Maggie Hendricks has a solid interview with your favorite lightweight scrapper and cardio machine in Clay Guida in which he talks about some interesting issues. Most notably, Clay adds that Dana White actually offered him $10,000 to cut his hair off in order for him to be in UFC Undisputed 2009:
In Columbus, Dana White offered me $10,000 to cut it. First it was $5,000, and then $10,000, and I laughed. I told him to add a couple zeros and we'll talk. The hair's here to stay. It's part of my style, part of my trademark.
Guida talks about various issues regarding his past matchups with Nate Diaz and Roger Huerta and how he's learned from those fights. Most fans criticized his style versus the rangier Diaz, but Guida affirms that it's pretty stupid to try to bang it out with a guy who has six inches on you and has some very fundamental boxing chops.
One of the more interesting quotes from the interview surrounds his chances at a title shot within the Lightweight Division. He's drawn Diego Sanchez for The Ultimate Fighter 9 Season Finale main event, and he believes that a title shot would be warranted if he can defeat Sanchez:
If you beat Diego Sanchez, do you think you deserve a title shot?
After I beat Diego, I feel like I've fought the toughest competition in the lightweight division in the two and a half years I've been with the UFC. People see my record, and 5-3 is nothing great. But people who have seen my losses know that every time I fight, I put on a show. I've lost a few close ones. Roger got the best of me, in a fight that he deserves. That was a turning point in my career. I grew up as a fighter after that fight, as far as my training and my cage presence, being more patient in fights. They guaranteed Diego a title shot if he beats me, but he's not getting that title shot.
I know I'm ready for a title shot. When I fought Roger, I lost, I wasn't ready. In my heart, I'm always ready, but mentally, I wasn't. I was still green. And I'm still green in the sport, but I rise to the occasion. I fight better for better opponents. I'm going to outwork everyone in my division, I'm going to outwork the champion, and one day, I'm going to have that belt around my waist.
It's interesting because I'm a bit torn here. Guida has provided the UFC with countless wars in the Octagon that have fans coming together near the water cooler at work and saying "Did you see that crazy fight Guida was in last night?". On the other hand, Guida's skills just aren't up to snuff with someone like Kenny Florian or B.J. Penn. If Guida actually defeats Sanchez, and Florian is punched back down into a role of trying to build himself back up, is there room for Guida to squeeze in there? It's tough to say. I'd be more inclined to think there wouldn't be room, but Sanchez's standing with the UFC is that he will likely be one of the top lightweights in the world.
