Clay Guida file photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Based at Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts in Albuquerque, N.M., Guida last appeared in March, when he submitted Shannon Gugerty with a second-round arm-triangle choke at UFC on Versus 1 in Broomfield, Colo. The 28-year-old Rockford, Ill., native has secured half (13) of his 26 career victories by submission. Wins over “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner Nate Diaz, former Strikeforce lightweight king Josh Thomson and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 6 winner Mac Danzig buoy Guida’s resume.
Dos Anjos will carry a three-fight winning streak into the match. The 25-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has not competed since he coaxed a tapout from Terry Etim with a second-round armbar at UFC 112 in April. Dos Anjos has been finished only once -- by Jeremy Stephens -- in 18 professional bouts.
A middleweight title fight pitting embattled champion Anderson Silva against outspoken challenger Chael Sonnen will headline UFC 117, which will also feature a key welterweight rematch between former title contenders John Fitch and Thiago Alves.
UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen
Saturday, Aug. 7
Oracle Arena
Oakland, Calif.
UFC Middleweight Championship
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves
Clay Guida vs. Rafael dos Anjos
Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida
Junior dos Santos vs. Roy Nelson
Thiago Silva vs. Tim Boetsch
Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story
Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft
Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman
Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman
Rodney Wallace vs. Stanislav Nedkov