Born December 8, 1981 in Round Lake, Illinois is a professional mixed martial arts fighter currently fighting in the UFC as a lightweight. Clay burst on to the mainstream MMA scene in late 2006 with a submission victory over Justin James at UFC 64. Up until that point, Guida had been working as a carpenter while training and fighting in his spare time, compiling a professional record of 25-11. In spite of "The Carpenter" being his nickname, carpentry was not his only profession, as he also spent time in Alaska on a crab fishing vessel; however, he always harbored an intense interest in MMA. Clay found his passion for combat sports through wrestling in high school. He carried his interest on to William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois and though he was not as decorated as some of his colleagues, he helped his team to claim a national title.
