Kansas City, MO – Coming off an exciting and bloody battle just a few months ago UFC lightweight Rafa Garcia has another shot at yet another crazy fight when he takes on UFC staple and MMA legend Clay Guida at UFC Kansas City on Saturday night.
“I’m really excited to fight someone like Clay Guida. Time to go out there and give it my all,” Garcia told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“I know Clay is going to come to try and bully me. He’s a cardio freak and he’s going to try to walk me down, you know.”
Guida brings, for the most part, the same game plan to each of his fights. Set a high pace and keep it there until his opponent breaks. And then push it harder.
“Clay’s, I feel like, he’s a veteran. He has so much experience. He’s not going to get scared like with the first punch. I’ve got to go out there and just be very patient, be very smart, go out there and break him little by little and get the win,” Garcia said.
Garcia (14-3) looks to fellow Mexican fighters who have won titles recently, the likes of Brandon Moreno, Alexa Grasso and Yair Rodriguez, and hopes to continue the trend of success for fighters from Mexico.
“I’m very proud because I mean it too a long time for us to get here. Feel like my fighting style is very Mexican. I’m always going forward and just throwing a lot of punches. I’m never backing down. Feel like all my fights are never boring,” he said.
“It’s always like blood, something you know? That’s the Mexican style of fighting right there.”
A card in Mexico was rumored for this year, but recently UFC president Dana White has shot down the possibility of a card south of the border in 2023. Still Garcia hopes that the UFC will return to Mexico this year and he’ll plan to be on that card. Otherwise the possibility of joining fellow Mexican fighters Moreno and Rodriguez in Las Vegas in July is also appealing.
“Vegas is like a second home for us. So we’ve got to go out there,” Garcia said.
Watch the entire media day scrum with Rafa Garcia above. He takes on Clay Guida at UFC Kansas City on Saturday night.
