Melvin Guillard on UFC Release: 'Best Thing That Could Happen to Me'

One would think that being handed a pink slip and booted from the world's top MMA promotion would equate to a bad day. However, that's not the case with Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard.

Speaking to The MMA Hour (h/t MMA Mania), Guillard expressed that, while he was shocked at getting the axe, he's perfectly happy with the move.

"For me, honestly, I thought it was the best thing that could happen to me at this point in my career," Melvin said. "I was actually happy because I felt like, I could sign with another company, and that company is gonna pay me way more than I make with UFC."

Guillard was released from the UFC following an unanimous-decision loss to Michael Johnson at UFC Fight Night 37. The loss dropped Guillard's UFC record to 2-5 and one no-contest since 2012.

He also stated that he came into the Johnson fight with some busted ribs and is also dealing with an injured hand.

Look for Guillard to land with World Series of Fighting or Bellator after he rests up. If he's truly interested in making more money, that's where he will find it. If he can't get a big contract from those two promotions, he could sign with Resurrection Fighting Alliance, a promotion that has a good relationship with the UFC.

Guillard has had controversy follow him throughout his MMA career and sports a 13-9 overall record in the UFC.

Although he's only 30 years old, he has a ton of mileage on his body from competing in 48 total fights throughout his MMA career.