TRAINING:  A typical day of training starts with live grappling, MMA, or wrestling in the morning.

When and why did you start training for fighting? In March of 2004. I started by accident, fighting an exhibition bout on a small Midwest show. I was going to watch my brother fight Adrian Serrano, they announced an opening for a NHB fight, and I thought my wrestling background would carry me through the fight. It almost did until I gave up my back and you know how the rest of the story goes. Oh yeah, and training kept me out of the bars and taverns.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? Wrestled for 2001 Junior College National Champs at Harper College

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? Former Strikeforce LW Champion
2X XFO LW Champion, Xtreme Kage Kombat LW Champion, Combat-Do LW Champion

Favorite grappling technique: Rear naked choke

Favorite Striking technique: Any technique that will get me a KO.

Do you have any heroes? Dan Gable and Joey Gilbert

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It is an honor, but most important is winning and trying to attain the lightweight title.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to Harper Junior College, and did not earn a degree.

What was your job before you started fighting? Union Carpenter, framer

•    Seven year MMA veteran who has won six of his last eight fights, including three in a row (all three by submission).

•    Wins over Gugerty and Gomi won Submission of the Night honors

•    Fight with Sanchez was the TUF9 Finale card’s Fight of the Night.

•    Has defeated Bart Palaszewski, Joe Jordan, and Josh Thomson in non-UFC action.

•    Loss to Huerta was named best fight of 2007 by UFC.com – Guida was ahead on all scorecards before being submitted in the final round.

•    15 wins by submission

•    One of the UFC’s most popular fighters