The major fights continue to come fast and furious from the UFC. UFC 125 has added a key lightweight tilt, with Clay Guida facing Takanori Gomi for the New Year's Day show.The fight had been rumored for some time, but Guida announced it over the weekend on MMA Tonight on ESPN 1000 in Chicago.
"One of my favorite fighters growing up watching MMA," Guida told the show's hosts."I look up to him, and I'm going to look forward to picking him up off the ground after I ground and pound him into the canvas."
Guida has been a staple in the UFC lightweight division for several years, but after an inconsistent start, has won five of his last seven bouts in the octagon, most recently earning wins over Shannon Gugerty and Rafael dos Anjos.
At 27-11 overall, Guida feels he's got the mindset and camp to chase the lightweight belt.
"I'm right up there with the best of them," Guida said. "I know it in my heart, and that's where it counts. The training speaks for itself. I'm at Greg Jackson's working with the best in the world. It's just a matter of time before I keep putting oppponents away and keep knocking on the door at that lightweight title."
Meanwhile, the legend Gomi rebounded from a loss to Kenny Florian in his UFC debut to knock out Tyson Griffin in August. A former PRIDE lightweight champion at one time regarded as the world's top 155-pounder, Gomi is 32-6 overall.
UFC 125 takes place on Jan. 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main event will feature a lightweight championship fight between titleholder Frankie Edgar and No. 1 contender Gray Maynard.
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