'Old Man' Clay Guida in camp at Team Alpha Male, plotting quick return to win column

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – With more than a decade of experience competing in the UFC, Clay Guida knows first-hand how difficult it can be to find success at MMA’s highest level. But after a pair of frustrating losses, Clay Guida is back in the gym and ready for the phone to ring.

“Time to get back on the winning streak,” Guida told MMAjunkie. “I didn’t win last year. I had a rough one. Time to get back in the win column.

“We’re going to see the ‘Old Man’ Guida get back in there. We’re going to see ‘The Carpener’ – ‘The Dude,’ ‘The Caveman’ – get in there and start throwing these (fists).”

Guida (32-17 MMA, 13-11 UFC) fought just once in 2016, suffering a third-round knockout loss to undefeated featherweight prospect Brian Ortega at UFC 199. That followed seven months on the sidelines after an incredibly frustrating 39-second submission loss to Thiago Tavares in Brazil.

But after taking some time to clear his head following the UFC 199 loss, Guida said he’s determined to right the ship. To that end, he’s setting up shop at Team Alpha Male and getting ready for whatever lies on the horizon.

“It was a great summer,’ Guida said. “It was a great fall. Put that to rest, and now it’s back to training camp. Nothing’s scheduled yet. It’s just great to be back here with the team.

“It’s great to be in Northern California, and I’m really pumped to be here in a team atmosphere. I’m super excited.”

Guida, who’s trained with some of the sport’s most prolific teams, said he’s grateful for everything he’s picked up along the way. But right now, it’s Team Alpha Male’s “college wrestling room” mentality that’s providing him the motivation he needs to get back to winning ways.

At 35, Guida knows he can’t continue to fight forever. But he’s also as passionate about the game as ever before, and he believes he’s still got a few surprises up his sleeves.

“Hopefully we can get something February or March, realistically,” Guida said. “But they know, whenever that phone rings, whoever is on the other end of that contact is in trouble, so bring it on.”

To hear more from Guida, check out the video above.

And for more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.