NEWARK, N.J. – Clay Guida believes he has a lot of good time left in MMA before retirement from competition becomes a serious discussion.
At 37 and with 53 professional fights on his record, few would blame Guida (35-18 MMA, 15-12 UFC) if he was giving any consideration to life after fighting. He sees no need for that thought, though, because he’s scheduled to meet Jim Miller (30-13 MMA, 19-12 UFC) in Saturday’s lightweight co-main event at UFC on ESPN 5.
Not only is that prominent card placement, but Guida has won three of his past four inside the octagon, including a victory over UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn at UFC 237 in May. Those are the kind of things Guida feels gives him much life in the sport.
“A lot of other people talk about the big ‘R’ word, retirement,” Guida told MMA Junkie. “That’s as far away for me now as it has been in my career. I’m in better shape now than when I was in 21, I’m in better shape than when I was 25. I’m more focused, I’m just understanding the game now more than ever. I’m making improvements every camp and every time I step in the cage. I’m just having so much doing this right now and one fight at a time is definitely a good description, and come Saturday you’re going to see a much more improved ‘Carpenter.'”
Even though he’s been in the game for more than 16 years, Guida said his passion is still strong. He has other projects going on, though, and that includes teaming up with retired UFC featherweight Chad Mendes at “Finz & Featherz,” which is a hunting and fishing adventure company.
Guida has launched “Gillz & Thrillz with Guida,” which is an arm of the company that will allow clients to “one step further” than just a finishing trip and receive entertainment experiences, as well.
Although that takes a back seat to fighting at the moment, Guida said it’s something that could serve as a bridge into life after fighting.
“I wouldn’t call it an exit plan,” Guida said. “I would call it furthering our career a little bit longer and doing what we enjoy and passing it on to the fans and I’m just super excited with where we’re heading right now. I belong in the octagon as long as I can, and as soon as I’m done, I can hang up the gloves and move on to greener pastures.”
For now, though, Guida’s focus is on Saturday’s lightweight matchup with Miller, which co-headlines the UFC on ESPN 5 card at Prudential Center.
The matchup will see a new UFC record for most combined promotional appearances, with the two veterans combining for their 61st octagon showcase. Guida admits he was somewhat surprised they haven’t crossed paths after sharing the UFC roster for more than a decade, but he thinks the wait will prove worth it.
“It’s great to be back towards the top of the card where Jim Miller and I were for al long time,” Guida said. “He’s had longevity in the sport, he’s fought the who’s who and I think we have like nine or 10 mutual opponents. It was just a matter of time until we got in there and tangled horns.
“It’s going to be like a tornado. It’s just going to be a matter of time until this fight hits the ground. It’s going to be a whirlwind, it’s going to be like tumbleweeds flying around there. Two masters on the ground, and it’s going to be something to see.”
To hear from Guida on retirement, click on the video above, and for MMA Junkie’s full Guida interview click on the link below.
