Though he only went .500 in the win/loss department, Guida had a hell of a 2006 and is a true threat for the lightweight tile. Thomas had a strong showing on TUF 4 and either guy would make a recognized top-five lightweight work bell-to-bell.
Thomas (18-6-0) returned to the UFC last Nov., submitting “No Love” Clementi. Thomas debuted in the UFC back in ’01 against B.J. Penn (Pictures) and took a textbook knee to the face to end his night. He beat Fabiano Iha (Pictures) by decision in his next appearance and dropped a decision to his hero Caol Uno (Pictures).
The former WEF super lightweight and WEF super featherweight champ lost a decision to TUF 4 cast member Matt Serra (Pictures) back in ’03. During the reality show, Thomas battled Mikey Burnett, who had not been in the Octagon in seven years. The significantly shorter Burnett had trouble with Thomas’s crisp striking and was submitted via triangle choke in the first round. Din faced his Chris Lytle (Pictures) in the semifinals and lost a decision.
Clay Guida (Pictures) (21-6-0) trains with his brother Jason Guida (Pictures) out of Joey Gilbert and Dan Gilbert’s Hellhouse based outside Chicago, Ill. He is a 2001 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division 1 wrestling champion and a former Strikeforce lightweight champion.
Most of Guida’s experience has come in Jeff Curran (Pictures)’s XFO event and in Bob Schirmer’s Combat–Do Fighting Challenge, where he is the 155-pound titleholder. He is undefeated in both events and has beaten the top competition from both promotions in back-to-back bouts (IFL Silverback Bart Palaszewski (Pictures) from XFO and Jay Estrada (Pictures) from Combat-Do).
“The Carpenter” fought in Strikeforce and went five rounds with UFC veteran Josh Thomson (Pictures), winning the lightweight title by unanimous decision. He would lose the belt in another 25-minute war with the still undefeated Gilbert Melendez (Pictures). Guida has just one UFC appearance but he made the most of it, submitting Justin James (Pictures) via rear naked choke at UFC 64.
Thomas is strong and more experienced in the Octagon but Guida moves at a frenetic pace and will not slow down. It’s like standing across from a Tasmanian devil with fighting skills. I don’t expect Thomas to get smoked, especially on the feet. But Guida is a guy who will force his opponent to make a mistake, a mistimed miscalculation of force with dire consequences. Guida by decision.