Clay Guida’s (29-13) game plan against Gray Maynard (11-1-1, 1 NC) at Friday night’s UFC on FX was something of a disgrace, and effectively ruined the night’s main event.
The fight went all five rounds in part because Guida never showed any desire to engage Maynard, but instead looked to avoid him at all costs.
In the end, it was Maynard walking away with a split decision win (48-47, 47-48, 48-47).
UFC President Dana White was arguably more upset over Guida’s strategy than anyone in attendance at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday night:
“Nobody can win or lose a fight when a guy is running around in circles, [Guida] was literally running. I had some guys, some fans on Twitter who were saying ‘great footwork.’ This isn’t f—ing “Dancing With the Stars,” you know what I mean?” – via ESPN.com
White makes a great point, though, no matter how harsh he is in his assessment of the bout.
Guida was content to change who he is inside the cage on Friday night, and abandon the heroic style of fighting that earned him so much respect from the fans and his peers.
The Carpenter has now lost two decisions in a row and has plenty to prove in his next outing. Maynard was without question the more deserving fighter in Friday night’s main event, electing to attack and be the aggressor in a sport that demands both men do so.
Maynard vs. Guida had the potential to advance the UFC and to capture a wide audience, but Friday night’s presentation fell flat thanks to Guida’s game plan.
Who knows what the UFC veteran had planned before the fight, but the end product of Guida’s preparation was well below even average expectations. Guida’s normally fearless style inside the Octagon has made him who he is, but on Friday night it was a strategy built on fear that led to his demise.
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