.
Tavares told MMAjunkie.com at the beginning of 2009 that he hoped to have a banner year, but a series of injuries forced him out of action for 12 months.
Guillard and Tavares were set to meet in June 2009 at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale, but Tibau stepped in as a replacement when Tavares was forced to withdraw from his first of two scheduled 2009 contests.
Source: http://mmajunkie.com/news/17936/melvin- ... in-may.mma