Aziz to Guillard: B-league??!? lose and maybe you go to F league

Not all the fighting in mixed martial arts takes place with the confines of a fence. Several days ago WSoF Melvin Guillard declared that he was an A-list fighter in a B league. Guillard fights Justin Gaethje for the the World Series of Fighting lightweight championship in the co-main event of WSoF 15 on Saturday, live on NBCSN in the U.S and on TSN2 in Canada.

Gaethje seems to have taken the comment in stride, but WSoF matchmaker Ali Abdel Aziz took offense, and let Guillard know during a WSoF 15 media call.

“Melvin Guillard is an A level fighter. Justin Gaethje is an A level fighter. And I think this is the people’s main event,” said Abdel-Aziz as transcribed by Chuck Mindenhall for MMAFighting. “It’s not the main event, but this is my main event. I’m going to be standing and watching this fight. Melvin knows he’s a professional. When he prepares for a B level fighter, I don’t think it’s a good way to think about it.

“Listen, Melvin, he’s man and he can talk and he can promote as much as he wants, it’s what Melvin do, and I love it. But if he thinks he’s fighting a B level fighter, in a B level league, he’s making A level money…but everybody can win or lose. If he ends up losing, maybe he goes to the F league. I hope he’s ready. I hope Justin’s ready. I think it’s going to be fight of the night and I’m looking forward to it.”

The Gaethje turned tables implying that Guillard was not on his level, and “The Young Assassin” struck back.

“I don’t respect one of the vice president’s taking a jab at me because of the way I word things to my interviews,” said Guillard.

“I don’t care what organization I fight for, I’m a fighter. I don’t back down from no fights, I’ll fight anybody, and I’ve got well over 200 fights. Justin Gaethje is 15-0. I still remember when I was 22-0 and I was 18 at the time. Alright? Records don’t mean s—. What means [something] is when we get in that cage Saturday night, who’s going to want it? He can sit there and say I ain’t on his level.

“He knows it ain’t true, and Ali and them know it ain’t true either. I’m a motherf—ing warrior, and I’m going to take what’s mine on Saturday, and they’re going to look up and say, ‘who’s next?’”

And it continued, as later in the interview Abdel Aziz was asked to respond to Guillard.

“To Melvin as a man, and Melvin everything he asked me for I did it for him, but when I hear we’re a B level league, I think it’s bringing all of us down,” said the matchmaker. “Because I look at him as an tough A+ fighter…him, Justin, Jessica, and all of us are A level. There’s no B level here. B level…if you think he’s B level, you’re going to lose on Saturday, and you’ve already lost. Then you’re going to go to the F level. That’s what I said. It was nothing against Melvin. I didn’t like what Melvin said.”

Guillard got the last word.

“As far as me fighting for the title? I’m honored. I’m eager. This is my chance to put a gold belt around my waist to solidify my legacy,” said Guillard. “I never looked at the World Series like they were less than the UFC. I feel the World Series organization, as far as the organization goes, is right up there with the UFC. As far as some of the fighters that are in the World Series, and I’m talking fighters – they’re trying to get where I’ve been. And don’t let none of them fool you and think for one second that they’re never going to want to f—ing jump ship and go to the UFC. Because that’s what everybody does. Because they ain’t never going to have a name for themselves until they crossover, unless this organization will grow and prosper they way they should be. But it’s going to take time.

“If not you’ve got guys going into the UFC fighting two fights and done, and then they are known as UFC fighters. That’s just not cool either. So I’m looking at this sport as a whole, bro. I’ve been around just as long as Mr. Randy Couture, and to see how I’ve ended up now? I’m trying to hold onto the last bit of respect of how fighters should be. That’s all I was saying in my interview.”