It’s not entirely Demarques’ fault. After all, if a fighter finishes a fight with a smile on his face and a sign of obvious relief, it’s pretty self-evident that he didn’t want to be there to begin with.

Last Saturday at “UFC Fight for the Troops 2″ in Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, one of the more peculiar bouts of the evening was said bout between Johnson and veteran Mike Guymon. Demarques was able to work the fight to the canvas very early, mount “The Joker” and eventually take his back. Johnson was searching for a rear-naked choke when Guymon has offered up his back, however tapped out shortly there after when an applied body-triangle bared too much for Mike and he was forced to tap due to injury.

And now, just moment’s after the fight Guymon flatly stated that he is just plain done with mixed martial arts altogether.

MiddleEasy.com was the first to bring the news to attention, though UFC.com cameras were rolling post-fight and were able to capture a special moment between “The Ultimate Fighter” season 9 finalist and Guymon. The 36-year-old was all smiles, but visibly upset when he spoke about his now obsolete career.

“I’m just so happy to be down with it, man. Such a long road I wanted to..it’s so hard to explain. So many years fighting, so happy to be done”, said Guymon. “You’re done?” interjected a puzzled Johnson, as Mike nodded.

“I just accomplished everything I wanted to do in fighting”.

There’s no sure point where Mike decided to simply hang it up. Maybe it was a fear of his release from the promotion following a 1-3 run inside the octagon. Better to hang it up now, say I fought in the UFC before facing the humilation of recieving the infamous pink slips.

But Mike can now always take solace in having said that ‘yes, I fought in the UFC and gave it my best shot’…but can he? With a defeatist sort of attitude, I don’t know if I’d feel comfortable writing it off as such, but that’s not for me to say. I’m sure the news will have since spread and “The Joker” will be able to shed some more light on this pivotal point in his life.

It’s crazy to think that not all that long ago Mike was on the heels of suicide to where he is now, a fighter in the UFC’s welterweight division. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly a good story.

Sound off in the comment section below.

Johnson was thought to be an early favorite to win the show while serving his stint on “TUF”, coached by former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson as part of team “USA”, Damarques battled his way to the finals defeating the likes of Ray Elbe, Dean Amasinger and Nick Osipczak.

Losing in the finals to UK welterweight James Wilks, Johnson returned with two impressive back-to-back victories inside the UFC against Edgar Garcia and Brad Blackburn. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt managed to pick up “Submission of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night” honors for his efforts (respectively).

After getting back on the horse and picking up momentum in the octagon, Johnson would eventually lose to fellow TUF veteran, Matthew Riddle in his last performance at “UFC Live: Jones vs Matyushenko” last August. Riddle was able to dispatch of Damarques in the second round, by TKO.

Guymon is also coming on the heels of a loss in his last performance at UFC 121 just a couple of weeks ago. Mike, who most remember attempted to commit suicide in August of last year, battled through his demons and eventually made his way to the UFC, opened up his UFC career with a loss to hot prospect Rory MacDonald before bouncing back with a unanimous decision victory over Judoka expert Yoshiyuki Yoshida. However, “Joker” is currently coming off of a quick submission loss to grappling ace Daniel “Ninja” Roberts.

For both men, a loss here could spell the infamous UFC walk papers, so this is a pivotal bout for both competitors. MiddleEasy.com had the first scoop on the story.

The January 22 event is said to take place at Fort Hood, Tex., as a “UFC Fight for the Troops” event.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Who are you favoring in the match up? Sound off in the comment section below.

Headlining the nights festivities will be former light heavyweight champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida in a non-title bout, with a trilogy between former welterweight champions Matt Hughes and BJ Penn being completed that night, serving as the co-main event of the evening.

Prior to these bouts, a pair of middleweights and 170-pound fighters will be in action as part of the Spike TV special, which will have the potential to reach 96.1 million people at home in these United States.

MMAJunkie.com has indicated that match ups between middleweights Mark Munoz vs Aaron Simpson, and Matt Brown vs Rory MacDonald, will serve as the two bouts selected for the Spike broadcast.

Munoz, a heavy handed wrestler is coming off the sting of his first defeat in the middleweight division, where he lost a close split-decision to top contender Yushin Okami. The Japanese star brought it to the former NCAA champion early and often, dropping Munoz on one occasion and stuffing all of his take down attempts. Mark hung tough, and even managed to wobble Okami to the ground and pressured him with his improved stand up arsenal. In the end it wasn’t enough, and Munoz saw a three-fight win streak snapped with the loss.

Aaron, meanwhile, is coming off a loss as well, his first as a professional mixed martial artist. A two-time NCAA champion in 96′ and 98′, became an assistant wrestling coach for Arizona State, where he initially compiled 110 victories for the university.

There, he coached the likes of UFC standouts CB Dollaway, Ryan Bader, and current UFC heavyweight number one contender, Cain Velasquez. Being bit by the biting bug, Aaron opened up to the idea of fighting as a living in 2007, and compiled a perfect 4-0 before joining the UFC. Going on to garner a three-fight win streak within the promotion, his run was snapped when Simpson met with Chris Leben at “The Ultimate Fighter” season 11 finale, losing by TKO in the second round.

Both Rory MacDonald and Matt Brown are coming off losses as well. The Canadian shined though, in his bout against former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit, last June at UFC 115. Arguably ahead on the score cards going into the third round after getting the better of the stand up against Condit, Rory was notably fatigued in the final round. Carlos was eventually able to work the fight to the floor, eventually mounting the former King of the Cage lightweight and welterweight champion, pounding him out for a TKO victory in waning moments of the fight. Prior to the loss, MacDonald made a successful debut into the organization with a first-round arm bar over fellow KOTC veteran Mike Guymon at “UFC Fight Night 20″ in January of this year.

Brown, however is feeling the sting of defeat well and hard. The former contender is coming on the heels of two consecutive losses, submissions at that, to standouts Ricardo Almedia and most recently current top contender Chris Lytle.

In the bout with Lytle at UFC 116, which was the second in the series, the two traded blows early, Brown effective on the feet, the welterweight battle found its way to the floor in the early stages of the second round. Both fighters were jockeying for position, and Lytle was eventually able to secure an arm, and completed the bout ends with an arm bar victory over Brown.

Prior to the losses to Ricardo and Chris, Brown was riding a three-fight win streak in the organization and four of his last five overall. However now on the cusp of his UFC career, this is a must-win situation for both Brown and MacDonald. A loss for either could spell pink slips, which can also be said of Munoz and Simpson.

So, MMA peeps, what do you think of the UFC 123 prelims? Worthy? Do you have any other bouts in mind as far as what you would rather see in place of said matches? Sound off in the comments section below.

Yoshida was knocked out in 41 seconds by an overweight “Rumble” Anthony Johnson (8-3) at UFC 104 in Los Angeles October 24.

Guymon tapped in an armbar to Rory MacDonald (10-0) at UFC Fight Night 20 January 11.