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Dialed in: Exclusive quick UFC 107 conversation with Clay Guida

Clay_guida_medium
At UFC 107: "Penn vs. Sanchez" on Dec. 12, lightweight contender Clay "The Carpenter" Guida (20-10) will take his frenetic, caution-to-the-wind style against the technical fighting of Kenny Florian (11-4/9-3UFC) in an effort to move one step closer to a title shot.

I got the chance to get in a few quick questions with Clay between an autograph session and a workout before he was off to watch the Couture vs. Vera fight this weekend.

Check it out:

Star-divide

Michael McColgan (MMAmania.com): First off, anything new you would like to talk about. Last night you mentioned a new clothing company.

Clay Guida: Yeah it’s pretty simple, it’s called FightNightCustoms.com. It comes out Dec. 1. It basically takes the headache away from fighters having to run around last minute and get their shorts customized, get all their leg spots, get all the decals and logos put on there, get their shirts done, the banners they hold up in the ring or cage. It takes away the headache of that. They can go on the Web site, design their own shorts, send the file to us, we print them out and send them to you within the next day or so. Shirts, shorts, whatever. If you want your camp to have the same matching shirts, shorts — or shirts for your parents, your friends, family, fans, stuff like that. Yeah, check it out, we launch the Web site (www.fightnightcustoms.com) Dec. 1. It’s gonna be great.

Michael McColgan (MMAmania.com): On your last fight, a close split decision loss to Diego Sanchez. Now he gets a title shot and you are fighting the guy who just came off a title shot. If you get through Kenny, where do you think that puts you in the title mix?

Clay Guida: It definitely puts us back in the driver’s seat. Obviously … both Kenny and I have struggled in big fights. He’s lost two title fights, and I’ve lost two main event fights, so I don’t think it has anything to do with the pressure, but that we’ve been fighting tough competition. The other guys have been the better fighter that night. Whatever it may be, I definitely think the winner of this fight is gonna put me right back in the driver’s seat and people are gonna see that I am the number one contender. I don’t expect the UFC to come knocking on my door for a title shot, but I am going to be right up there with the Gray Maynard’s, the Frankie Edgar’s. It’s so deep right now so it’s going to be real interesting to see how it plays out after I put a beating on Kenny.

Michael McColgan (MMAmania.com): What do you think will be the deciding factor on you beating Kenny Florian?

Clay Guida: Transitioning from the punches to getting him on his back where we’re going to be confident that I am going to win the fight. His plan is to keep it on the feet as long as he can, try to defend takedowns. If and when I do get a takedown, he is going to try to be raining elbows from the bottom, and if that’s his only game plan, it’s gonna be a long night for him. He feeds right into our gameplan.

Michael McColgan (MMAmania.com): Anything special or different to prepare for this fight?

Clay Guida: Yeah, special and different. I think every fighter, or every professional athlete, needs to sometimes wander abroad a little bit and see what else is out there. So I found my way over to Greg Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, New Mexico and from what I’ve seen in all the gyms I’ve been to, whether it be for a few days or a week at a time, I am sticking with Jackson’s for big fights and stuff like that. The guys over there are so dialed in. They have new faces popping in there every day, not every week or month. There’s dude’s coming in from all over the country, all walks of life, top-notch guys, just a real good pattern of fighters, and we all mold together. We are all working it for two things: to have fun and win fights.

Michael McColgan (MMAmania.com): Let’s say you beat Kenny and B.J. defends the title, if you had your choice would you rather rematch Diego or go right in for the title?

Clay Guida: I am always about going in and fighting the bigger, better guy, man. Everyone saw the fight played out with Diego, I am all about getting that strap. There might be rematches down the road, but I’m all about moving on and seeing what’s best out there for me, and fight the best competition. Put the rematches behind and go for the gold.

Michael McColgan (MMAmania.com): Anything you would like to add?

Clay Guida: I would just like to thank MMAStop Fight Management, they’ve been big supporters of mine. Want to thank the Chicago Carpenters Union, Silver Star, don’t forget to check the new Clay Guida shirt that will be out for the Clay/Kenny fight.

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My prediction: Ken Flo UD.

by kdogg808 on Nov 15, 2009 11:26 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

KenFlo by Doc. Stoppage

those elbows will be flying baby, can’t wait!!!!!!

"I had to fight all my life to survive. They were all against me... but I beat the bastards and left them in the ditch." ~ Ty Cobb

by RearNakedPoke on Nov 16, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Kenflo for the win

Alot of Guida’s wins have come by submission, but Ken Flo has only ever been submitted once, and that was by BJ.

The Majority of Kenny’s wins also come by submissions, the difference being that Guida has been submitted several times over his career by guys who don’t have as good bjj as Kenny.

Neither of these guys are going to finish with strikes, guida isn’t good enough on his feet, and kenflo’s not bad but guida KNOWS how to take a beating and still come at you.

Kenflo by submission or Guida by decision.

but I’m favouring Kenflo.

In the name of the Fedor, the Anderson and the GSP, Amen.

by Spinning Fat Kick on Nov 16, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Have you actually seen a Guida fight???

He choked out some doofus who was one and done in the UFC three years ago, but other than that he’s humped or attempted to hump everyone to a decision. That’s only taking into account his UFC fights.

by P-Dub on Nov 16, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Duh

Yeah but incase you didn’t know… MMA does exist outside of the UFC and Guida actually had a career spanning 26 fights before he signed with the UFC. I’m talking about his entire career.

BTW Clay also won a fight just last year by TKO, in future maybe you should think before you write things down.

In the name of the Fedor, the Anderson and the GSP, Amen.

by Spinning Fat Kick on Nov 16, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Randy isnt "loved" by all

In fact he’s one of my most despised fighters along with Guida and Vera.

by Lester The Pimp on Nov 16, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Same with Lester

I’ve never liked him, always thought he was boring. The only time I’ve ever cheered for him was when he was laying that beating on Timmy.

by jay. on Nov 16, 2009 9:30 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Huggie Bear said what?

by ViolentMike on Nov 16, 2009 9:51 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Huggie time

I like guida he’s a likeable dude and tough as nails.
He might be able to hold kflo down and squeeze out a decision, but he has no chance at hurting bj, NONE PERIOD! so save the title talk until he beats somebody other than kflo, which whom was destroyed by bj.
I still can’t believe the Diego -
Guida fight wad a split decision, what the hell was that judge watching, guida got beat decidedly.

by Dball on Nov 16, 2009 12:00 AM EST via mobile reply actions   0 recs

Huggy Bear

Aw, huggy bear!!!

by *Red*Dog* on Nov 16, 2009 9:03 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

At least that one, the right guy still won, which is more than you can say about several fights of late.

by Amos14 on Nov 16, 2009 3:55 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Yeah Guida gets alot of shit on MMA sites cause of his style. but i dont think i have ever seen a boring fight with Clay, the dude just dont stop,

Guida TKO by dry humping kenflo’s leg in the 3rd

Every night i would pray to God for a new bike, then i realized God does not work that way, so i stole one and asked him to forgive me

by CoNr on Nov 16, 2009 5:12 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

His only non-boring fights have been when his opponent pressed the action on him (Diego, Huerta). He looks really exciting with his hair flopping around, but the reality is he is LnP dry-humper who just happens to LnP a little faster than the other LnPers.

by P-Dub on Nov 16, 2009 11:14 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Almost forgot

CoNr, that signature quote is funny as hell.

by P-Dub on Nov 16, 2009 11:14 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Guida is a threat for any lightweight.

"Fight my fight"

by Educr1 on Nov 16, 2009 6:28 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

no.

he gets fucked up, badly, if he faces Bj buddy

"I had to fight all my life to survive. They were all against me... but I beat the bastards and left them in the ditch." ~ Ty Cobb

by RearNakedPoke on Nov 16, 2009 8:55 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

You want a title run You have to get through this guy.

Tough as nails and gives everybody he faces a war. He ll be in the UFC for a long time.
He reminds me of that crazy little guy in Ace Ventura When Nature Calls who fights Jim Carrey. Or Mr. Peepers on Saturday Night Live.

by ElStIkO on Nov 16, 2009 8:20 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

These interviews

are so easy, even a caveman could do it.

by jay. on Nov 16, 2009 9:31 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Aw man, I can’t stand Kenny Florian. Just don’t like anything about him.

I’ve not seen much of Clay Guida, other than when sanchez was beating him. But I’d rather see him fight anyone over florian

by kevan321 on Nov 16, 2009 5:45 PM EST reply actions   0 recs


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