Tag: Clay Guida

UFC on FX 4: Gray Maynard Will Put Clay Guida’s Title Hopes to Rest for Good

After suffering his first career loss to Frankie Edgar, UFC lightweight bruiser, Gray Maynard, returns to the Octagon on June 22nd after eight months to headline the UFC on FX 4 alongside Clay Guida. It’s a great headliner between two of the division’s…

After suffering his first career loss to Frankie Edgar, UFC lightweight bruiser, Gray Maynard, returns to the Octagon on June 22nd after eight months to headline the UFC on FX 4 alongside Clay Guida.

It’s a great headliner between two of the division’s most talented, exciting competitors.

But Gray Maynard is going to destroy Clay Guida. Here’s why.

The striking isn’t even close. Maynard has developed into a very good boxer, while Guida is pretty much the same elementary striker he was six years ago. Watch a Maynard fight from six years ago and the difference is night and day. Watch a Guida fight from the same time, and the only way you can tell the difference is video quality and the length of his hair.

Both guys come from a wrestling background. But Guida is a former high school wrestler with some junior college experience, while Maynard is a three time NCAA Division I All-American. Now, credentials alone don’t mean everything, but that’s a vast disparity in level of competition.

Still though, Guida has developed the sort of potent wrestling attack that works so well in MMA. He’s unrelenting. If he cannot get the takedown, he goes for it again, and again, and again. He’ll hang onto a leg until he does get it. When he can’t, he’s in trouble. Against Gray, he won’t get it.  

Frankie Edgar was able to take Maynard down because his striking kept Maynard guessing. Guida will not enjoy that option.  

This is a five rounder, but don’t expect fatigue to play a vital role. We’ve seen Maynard go five hard rounds. And Guida’s gas tank is the stuff of legends.  

 

 

Guida will make a war out of it; he has a knack for that sort of thing. His chin is rock solid, so he’ll be able to absorb the beating he’s certain to receive. But he’ll simply be outclassed in just about every area of the fight. He does hold the jiu jitsu advantage, but that won’t mean much unless he can put Maynard on his back and keep him there.  

Maynard will use crisp boxing to bust Guida up, and with his size, strength, and wrestling advantages he’ll be the one dictating where the fight takes place. That will take Guida completely out of his game, just as it did when he faced Ben Henderson. 

Guida is a great fighter, definitely top-ten caliber, but he’s just not at that championship level. Maynard is, and that’s the difference.

This is probably Guida’s last run at a title shot, and it will not end happily for him.

 

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC Lightweights Clay Guida and Mark Bocek Are Not on the Same Side of This Whole TRT/Alistair Overeem Debate

Clay Guida beer bong Lake Havasu funny MMA photos UFC
(In a rare misstep for Guida, he had no idea that the beer bong he was offered actually contained Four Loko. There were no survivors.) 

It seems that you can’t come across an MMA interview these days that doesn’t bring up the Alistair Overeem situation. The phrase “testosterone replacement therapy” has been thrown around in more MMA blogs within the past month than the name “Tim Tebow” on your average Sportscenter episode, and that’s saying something. Is it a coincidence that both phrases emphasize the “T” sound? We think not.

Being the laid back, no worries, Winnebago-loving kind of guy that Clay Guida is, he was much more willing to forgive Overeem when speaking to MMAWeekly about the situation yesterday, believing that a lot of the blame should be placed on that of his coaches. And in case you’re wondering, he managed to relate the situation to the lion-esque mange that sits atop his head:

Yeah, Alistair not knowing that there is testosterone in his vitamins, is like me not knowing what kind of conditioner I’m putting in my hair. I’m not going to put the complete blame on him, I’m going to put it on his coaches, and, maybe not his team necessarily, but his trainer and this and that and whoever maybe slipped him a Mickey or whatever you want to call it. I’m a fan of the guy, don’t get me wrong, but, I think they had plans elsewhere or whatever it may be, but, it’s a bummer that the main event in one of the biggest cards of the year is going to be kind of tampered with, just because you know, they got careless and maybe they didn’t have all the belief in themselves, so. I just stick with my regular stuff. The fruits and vegetables, fish oils, glucose and stuff like that you know? I’ve never been big on supplements on stuff like that you know? I just take natural stuff.

Fish oil, eh? And here we thought he was drinking whiskey shooters and vodka cranberries this whole time.

It turns out that fellow lightweight contender Mark Bocek, ever the stickler, was not too pleased that Overeem received only 9 months for his botched surprise drug test, going as far as to say that any fighter needing TRT (or marijuana for that matter), shouldn’t be fighting in the first place:

Clay Guida beer bong Lake Havasu funny MMA photos UFC
(In a rare misstep for Guida, he had no idea that the beer bong he was offered actually contained Four Loko. There were no survivors.) 

It seems that you can’t come across an MMA interview these days that doesn’t bring up the Alistair Overeem situation. The phrase “testosterone replacement therapy” has been thrown around in more MMA blogs within the past month than the name “Tim Tebow” on your average Sportscenter episode, and that’s saying something. Is it a coincidence that both phrases emphasize the “T” sound? We think not.

Being the laid back, no worries, Winnebago-loving kind of guy that Clay Guida is, he was much more willing to forgive Overeem when speaking to MMAWeekly about the situation yesterday, believing that a lot of the blame should be placed on that of his coaches. And in case you’re wondering, he managed to relate the situation to the lion-esque mange that sits atop his head:

Yeah, Alistair not knowing that there is testosterone in his vitamins, is like me not knowing what kind of conditioner I’m putting in my hair. I’m not going to put the complete blame on him, I’m going to put it on his coaches, and, maybe not his team necessarily, but his trainer and this and that and whoever maybe slipped him a Mickey or whatever you want to call it. I’m a fan of the guy, don’t get me wrong, but, I think they had plans elsewhere or whatever it may be, but, it’s a bummer that the main event in one of the biggest cards of the year is going to be kind of tampered with, just because you know, they got careless and maybe they didn’t have all the belief in themselves, so. I just stick with my regular stuff. The fruits and vegetables, fish oils, glucose and stuff like that you know? I’ve never been big on supplements on stuff like that you know? I just take natural stuff.

Fish oil, eh? And here we thought he was drinking whiskey shooters and vodka cranberries this whole time.

It turns out that fellow lightweight contender Mark Bocek, ever the stickler, was not too pleased that Overeem received only 9 months for his botched surprise drug test, going as far as to say that any fighter needing TRT (or marijuana for that matter), shouldn’t be fighting in the first place:

There’s definitely got to be some type of punishment. You can put any twist on it want. I’m no doctor, I just think if your doctor’s telling you you need to be on TRT and you need to be on medical marijuana, you shouldn’t be fighting.  He wasn’t under license at the time, he’s trying to flee the building over another series of testing, it makes you wonder about everyone else. I would think one year punishment for a guy like Overeem.

I think it’s a problem in every division. I think it’s just kind of become part of the sport. Definitely random testing could change or fix that. As you see with Overeem, he really wasn’t expecting that but it’s a part of any sport really. Any Olympic sport as well.

Although I personally disagree with Bocek’s stance on marijuana use in MMA — it in no way affects an MMA fighter’s performance, nor should it matter what a fighter does to ensure his own mental well-being in the off-season — you can’t deny that random drug testing would be the cure-all for these repeated infractions of the rules. Like Guida said, Overeem’s ignorance hits the fans, especially those who purchased tickets to UFC 146 prior to Overeem’s drug test debacle, the hardest, unless they’re die hard Frank Mir fans, of course. And if the Zuffa brass is worried about possible fighter backlash, we imagine Hector Lombard would quickly volunteer for the role of D.A.R.E officer.

Whose side are you on, Potato Nation?

-J. Jones

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

The likely main event for June’s UFC on FX 4 looks to be a battle of perennial top contenders as lightweights Gray Maynard and Clay Guida are set to clash inside the Octagon.Maynard hasn’t fought since being knocked out by then-champion Frankie Ed…

The likely main event for June’s UFC on FX 4 looks to be a battle of perennial top contenders as lightweights Gray Maynard and Clay Guida are set to clash inside the Octagon.

Maynard hasn’t fought since being knocked out by then-champion Frankie Edgar last October and he has his sights set on getting back into title contention. Guida finds himself in a similar situation as he looks to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to current champ Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX 1, a loss that cost him a shot at the lightweight crown.

With both fighters hungry for a date with the champion and possessing similar skill sets, it will be interesting to see how this bout pans out. Here is the head-to-toe breakdown of this surefire war. 

Begin Slideshow

Gray Maynard Talks Potential Frankie Edgar Rematch, Facing Clay Guida

Gray Maynard finds himself in a strange place in the UFC’s lightweight division.The 2011 year was a banner one for Maynard. He challenged for the lightweight championship in two classic battles with former champion Frankie Edgar. But the results of tho…

Gray Maynard finds himself in a strange place in the UFC’s lightweight division.

The 2011 year was a banner one for Maynard. He challenged for the lightweight championship in two classic battles with former champion Frankie Edgar. But the results of those two fights—a draw in the first bout and a loss by TKO in the second—virtually ensure that Maynard will need to string together some impressive wins in order to get back in title contention.

The fact that Benson Henderson is now the champion will greatly help Maynard. As long as Edgar held that belt, Maynard likely wasn’t getting another crack at gold. Edgar will get a rematch with Henderson this summer, and Maynard told Heavy.com’s Duane Finley that he wants to settle the score with Edgar once and for all:

“The title has always been the goal. I would love to have the belt and somewhere along the line, get another fight with Edgar. We are 1-1-1 and we need to settle it once and for all. It has to happen eventually, and after that fight we can both be done. We can walk away knowing it’s over and that we gave MMA fans some great fights to look back on.”

But first, Maynard has a big June fight coming up with Clay Guida, in the main event of UFC on FX 4 in Atlantic City. Maynard was strongly considered as an opponent for Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, but the UFC changed their minds.

Guida represents a chance for Maynard to make a big statement against a tough competitor who presents many of the same challenges that “The Bully” does for his own opponents:

“Since it has been out there, I’ve pretty much been gearing up for him for a while now. Guida has good takedowns, but I feel that is my area and what he lacks as a true athlete he makes up for in heart and toughness. Clay is well known for his cardio, but he also likes to mix it up and throw hands. He has a good chin, great heart and it’s a fun fight.

A Maynard win over Guida likely won’t earn him an immediate title shot. But it’ll put him back “in the mix,” as Dana White is so very fond of saying, and that’s right where Maynard wants to be.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Hettes vs. Siler Added to UFC on FX 4 June 22


(“I ain’t Leonard Garcia, pal.”)

Another New Jersey native has been added to the UFC’s upcoming FX 4 card set for this summer in Atlantic City.

Jimy Hettes (10-0), the undefeated 24-year-old featherweight phenom who impressed us all in his first two UFC bouts, trouncing TUF veterans Alex Caceres and Nam Phan, will join fellow New Jerseyans Dan Miller, Nick Catone and Rich Attonito on the June 22 card.


(“I ain’t Leonard Garcia, pal.”)

Another New Jersey native has been added to the UFC’s upcoming FX 4 card set for this summer in Atlantic City.

Jimy Hettes (10-0), the undefeated 24-year-old featherweight phenom who impressed us all in his first two UFC bouts, trouncing TUF veterans Alex Caceres and Nam Phan, will join fellow New Jerseyans Dan Miller, Nick Catone and Rich Attonito on the June 22 card.

According to MMAWeekly, “The Kid” will take on TUF 14 washout Steven Siler (20-9, who is also undefeated in the Octagon.

Siler, who defeated Josh Clopton at the TUF 14 Finale in December, raised eyebrows earlier this month when he beat UFC vet Cole Miller by unanimous decision at UFC on FX 2.

UFC on FX 4 boasts a main event lightweight bout between Gray Maynard and Clay Guida, as well as a main card middleweight scrap between Catone and Chris Camozzi and four welterweight fights featuring Brian Ebersole versus TJ Waldburger, Rick Story versus Attonito, Miller vs. Ricardo Funch, and Matthew Riddle versus Luis Ramos.

UFC on FX 4
Friday, June 22, 2012
Revel Casino
Atlantic City, NJ

Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida
Brian Ebersole vs. TJ Waldburger
Rick Story vs. Rich Attonito
Dan Miller vs. Ricardo Funch
Nick Catone vs. Chris Camozzi
Matthew Riddle vs. Luis Ramos
Jim Hettes vs. Steven Siler

Quick Pic: Clay Guida Doesn’t Even Wear a Shirt to Walmart

(“I’d like to see that old greeter try to tell me I can’t come in.”)

We’re starting to think that maybe Clay Guida is allergic to shirts, since it’s rare that we ever see him in one.

In spite of Walmart’s strict, “no shirt, no shoes, no service” rule, the Carpenter recently thumbed his nose at the big box store’s customer dress code policy in Missouri to pick up some supplies for another undoubtedly epic weekend of debauchery in his shaggin’ wagon.

(“I’d like to see that old greeter try to tell me I can’t come in.”)

We’re starting to think that maybe Clay Guida is allergic to shirts, since it’s rare that we ever see him in one.

In spite of Walmart’s strict, “no shirt, no shoes, no service” rule, the Carpenter recently thumbed his nose at the big box store’s customer dress code policy in Missouri to pick up some supplies for another undoubtedly epic weekend of debauchery in his shaggin’ wagon.

Besides chugging girl drinks and hanging out with bevies of scantily-clad women, MMA’s hard-partying version of Spicoli‘s next favorite past time seems to be feeling the sunshine and open air on his chest while he poses for fan photos.