KANSAS CITY, Mo. – UFC president Dana White was not impressed with Clay Guida’s fake retirement at UFC on ESPN 44.
Following his unanimous decision loss to Rafa Garcia (16-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) on Saturday’s card at T-Mobile Center, longtime octagon veteran Guida (38-23 MMA, 18-17 UFC) took off his gloves and was approached for an in-cage interview with Daniel Cormier.
Guida started his speech as though he was going to hang up the gloves, but then said he wasn’t done and proceeded to wish his mother a happy birthday. That did not please the UFC boss.
Clay Guida tricks Daniel Cormier into thinking he's retiring 👀 pic.twitter.com/sGeLhl4WBt
— XcellentMMA (@XcellentMMA) April 16, 2023
“That pissed me off, actually,” White told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the UFC on ESPN 44 post-fight news conference. “That pissed me off. I like him. He’s a nice guy. But you faking your retirement so you can say f*cking happy birthday to somebody? We’re running a live event here. I was not happy about that. … Yeah, that was not good.”
Guida has been one of the longest-tenured fighters on the UFC roster dating back to his octagon debut in August 2006. “The Carpenter” ranks in the top five for most takedowns landed in promotional history.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 44.
