UFC on FX 1: Guillard vs. Miller – Preview & Event Coverage
By Justin Bolduc
*Click here for UFC on FX 1 Weigh-In Results & Video*
*Click here for UFC on FX 1 Live Results & Extended Event Coverage*
This Friday in Nashville, TN the UFC will hold it’s second event in tandem with Fox, and the first event on FX. The main event features highly-ranked lightweights Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller, each coming off losses and dropping slightly from the title picture.
Under the main event is an explosive welterweight contest between Duane “Bang” Ludwig and Josh Neer, as well as once-beaten bantamweight prospect Mike Easton against UFC newcomer Jared Papazian. The remaining main card bout features fan favorite Pat Barry against Christian Morecraft in a heavyweight contest.
The preliminary card will feature six bouts on Fuel TV. The first bout of the night sees Joseph Sandoval face Nick Denis in a bantamweight bout, followed up by featherweights Daniel Pineda and Pat Schilling. Brazilian Fabricio Camoes welcomes undefeated Tom Hayden into the UFC in a lightweight match-up.
The preliminary card also features PDG’s Match-Up of the Night between welterweights Charlie Brenneman and Daniel Roberts, as well as once-beaten WEC stand-out Kamal Shalorus against undefeated Habib Nurmagomedov. Additionally, the preliminary card features a strong mid-card middleweight bout between Jorge Rivera and Eric “Red” Schafer.
Melvin Guillard (29-9-2, 1 NC) vs. Jim Miller (20-3)
Main Event
Melvin Guillard (11-5 UFC) steps into Friday’s fight coming off a loss against Joe Lauzon while just one win away from challenging for the UFC lightweight championship. The loss snapped an impressive five-fight win streak.
Guillard, who had just joined Greg Jackson’s team, kicked off 2010 by out-pointing Ronys Torres. He followed it up by stopping Waylon Lowe with a knee to the body before edging out a split decision over the tough Jeremy Stephens. Guillard then stopped Evan Dunham inside the first round before knocking out WEC stand-out Shane Roller. Guillard’s most recent bout was an upset loss to Lauzon, who dropped him and finished the bout with a forty-seven second rear naked choke.
Since the loss Guillard has moved from Greg Jackson’s team and joined the Blackzilians. Guillard split training time between Jackson’s and Imperial for the Lauzon bout, but recently decided to join the Blackzilians full-time. The Blackzilians feature stand-out fighters Rashad Evans, Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, Jorge Santiago, and Anthony Johnson.
Jim Miller (9-2 UFC) was also on the cusp of a UFC title shot after stretching out a seven-fight win streak inside the Octagon. Miller’s dreams were stalled however when he was most recently beaten by former WEC champion Ben Henderson.
Miller began his impressive streak with a decision over The Ultimate Fighter winner Mac Danzig. Miller then secured a win over Steve Lopez after Lopez suffered a shoulder injury in the second round. Miller continued gaining momentum with a first round armbar over Duane “Bang” Ludwig before scoring unanimous decisions over Mark Bocek and Gleison Tibau.
Miller then found a massive boost in his stock when he secured a kneebar over hot prospect Chales “do Bronx” Oliveira in less than two minutes, handing the Brazilian his first career loss. Miller then handed WEC stand-out Kamal Shalorus the first loss of his career by way of third round TKO. Miller was then grinded on by Henderson over three rounds to drop out of title contention.
Duane “Bang” Ludwig (21-11) vs. Josh Neer (32-10-1)
Co-Main Event
Duane “Bang” Ludwig (4-2 UFC) is best known for having the fastest knockout in UFC history, although the Nevada State Athletic Commission has refused to overturn a previous time keeping error to make it an official technicality.
Ludwig made a permanent move to the UFC in 2010, losing his return to the promotion against Jim Miller by submission. Ludwig then lost to Darren Elkins after suffering a grotesque ankle injury only forty-four seconds into their bout. Since returning from injury Ludwig has been able to secure a two-fight win streak by edging out a split decision over Nick Osipczak and a one-sided unanimous decision over Amir Sadollah.
Ludwig has fought worldwide since the start of his career in 2000 and has competed in promotions such as Strikeforce, King of the Cage, and Sengoku. He owns notable career victories over Genki Sudo, Jens Pulver, Sam Morgan, and Yves Edwards.
Josh Neer (5-5 UFC) recently won his return to the UFC with a second round doctor’s stoppage over Keith Wisniewski, extending his current win streak to five.
Neer’s last loss came at the hands of former Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez in Neer’s only match in the promotion. He was able to rebound with a first round guillotine choke over previously undefeated upstart Jesse Finney. After a twenty-second trumping over journeyman Andre Kase, Neer headlined Shark Fights 16 where he defeated Jesse Juarez. Neer then stopped journeyman Blas Avena at SCC 2 to earn his way back into the UFC mix.
Despite his recent run against lower-level fighters, Neer has faced high-level competition throughout his career including fighting Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, Gleison Tibau, Nate Diaz, and Nick Thompson, with impressive career wins over TUF winners Joe Stevenson and Mac Danzig, and highly-regarded Melvin Guillard.
Charlie Brenneman (14-3) vs. Daniel Roberts (12-3)
PDG’s Match-Up of the Night
Charlie Brenneman (3-2 UFC) was a heavily-followed prospect due to his great wrestling background. Joining the UFC with an impressive 11-1 record, Brenneman made a good first impression with his promotional debut victory over Jason High.
In his second UFC outing Brenneman was derailed by white hot Johnny Hendricks, suffering a TKO forty-seconds into the second round. Brenneman rebounded strong though with a decision over Amilcar Alves. In his next bout he stopped the hype-train behind Rick Story as a late notice replacement, out-pointing the fellow prospect in a rough, dirty dogfight. Most recently however Brenneman was knocked out by Anthony Johnson after eating a headkick in the first round at UFC Live 6.
Daniel Roberts (3-3 UFC) has had mixed results in the UFC and is currently on a two-fight losing streak. “Ninja” has, however, made a strong impression with his jiu-jitsu game with two submission victories inside the Octagon.
In Roberts’ UFC debut he was knocked out by John Howard, but was able to show a dangerous jiu-jitsu attack before succumbing to ground and pound. He then found himself on a three-fight win streak, edging out Forrest Petz for his first UFC win. Roberts was then able to secure a seventy-three second submission over Mike Guymon before submitting prospect Greg Soto. In his recent slump Roberts has lost a pair of unanimous decisions against Claude Patrick and Rich Attonito.
Additional Thoughts – Main Card:
* One of the top fights on the card if you are into following prospects features bantamweight sensation Mike “Hulk” Easton (11-1) against UFC newcomer Jared Papazian (14-6, 1 NC). Easton (1-0 UFC) was initially set to fight WEC veteran Ken Stone, but an injury changed that. Easton entered the UFC with impressive career wins over John Dodson and Chase Beebe. “Hulk”, who holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Lloyd Irvin, won his UFC debut over Byron Bloodworth by TKO late in the second round. Papazian (0-0 UFC) enters his UFC debut on a three-fight win streak. The most notable win on “The Jackhammer’s” resume was a unanimous decision over Abel Cullum inside King of the Cage in June.
* Fan favorite Pat Barry (6-4) steps into the main card in a heavyweight clash with Christian Morecraft (7-2) as an exciting way to kick off the FX broadcast. Barry (3-4 UFC) enters Friday’s bout on a dire two-fight losing streak after suffering a knockout loss in an exciting battle with Cheick Kongo and most recently losing by triangle choke against Stefan Struve. Despite a weak ground game, Barry’s kickboxing is outstanding and added with his personality he is a strong mid-card fighter for any UFC card. He holds career wins over Joey Beltran and Antoni Hardonk. Morecraft (1-2 UFC) has alternated wins and losses in his UFC career. After losing his promotional debut by knockout against Stefan Struve, Morecraft was able to piece together a submission win over Sean McCorkle. Most recently Morecraft was knocked out by fast rising Matt Mitrione at UFC Live 4.
UFC on FX 1 Fight Card
Main Card (FX):
Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller (Main Event)
Duane “Bang” Ludwig vs. Josh Neer (Co-Main Event)
Mike Easton vs. Jared Papazian
Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft
Preliminary Card (Fuel TV):
Jorge Rivera vs. Eric Schafer
Kamal Shalorus vs. Habib Nurmagomedov
Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel Roberts (PDG’s Match-Up of the Night)
Fabricio Camoes vs. Tom Hayden
Daniel Pineda vs. Pat Schilling
Joseph Sandoval vs. Nick Denis
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