(PRESS RELEASE) -- SANTA MONICA, California – Melvin Guillard’s (32-14-2 2 NC) first bout under the Bellator MMA banner will come in lightweight action against Brandon Girtz (11-4) on Friday, Aug. 28 at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, Calif.
Tickets for Bellator 141, which start at just $50, go on sale this Friday at Pechanga.com and the Pechanga Resort & Casino box office. Doors for the event open at 4 p.m. PT local time, and the first contest takes place one hour later.
“Since signing Melvin [Guillard] in May, we have been anxious to get him inside the Bellator cage,” Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said. “Brandon Girtz has performed well for us and will face his stiffest competition to date when he meets the 50-fight veteran. I’m really looking forward to the event, as well as returning to one of our favorite venues in Pechanga Resort and Casino.”
At only 32 years of age, “The Young Assassin” has amassed 50 professional bouts in a career that dates back to 2002. With 21 victories coming by KO, Guillard has generated a large fan base with his exciting fighting style.
Born in New Orleans, the knockout artist has honed his skills at some of the top MMA gyms in the world including: Jackson’s MMA, Blackzilians, Grudge Training Center and American Top Team, where he currently trains. During his 22-fight stint with Ultimate Fighting Championship, Guillard broke MMA great BJ Penn’s record for most KO’s in the lightweight division with eight, an accolade that he still holds to this day.
An NCAA Division II All-American at Minnesota State University, Girtz has competed for Bellator MMA since 2012, accruing a record of 4-2. It’s safe to say that the Northway Martial Arts-product is a “submission specialist,” with seven of his 11 professional victories coming by way of making his opponent tap out.
“Cold Roll” was officially cleared to return to active competition in May after suffering an ACL injury during training. This return bout will be Girtz’s first appearance in 2015, and will also serve as his first time in a headlining role.
About Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA is a leading Mixed Martial Arts organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 500 million homes worldwide in over 140 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Spike, the MMA television leader. Bellator MMA is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Santa Monica, California and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
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