UFC on FOX 1 Predictions: How Clay Guida Will Defeat Ben Henderson

You don't have to like Clay Guida, nor do you have to appreciate the fact that he grounded-and-pounded his way past a tough-guarding Anthony Pettis en route to a unanimous decision, but when a man fights like Guida does, it's hard to not like the guy.

Save for the Pettis fight, in which he seemed to slow down a touch after a first round that started off how everyone predicted, Guida is one of the few wrestlers that will bring it and bring it hard with little to no sign of relenting.

Guida has the wrestling needed to put a good fighter in great danger, but he faces a problem in former WEC lightweight champion Benson "Smooth" Henderson.

What's the problem, exactly, in fighting Ben Henderson?

"Bendo" has the crushing submission power that has famously put Guida down in the past, the jabs and striking that might force Guida to resort to frantic takedown attempts (thereby possibly affeting his gas tank), and he has the warrior's spirit that Guida has not seen in a fighter since the TUF 9 classic versus Diego Sanchez's.

Guida could lock Henderson in the same exact choke that put Takanori Gomi away, but to no avail—that is not as much an under-estimation of Guida's own submission game as much as it is a testament to Henderson's heart.

At the end of the day, though, strong wrestlers can do work and do work dominantly if they pace themselves correctly, and in a nutshell, that's what Guida will do to Henderson, or at least hope to do to Henderson at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Guida's head and body movements, as well as his footwork, are going to get a brief mention in this thesis because we've come to expect this in his defense, and he uses his footwork to attack from angles some foes find difficulty in effectively countering.

Leg kicks, jabs, and anything to keep Henderson at bay—that is what Guida has to use in order to put himself closer to winning the fight, as it will help break down any defense Henderson has and help Guida effectively mount his signature offense en route to what could be a submission victory. Guida should choose to attack the neck of Henderson and anyone who is familiar with "The Carpenter" and his submission offense knows that he does well at attacking the neck.

It will be a miracle if any man at 155 right now can make Henderson tap out, but if anyone could do so at this level of active lightweight competition, it would be Guida, and if he can do it on Saturday, there would be little question as to whether Guida should get Frankie Edgar next or not.

Going Team Bendo? Henderson supporters can click here for an opposing view in support of a victory from the former WEC Lightweight Champion.

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