Clay Guida, some of the admired and revered MMA fighters of the previous 20-plus years, will as soon as once more don the singlet at RAF 6 on February twenty eighth. “The Carpenter” is about to tackle Kieron Jimison, and when talking about how he’s feeling heading into this distinctive Actual American Freestyle competitors, Guida stated (through Bowks Speaking Bouts),
“Dylan, I am doing nice. Thanks for the nice intro. I actually admire it. (Laughs) Yeah, I can not consider it. You stated 20 years, no, greater than 20 years. It does not really feel like that lengthy. It goes by so quick. Yeah, it is fairly cool to have the ability to do this. I might say my profession has come full circle in a approach. You understand, we began wrestling at a younger age after which went to school after which moved on to MMA. ”
“As a few of you could or might not know, we type of hung up the gloves in 2025. Now we’re selecting up the wrestling footwear once more right here in 2026 or late 2025. Now we’re heading into our second Royal Air Drive occasion that will probably be broadcast reside from Tempe, Arizona on Saturday night time. Hey, it should be nice.”
Some had been uncertain if Guida had plans to return to MMA after being launched by the UFC after a protracted tenure. When requested if he has formally hung up his gloves and is now simply carrying a wrestling singlet, Guida stated ( Bowks Speaking Bouts),
“In fact. You understand, I am not utterly towards combating once more. Sadly, it in all probability will not be below the UFC banner. I cherished combating for them, it was nice, however I do know what it is like. To get again below contract with them, I’ve to struggle there as properly. You understand what I imply.”
“That is apparent and it needs to be. But when there is a match that is smart timing-wise towards a tricky opponent, yeah, I am positively not towards it. However within the meantime, we’re having a variety of enjoyable getting again to our wrestling roots, and yeah, it is nice to be again within the wrestling fitness center.”
Clay Guida says the RAF is “giving (wrestlers) an enviornment to comprehend their childhood desires”
The RAF has supplied skilled alternatives for wrestlers with a superb newbie wrestling basis who haven’t got to leap proper into MMA to generate income. When touched on what Actual American Freestyle is doing to create extra avenues for high quality wrestlers to specific their expertise on the skilled athletics degree, Guida quipped (through Bowks Speaking Bouts),
“Precisely. To me, that is what this situation is all about. For the up-and-coming younger women and men of the game of wrestling, it offers them one other avenue. As a result of that is the deal right here, everyone’s within the cage doing no matter it takes to make a dwelling, to have enjoyable. Not everybody desires to enter professional wrestling and bounce off a 4-foot high rope and land on somebody over 250, 300 kilos, an enormous athlete. ”
“So it isn’t for everybody. By the identical token, not everybody could be an Olympian. Or perhaps you could be an Olympic gold medalist or medalist and make a dwelling off your title, your endorsements, your efficiency, and so on.”
“So RAF has actually been that avenue and been a platform for athletes like me and different up-and-coming wrestlers or different established wrestlers who do not wish to wrestle professionally but in a sure enviornment. So this offers them an enviornment to meet their childhood desires and say, ‘Hey, I am knowledgeable wrestler, you already know.’
