» Fighter: Melvin Guillard

Lightweight Nate Diaz (10-5) tapped out “Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard (22-8-2) in a modified guillotine at 2:13 of round two at UFC Fight Night 19 in Oklahoma City Wednesday night.

Diaz had backed Guilliard into the cage with a crisp one-two combo.  Guilliard wasn’t taking home the Oscar for playing possom at the cage before he launched a straight punch into a double leg takedown.  Diaz landed on his back and immediately slipped his arms around Guillard’s neck and his right leg high over Guillard’s back.  Diaz leaned back and Guilliard pounded the mat.

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Ultimate Fighter Nathan Diaz (9-5) will square off across the Octagon from lightweight banger “Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard (22-7-2) and former lightweight contender “El Matador” Roger Huerta (20-2-1) will return from a 13-month hiatus versus “Bullly” Gray Maynard (7-0) at UFC’s Fight Night in Oklahoma City 16 September.

Diaz and Guillard cross paths moving in opposite directions.

Diaz is on a two-fight losing streak, most recently getting manhandled in a UD loss to a relentless “Daddy” Joe Stevenson (30-9) at The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale in Las Vegas last month.

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From TUF to top!

New UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin (16-4) demoralized and upset former Champ “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6) by unanimous decision Saturday night in Las Vegas.

“This is the greatest night of my life,” Griffin said after toppling the odds.

Though Jackson won the first round by staggering Griffin with a left, then dropping the challenger with a right uppercut, Griffin laid the groundwork for his decision victory by whittling away at Jackson’s lead leg with low kicks.

“He jacked my leg up,” Jackson admitted.

In the second round, Griffin buckled the champ with a leg kick and passed to mount on the mat, grinding elbows into Rampage’s head, but doing little damage.

Rampage limped into round three searching for a knockout, but managed only a combination that Griffin weathered, though he admitted, “Every punch that motherfucker threw hurt.”

Jackson scored a fourth-round takedown; but, Griffin wrapped a leg triangle, then transitioned to an omoplata when Jackson freed himself from the triangle.

Jackson stood out of the submission and cracked Griffin with a right hand, opening a cut on the challenger’s right eyelid, then followed with a left as the bell ended the round.

It was back-and-forth and both fighters felt they needed the final round to win; but, Jackson seemed disappointed by the situation, while Griffin was inspired.

Griffin got back to game plan in the fifth round, stinging Rampage’s lead leg, as Jackson threw desperate haymakers without landing.

The judges scored the fight 48-46 twice and 49-46 once for Griffin. Fighters.com scored it 48-46 for Griffin, our new champion.

“He whupped my ass,” Jackson admitted after the battle; but, Griffin said, “It was close and I think we’re gonna have to do it again.”

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“For all you Rampage haters, you might as well get used to me,” Fighters.com’s Light Heavyweight Champion “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-6) announced to the crowd at the UFC 86 weigh-ins in Las Vegas Friday.  “I’ma be here for a long time,” he added, then flashed the peace sign.

Rampage weighed in at 205-pounds, as did eighth-ranked title challenger Forrest Griffin (15-4).

Xtreme Couture’s Griffin said, “It’s nice to fight in your hometown.  Thank you, guys.”

Griffin smirked in the gaze of an intense Rampage stare down.

All fighters on Saturday night’s card made weight.

Only lightweight Gleison Tibau (15-5) missed the mark, but by the allowed one pound at 156-pounds.  Tibau will fight “Daddy” Joe Stevenson (33-8).

6′4″ lightweight Corey Hill (2-0) looked absolutely emaciated at 155-pounds.

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