Tag: Clay Guida

UFC on FX 4: Clay Guida Exclusive on ‘The Big Lebowski,’ Gray Maynard, and More

Clay Guida isn’t your ordinary fighter.
He’s off-the-wall, he bleeds, he’s arguably the most exciting fighter in the sport and he’s a little on the crazy side. Everything a fighter could want and more, right?
Wrong.
In fact, Clay Guida won’t be happy u…

Clay Guida isn’t your ordinary fighter.

He’s off-the-wall, he bleeds, he’s arguably the most exciting fighter in the sport and he’s a little on the crazy side. Everything a fighter could want and more, right?

Wrong.

In fact, Clay Guida won’t be happy until he achieves his one goal—become the newest UFC lightweight champion. In order to do so, Guida will first have to get by fellow lightweight in Gray Maynard when the two meet Friday, June 22nd in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In a recent interview with Bleacher Report, Guida sat down and discussed his upcoming bout with Maynard and more.

 

Garrett Derr: Clay, it seems like every time you enter the Octagon, you walk away with Fight of the Night or some type of honor. Do you consider yourself the most exciting fighter in the sport today? If not, who do you believe is?

Clay Guida: I believe it’s possible, because every time I step into the Octagon, I fight every fight like it’s my last. I consider myself a very driven and intense fighter. I always try and leave the exciting fighter voting up to the fans and media.

I really think Joseph Benavidez and Cub Swanson are two of the most exciting and unpredictable fighters in the sport today.

 

GD: You were riding a four-fight winning streak and so close to the 155-pound title shot. You fell short in a classic to Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX. Just how hard was this loss to overcome knowing that Bendo went on to win the title in his next bout?

CG: Coming up short against Ben Henderson and seeing him go on to win the lightweight title motivated me more than anything.

It just shows me how close I actually am to being the eventual champion. Not only that, but that loss enabled me to fix minor holes in my game that I had not previously seen.

 
GD: You’re now set to take on Gray Maynard at UFC on FX 4. What does it mean to you to have the chance to showcase your skill set on national television and to be the main event of the evening?

CG: Being able to give the fans a whirlwind five-round main event is a huge honor and opportunity for me. Especially after coming off a tough loss to the champion in Benson Henderson.

I’m very thankful that the UFC even considered us as the headliner, as we’re both coming off losses. They will not be disappointed.

 
GD: What can we expect to see when the opening bell rings in the main event on Friday night?

CG: I would say that fans can expect the unexpected. My hands have never felt faster or more powerful than they do right now. I’m not much for predictions, except that my hand will be raised at the end of the fight.

Gray has one of the most impressive records in all of MMA. I’m planning on testing his boxing and ground game all night.

 

GD: With the UFC comes a lot of perks. You were able to travel to Italy with Brittney Palmer and Urijah Faber not too long ago for the USO tour. What does it mean having men and women risk their lives so that individuals like you can enjoy the sport of MMA?
 
CG: Being selected to be part of that USO tour was very humbling. It was such an honor to be asked to go spend time with those wonderful soldiers and their families, who have sacrificed so much for our country and our freedom.

I am truly blessed to have their support. Without our military, there would be no MMA. The UFC is huge in reaching out to our troops overseas and showing them how much we care for them and their families. 

Spending time on the base with so many soldiers really put in perspective what sacrifice is all about. I am looking forward to another USO opportunity in the future.

 

GD: You’ve been known to stand and exchange in previous fights. This kind of reminds me of boxing, which brings up the recent Manny Pacquiao bout. What are your thoughts on how that bout unfolded? Who did you have winning?
 
CG: I honestly think that it was the worst decision in boxing history. Period.

I had Manny winning at least eight rounds of the 12 rounds. It’s really unfortunate for him, his family, the fans and the boxing community.

 

GD: Looking back on your career, you’ve fought some stellar opponents. Benson Henderson, Nate Diaz, Kenny Florian, Gilbert Melendez, and the list goes on. So, plain and simple, who was the toughest opponent you’ve faced up until this point in your career?

CG: Gilbert Melendez

 

GD: Many people refer to your nickname as Jesus, as he rocked the long hair and was a carpenter. Is that were the nickname originated? If not, how did you develop and become recognized as “The Carpenter”?

CG: [laughing] I’m far from a saint. I was actually building houses during the early part of my MMA career, so that’s how the nickname came to be. I am in the Chicago Carpenters Union. They are huge supporters of mine and of MMA. 

 

GD: A little off the topic now. What is the greatest movie of all time? And why?

CG: The Big Lebowski. There’s a lot of ins and outs to that movie. A lot of scrands in Ol’ Duder’s head [laughing]. You really have to go see the movie for yourself. It will explain my answer [laughing].

 
 

GD: Last but not least, who would you like to thank?

CG: All of my loyal fans who are there through the wins and the losses. My family for being at every fight, helping me succeed and being very supportive when I’m away for months at a time during training. My brother for getting me into sports and MMA.

Greg Jackson and Coach Mike Winkeljohn at Jackson’s MMA for them stepping up my game, and of course all of my training partners. Israel Martinez and IZZYSTYLE Wrestling Club. My sponsors at MusclePharm, Jaco Clothing, SafeAuto Insurance, Bodybuilding.com and Knight Transportation.
 
I also need to thank my management team at VFD Sports. Last but not least, all the members and staff at my gym, Clay Guida’s MMASTOP FITNESS, back home in Crest Hill, Illinois.

 

Garrett Derr is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.

For additional information, follow Garrett Derr on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

‘Long Hair Don’t Care’ Doesn’t apply to MMA according to complaint against Clay Guida

When the UFC was first created, they lived up to their tagline, “There are no rules.” But as scrutiny and protest continued, the inevitable arrival of rules and regulations were implemented gradually, if the UFC.

When the UFC was first created, they lived up to their tagline, “There are no rules.” But as scrutiny and protest continued, the inevitable arrival of rules and regulations were implemented gradually, if the UFC expected to grow and reform. However, with all rules, there are gray areas, and therefore cases with state athletic commissions.

Clay Guida and Gray Maynard are expected to face each other in the octagon at UFC on FX 4 this Friday. About a month ago, Maynard’s camp made a complaint to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board that has just recently come into fruition. The complaint regarded Guida’s famous locks. Maynard’s camp believes that Guida’s long hair proves as an unfair advantage in the octagon, and creates a distraction for his opponent. While Maynard claims to have had no knowledge of this complaint until it hit the media, I find it hard to believe.

In some respects, looking at the unified rules in black and white, it makes sense. Fighters are supposed to maintain a clean, tidy appearance, and if the head or facial hair proves to be a hazard, or interferes with the contest, the fighter isn’t allowed to fight until the commission approves of any and all changes. I can see how hair could be distracting for another fighter, especially one with such an unorthodox style such as Clay Guida’s. As of UFC 15, hair pulling was banned from the sport. Dealing with a fighter with longer hair would put strain on the opponent, making sure to avoid accidentally pulling or catching the hair. This could give an advantage to the opponent with long hair, as the other fighter would have to be careful with submissions and ground game.

On the other hand, it is just hair. It seems very trivial to pick out something so minute in an opponent, as Clay Guida has never had a problem with an opponent in the history of his career. He did, however, have a slight issue when UFC undisputed didn’t put Guida in the game because designing his hair posed too much of a problem. Dana White has suggested the fighter cut his locks, offering him a sweet deal of $10,000. However, Guida still sports his trademark hair. A number of fighters in the organization also have long hair including: Roy Nelson, Cody McKenzie, Louis Gaudinot, Benson Henderson, and Urijah Faber (until recently). In most instances with other fighters, it hasn’t posed a problem.

To avoid conflict, Clay Guida has agreed to braid his hair back for the fight. While he wasn’t ecstatic about it, he was understanding, and did what had to be done to continue with this fight. With other rules being targeted and reinforced in recent years, it is safe to assume that the unified rules will eventually have clarification on hair, and whether or not it needs to always be tied back. While this seems like a trivial matter, appearance of a fighter in MMA can have just as much impact on the sport as the fight itself- just ask Dana White what he thought about Dennis Hallman’s attire choice at UFC 133.

By: Emily Kapala

UFC on FX 4 Head-to-Toe Breakdown: Gray Maynard vs Clay Guida

This Friday, Clay Guida will face off against Gray Maynard in the main event of UFC on FX 4.Both fighters enter the cage coming off losses to the top two fighters in the division—Guida to Benson Henderson and Maynard to Frankie Edgar.Guida and Ma…

This Friday, Clay Guida will face off against Gray Maynard in the main event of UFC on FX 4.

Both fighters enter the cage coming off losses to the top two fighters in the division—Guida to Benson Henderson and Maynard to Frankie Edgar.

Guida and Maynard are almost universally considered to be top five lightweights, and their fight could be for a No. 1 contender position, or could put them in position to fight for a No. 1 contender spot.

Fans are torn on who will win this fight, so let’s take a look at a breakdown of the lightweight matchup.

Begin Slideshow

Outrage of the Day: Clay Guida to Braid His Hair for Bout Following Complaint From Gray Maynard’s Camp

Previous experiments have involved a flat iron and a tub of Crisco.

We enjoy a great hairdo as much as the next guy, but it’s not often that one plays a role in the outcome of a fight. Back in the day, Jason Fairn and Guy Mezger famously made a gentlemen’s agreement not to tug on each other’s locks during their fight, and more recently Louis Gaudinot has considered chopping off his tresses after his hair hampered his performance against John Lineker. Those men took a look in the mirror and decided the fate of their own follicles, an option that has sadly been taken out of the hands of Clay Guida.

“The Carpenter’s” signature coiffure was recently placed on the proverbial chopping block after Gray Maynard‘s camp filed a formal complaint with the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. Sanctioning bodies are responsible for determining “whether head or facial hair presents any hazard to the safety of the unarmed combatant or his opponent or will interfere with the supervision and conduct of the contest or exhibition.” Though Guida has the right to contest Camp Maynard’s objection to his hair, he has opted to braid his Medusa-like top for their bout rather than bog himself down with legal wranglings.

Hear from all parties involved after the jump.

Previous experiments have involved a flat iron and a tub of Crisco.

We enjoy a great hairdo as much as the next guy, but it’s not often that one plays a role in the outcome of a fight. Back in the day, Jason Fairn and Guy Mezger famously made a gentlemen’s agreement not to tug on each other’s locks during their fight, and more recently Louis Gaudinot has considered chopping off his tresses after his hair hampered his performance against John Lineker. Those men took a look in the mirror and decided the fate of their own follicles, an option that has sadly been taken out of the hands of Clay Guida.

“The Carpenter’s” signature coiffure was recently placed on the proverbial chopping block after Gray Maynard‘s camp filed a formal complaint with the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. Sanctioning bodies are responsible for determining “whether head or facial hair presents any hazard to the safety of the unarmed combatant or his opponent or will interfere with the supervision and conduct of the contest or exhibition.” Though Guida has the right to contest Camp Maynard’s objection to his hair, he has opted to braid his Medusa-like top for their bout rather than bog himself down with legal wranglings.

MMAJunkie.com spoke with the NJSACB’s Nick Lembo on Guida’s options in the matter:

“He doesn’t want to do it, and I don’t believe he’s 100 percent happy about it, but he’s being very understanding and very cooperative about it and he agreed to it. Otherwise, if he said, ‘No, I’m not going to do that,’ we’d have to have a hearing on it and let both sides present their case and have a commissioner’s ruling on the issue.”

John Fosco, Guida’s manager, also spoke with the Junkie about the Carpenter’s mindset headed into the fight:

“Clay chose to avoid any distractions and simply complied. Clay will be braiding his hair back. Clay is not focused on this and has one objective: winning. Nothing will distract him from his goal.”

Maynard wants it made clear that he couldn’t care less about Guida’s hair when they climb in the cage next Friday. Speaking with Duane Finley, the fighter stated that he personally had nothing to do with the complaint and isn’t concerned with the matter.

I for one think that Athletic Commissions have more important things to worry about than legislating hair styles and grooming habits, but if they do go down this road, might I suggest a good place to start?

UFC’s Clay Guida Will Braid Hair Following Complaint from Gray Maynard

UFC lightweight Clay Guida is known for many things. His entertaining personality, his non-stop motor…his long, glorious, flowing locks of hair. Unfortunately, following a complaint from his UFC on FX 4 opponent Gray Maynard, the hair will be go…

UFC lightweight Clay Guida is known for many things. His entertaining personality, his non-stop motor…his long, glorious, flowing locks of hair. 

Unfortunately, following a complaint from his UFC on FX 4 opponent Gray Maynard, the hair will be going through a disappointing transformation prior to the bout. 

Before anyone freaks out, the answer is “No”—he’s not pulling a Urijah Faber and chopping it off. The caveman-like hair that fans have grown to love will instead be under containment with braids for the fight. 

The decision to control the hair came after Maynard filed a complaint to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board in May. Rather than try to fight the action in a legal hearing, Guida will simply opt to comply with Maynard’s request and focus on the fight itself.

Fosco told MMAjunkie.com:

“Clay chose to avoid any distractions and simply complied. Clay will be braiding his hair back. Clay is not focused on this and has one objective: winning. Nothing will distract him from his goal.” 

Under the Unified Rules of MMA, individual state athletic commissions are allowed to make a ruling on “whether head or facial hair presents any hazard to the safety of the unarmed combatant or his opponent or will interfere with the supervision and conduct of the contest or exhibition.”

We often see this rule come into play with female fighters whose hair is typically as long as or longer than Guida’s. 

Nick Lembo, counsel for the NJSACB, told MMAjunkie.com:

“He doesn’t want to do it, and I don’t believe he’s 100 percent happy about it, but he’s being very understanding and very cooperative about it and he agreed to it. Otherwise, if he said, ‘No, I’m not going to do that,’ we’d have to have a hearing on it and let both sides present their case and have a commissioner’s ruling on the issue.”

Lembo explained that Maynard’s complaint was that Guida’s hair “could pose a distraction to their fighter…and that they thought it gave an unfair advantage to their opponent.”

As disappointed as some fans may be by the decision to make the physical appearance alteration, there is little doubt that the bout itself between Guida and Maynard will be a great one. 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

The Fourteen Ugliest Walkout Shirts in MMA


Yes, it’s ugly, trashy and tasteless to include Arianny on this list. Just like this t-shirt. Props: UFCStore.com

MMA fighters aren’t exactly known for their fashion sense. So it should come as little surprise that most MMA t-shirt companies produce some pretty questionable designs. The rampant abuse of foil print, skulls, chains, tribal designs and nautical stars among most MMA t-shirts is bad enough on its own; even worse when you consider that they sell for thirty bucks a pop.

Which I guess makes it all the worse when a fighter makes his way to the cage covered in an “athletic fit” Old-English mess. Not only is the shirt revolting, but it’s going to sell for an outlandish sum of money, and be worn by every overweight Texas Roadhouse chef, milquetoast tech support geek and muscle-bound frat boy.

Perhaps the reason that we’ve never attempted an “Ugliest Walkout Shirts” post is because ranking these train wrecks is like ranking, well, actual train wrecks. No matter what order you place them in, you’re a total scumbag for attempting to rank a tragedy from most to least depressing. And besides, you’re clearly wrong about which one belongs at number three. For that reason, these will not be ranked, per se, but rather categorized. How you feel these shirts fall into place is up to you.

Let’s start with the most obvious category:


Yes, it’s ugly, trashy and tasteless to include Arianny on this list. Just like this t-shirt. Props: UFCStore.com

MMA fighters aren’t exactly known for their fashion sense. So it should come as little surprise that most MMA t-shirt companies produce some pretty questionable designs. The rampant abuse of foil print, skulls, chains, tribal designs and nautical stars among most MMA t-shirts is bad enough on its own; even worse when you consider that they sell for thirty bucks a pop.

Which I guess makes it all the worse when a fighter makes his way to the cage covered in an “athletic fit” Old-English mess. Not only is the shirt revolting, but it’s going to sell for an outlandish sum of money, and be worn by every overweight Texas Roadhouse chef, milquetoast tech support geek and muscle-bound frat boy.

Perhaps the reason that we’ve never attempted an “Ugliest Walkout Shirts” post is because ranking these train wrecks is like ranking, well, actual train wrecks. No matter what order you place them in, you’re a total scumbag for attempting to rank a tragedy from most to least depressing. And besides, you’re clearly wrong about which one belongs at number three. For that reason, these will not be ranked, per se, but rather categorized. How you feel these shirts fall into place is up to you.

Let’s start with the most obvious category:

Ugliest Tapout Shirt: Ryan Bader‘s UFC 119 Walkout

Don’t worry, this won’t be the only Tapout shirt to make this list. The company that is responsible for more ILS than Muscle Beach has produced some downright disgusting t-shirts. We’ve said it before: Tapout has become the new Vuarnet or No Fear.

Taking the cake though has to be Ryan Bader’s UFC 119 walkout. I didn’t think it was possible to dislike anything related to ”Citizenship in a Republic“. I stand corrected.

Ugliest Affliction Shirt: Chris Leben‘s UFC 116 Walkout

Speaking of companies you’ll be seeing more than once, here’s our first Affliction eyesore. The only redeeming quality of this shirt is that the edges are already frayed, meaning it will fall apart much sooner than a normal t-shirt. Then again, if you’re the type of person who wears shirts like this, you probably won’t think that’s such a good thing.

Ugliest “Nationality-Themed” Shirt: Cain Velasquez’ UFC 104 Walkout

Cain Velasquez is a proud Mexican-American with “Brown Pride” tattooed across his chest. I get how that means any shirt bearing his name is going to play off of his heritage. What I don’t get is why Dethrone wanted this shirt to look like the totally bitchin’ Myspace background of a fifteen year old from 2006.

Ugliest ”Patriotic” Shirt: Rich Franklin’s UFC 93 Walkout

Sorry Ace, but America’s colors are red, white and blue. And this shirt is hideous.

Ugliest Clusterfuck: Frank Mir’s UFC 107 Walkout

Put yourself in my position for a moment: I am expected to explain to someone with healthy eyesight- someone who is clearly capable of just looking at this mess- why this shirt is ugly. After two hours of trying to write something, I’ve decided that it’s probably for the best that I never look into a career as a guy who writes warning labels for coffee cups.

Ugliest Shirt to Never Be Worn: Aleksander Emelianenko’s “Affliction: Banned” Walkout

No matter what you are doing in life, be it getting tattoos or picking fights with hapless cans, you should never try to out-badass Aleksander Emelianenko. Any attempt you make at it, be it a walkout t-shirt or a fight game plan, is guaranteed to end in disaster. Especially when Affliction is involved.

Most Half-Assed Shirt: James Toney’s UFC 118 Walkout

Judging by his performance at UFC 118, James Toney spent about twenty minutes studying the ground game leading up to his bout with UFC Hall-of-Famer Randy Couture. Judging by the image above, that’s roughly 5x longer than Twistd Apparel spent designing his walkout shirt. Besides, if you’re going to make something half-assed, at least make it realistic.

Hit that “next page” link for that other Emelianenko, the craziest shirt you’ll see all day, and some lifetime achievement awards for walkout shirt ineptitude…