Clay Guida explains Conor McGregor callout after UFC Fight Night 39 win

Fast approaching the status of the most called-out fighter in the UFC, featherweight Conor McGregor can now add another name to his list of potential opponents: Clay Guida.

After calling out McGregor post-win today at UFC Fight Night 39, Guida explained why he’s joined the ranks of those looking to teach the Irish fighter a lesson.

“He doesn’t really rub me the wrong way,” Guida said at the post-fight press conference at du Arena in Abu Dhabi. “He’s got all the talents, but we haven’t seen him tested yet. It’s good to see up-and-comers get a lot of publicity like him. But I think maybe the fact that him and my good friend and teammate Cub Swanson had a little beef one night at a show, the fact that they’re keeping him in close quarters and keeping an eye on him, fighting in his own country. Let’s see what he’s made of.”

McGregor (14-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is still on the mend from a torn ACL he suffered this past August in his second UFC fight, but he has been linked to a July 19 UFC Fight Night event in his native Dublin opposite Cole Miller, who was one of the first to call out “Notorious.”

Like many with a dislike for McGregor, Miller has sparred with the fighter on social media.

Miller (21-8 MMA, 10-6 UFC) mused on Twitter about stepping aside for Guida (31-14 MMA, 11-8 UFC) after “The Carpenter’s” win over Tatsuya Kawajiri (33-8-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in UFC Fight Night 39's co-main event, but today he told MMAjunkie he was just trying to get fans talking. He said the UFC expressed interest in pairing McGregor and him more than a month ago, but he has yet to receive a bout agreement.

Guida’s impressive win over the Japanese vet could put him in a position to cut the line, but he said he’s in no rush to make the fight happen.

“It doesn’t have to be his next fight, but let’s let him get a little momentum and put him in there against a guy that’s got some experience, and we’ll see what he’s made of,” he said.

A five-round experience would be best, Guida added.

“Five rounds is my thing,” he said. “If you want to see that guy cry, put him in there with me for five rounds.”

With the win, Guida gets back in the winner’s circle following a TKO loss to Chad Mendes that halted plans for a quick title shot at featherweight. In an exciting three-round scrap, Guida knocked down Kawajiri early with an overhand right and then out-grappled him to earn a unanimous decision win.

Another run at the belt is the likely goal for Guida, but the 32 year-old fighter said he’s also willing to go back to his former lightweight class to fight onetime title challenger Josh Thomson, whom he beat eight years ago under the now-defunct Strikeforce banner.

Whatever his next move is, Guida has options, and one of them appears to be McGregor.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 39, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.