Fighter Profile: Clay Guida

Overall Record: 27-11

UFC Record: 7-5

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Height: 5’7” Weight: 155

Born: 12-08-1981

Clay “The Carpenter” Guida is a mixed martial artist who currently fights as a lightweight (155lb) for the world’s largest promotion – the UFC. Guida is known as a tough fighter who always “leaves it all” in the cage. He is a well-rounded fighter who has slick submissions, solid striking and excellent stamina. He specializes as a wrestler on the ground and as a boxer when standing.

Guida currently trains at the Midwest Training Center alongside his brother and fellow MMA competitor Jason Guida, former WEC contender Chase Beebe and future star Tony Sylvester.

Almost six years ago Guida began his journey as a professional mixed martial artist, fighting in several Midwest-based minor-league promotions. He had short stints in promotions such as Xtreme Kage Kombat, Xtreme Fighting Organization, Extreme Challenge and Combat – Do Fighting among others.

For his first two-and-a-half years as a fighter Guida compiled an impressive record of 18-3. During that span in the “minor-league” circuit he defeated tough fighters such as IFL-vet Bart Palaszewski, by unanimous decision at XFO 6 in June ’05, and Jay Estrada at Combat – Do Fighting via rear naked choke in August ’05.

Running roughshod through the lower-level of MMA, mid-level promotions began to take notice and scheduled Guida on a King of the Cage card against submission specialist Tristan Yunker in February ’06. Yunker dominated the experienced Guida from the opening bell with takedowns. Only 1:17 into the fight, Yunker loosened Guida up enough to sink in a fight-ending rear naked choke, and handing “The Carpenter” his fourth career loss.

Even after the pivotal loss to Yunker, Strikeforce was the next established organization to take a flier on Guida. In his first fight for Strikeforce, Guida battled Josh Thompson for five-five minute rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory and more importantly the Strikeforce lightweight championship. The title was short-lived, as he had to give up the belt in his very next fight, after losing a back-and-forth bout to Gilbert Melendez by split decision in June ’06. This bout is considered by many to be one of Strikeforce’s most memorable fights in its history.

Shortly after relinquishing his Strikeforce lightweight belt, Guida ventured to Japan for one fight as a part of the Shooto organization. The trip didn’t go as planned when Guida lost 2:47 into the 1st round via arm-bar to successful Shooto veteran Yusuke Endo. This was the first time that Guida had lost back-to-back fights in his career.

After a quick WEC win over Joe Martin in August 2006, Guida got the call to join the UFC and immediately compete at UFC 64 – “Unstoppable” versus Justin James. Guida looked impressive in his UFC debut using his strength to out-muscle James and finally sink in a rear naked choke late in the 2nd round.

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His UFC success was stalled when he ran into a roadblock in the form of both Din Thomas and Tyson Griffin. At UFC Fight Night 8 and UFC 72 Guida was on the wrong end of decisions to Thomas and Griffin. After his UFC 72 “Victory” loss, Guida fought hard for all three rounds and was awarded his first “Fight of the Night” honor.

His UFC career was on “thin ice” after his second career two-fight losing streak. The UFC gave “The Carpenter” another chance, this time as a test for UFC newcomer and PRIDE veteran Marcus Aurelio. Guida out-lasted Aurelio and this time was on the positive side of a split decision at UFC 74 in August ’07.

Guida continued his up and down UFC career at TUF 6 Finale against lightweight star Roger Huerta. The two contenders battled for parts of three rounds until Guida made a mistake by leaving his head open for the taking. Huerta did just that and submitted Guida early in the 3rd round.

Guida shed his “gatekeeper” status after the Huerta fight by winning his next three UFC fights. He showed impressive striking skills when he defeated Samy Schiavo via technical knockout at UFC Fight Night 13 in April ’08. He followed that win up with two consecutive decision wins against Mac Danzig and Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 15 and UFC 94 respectively. He won his second “Fight of the Night” award after his tight split decision victory over Nate Diaz.

Scheduled to face Diego Sanchez at the TUF 9 Finale on June 20th, a win combined with his current three-fight win streak would put Guida in line for a hard-earned title shot.

As the UFC and the lightweight division continue to grow stronger a title shot won’t come without a great deal of hard work. Hard work is something that the former Alaskan crab fisherman knows a lot about. His work ethic and well-rounded skill set give “The Carpenter” the tools to succeed in the UFC. So far he has gone from “long-shot” to “journeyman” then from “journeyman” to “gatekeeper,” then “gatekeeper” to “contender.” With a win on June 20th against a determined Sanchez, Guida could possibly shed another label and possibly take the next step towards the only one that matters – “UFC Champion.”

Recent Clay Guida MMA News:

• Lost to Diego Sanchez by Split Decision at The Ultimate Fighter 9 finale on June 20, 2009 - TUF 9 finale results

• Lost to Kenny Florian via Submission at UFC 107 on December 12, 2009 - UFC 107 results

• Defeated Shannon Gugerty via Submission at UFC Live on Versus 1 on March 21, 2010 - UFC on Versus 1 results

• Defeated Rafael do Anjos via Submission at UFC 117 on August 7, 2010 - UFC 117 results

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer
Published June 2009