“I haven’t gotten here by myself. I’ve had such an amazing support system: so many awesome coaches, teammates, instructors, trainers, family, friends, and fans that have been a part of it. The UFC, the people behind the scenes that don’t get the recognition, all of these people are the ones I do this for. They got me here and they’re the ones who are gonna keep this going.”
After an unbelievable, albeit vintage-Clay-Guida, showing in the Octagon just over four months ago, which saw “The Carpenter” submit fourth-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Leonardo Santos, it’s difficult not to let the mind wander to what Guida could possibly have up his sleeve for this next one.
“We have a lot of wins by rear-naked choke, so don’t be surprised to see it again,” the 40-year-old said. “We like to get (the fight) to the ground, put on a ground-and-pound clinic and put on a wrestling clinic, so don’t be surprised to see our hand raised after another big finish.”
After securing his first win by finish in nearly four years — a submission which also earned him his tenth career fight night bonus — Guida is set on reminding everyone just how dangerous his ground game really is.
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“From white belt to black belt, it doesn’t matter,” Guida explained when asked how it felt to lock up his coveted rear-naked choke against a multi-time IBJJF world champion in Santos. “I’m a white belt, but I’m a wrestler. That’s the creed that I live by. Wrestling is what won that fight that night, and that’s what’s going to win us the fight on Saturday. I don’t care what you’ve done, what your accolades are outside of the cage. Once you step into that Octagon, it’s a whole new ballgame.”