Louisiana Lightning – Guillard KO’s Dunham in One

KILLEEN, TX, January 22 – “Young Assassin” indeed. Longtime lightweight talent Melvin Guillard delivered a defining performance in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight For The Troops 2 card at Fort Hood, stopping highly-regarded Evan Dunham with a blistering mix of speed and power that announced his arrival as a major player at 155 pounds. See post-fight interview

The upset garnered Guillard a $30,000 Knockout of the Night bonus.

“I want my title shot,” said Guillard, who won his third in a row. “Keep lining them up and I’ll keep knocking them down. I will go undefeated in 2011.”

After the ritual touch of gloves, Dunham kicked off the action with a kick, but it was Guillard who landed a big right hand that got the Oregonian’s attention. Dunham immediately shot for a takedown, and eventually got. Guillard fought his way back to his feet and tagged Dunham with a series of punches, reddening his face. Calm in the pocket, Guillard danced around and shot in with dynamite when the opening presented itself. That opening came midway through the round, as another right hand stunned Dunham and dropped him. Dunham looked for the takedown but it was nowhere to be found. Instead, Guillard drilled his foe with a left knee to the head that staggered him once again. Dunham started to fall to the canvas and Guillard wouldn’t let him off the hook, prompting referee Mario Yamasaki to halt the bout at 2:58 of the opening round.

With the win, Guillard ups his record to 45-9-3 with 1 NC; Dunham falls to 11-2.