Guida clarifies remarks about president, slams anti-wrestlers

The first person to memorably discuss President Barack Obama post fight was Jacob Volkmann, who said someone needed to “knock some sense into that idiot.” That one got him a visit from the Secret Service.

After beating Robbie Peralta at UFC Fight Night 63, an adrenalized Clay Guida referenced the president, puzzling some fans.

Happy Easter to everyone that came here in person on such a sacred holiday weekend, said Guida as tanscribed by Brent Brookhouse for MMAjunkie. I know there’s a Final Four going on. Secondly, with all due respect to Mr. Obama, I don’t know if you’re out golfing, hopefully you’re attending to our important united affairs. But hey, don’t forget about the world’s fastest growing most popular sport, UFC, and it all starts with wrestling.

Immediately post fight it can be hard to remember your own name, from the euphoria, from the adrenaline, even from a concussion. Anything a fighter says in that context should be heard with that understanding.

At the post fight press conference, Guida explained himself further – he was simply voicing the hope that the president might give both mixed martial arts and folkstyle wrestling a little love.

Like I said, first I wanted to wish everyone a happy Easter on a very sacred holiday, because without the big man above, none of this would even be possible, said Guida. And then I said, ‘With all due respect, Mr. Obama, if you’re not too busy golfing or playing with your bracketology and your NCAA Final Four things, or if you’re handling our nation’s important issues – hopefully you are. Come on over to Fairfax, Viginia, which I think is your backyard or side yard, and watch the fastest growing sport in the world. And, if you couldn’t be live at this one – I know a lot of fans would have liked to see him and his wife here – maybe you’ll make another one down the road.’

So, I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, but it is the fastest growing sport in the world. And It’d be nice to see some of those bigger names, important people in our country get behind it and support it a little bit more. No disrespect toward their direction. It’s such an important sport and it’s growing so quickly. We’re on FOX for a reason. I hope we’re not getting – you know, the NCAA’s March Madness. What about MMA madness? Don’t forget about these guys that are out doing world tours right now. McGregor and these guys that are out trying to build our sport, Aldo and all these guys that are all over.

I just wanted to let them know that we’re right here in Fairfax. We’re just down the road.

Mixed martial arts still does not get the attention it has earned. “The Carpenter” is right.

Guida also defended wrestling in MMA against fans who boo it.

“I guess being an exciting wrestler helps, but it all starts with the oldest sport that we almost lost a couple of years ago [from the Olympics],” said Guida as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMAfighting. “So, shame on those fans. I hope they get more educated.”

“I got a message for those fans. Without wrestling, mixed martial arts would not be a sport. … Without wrestling, it would not be here. Without jiu-jitsu, there would be no mixed martial arts.”

“It’s not the most exciting all the time. My fights are very sloppy, not very technical by any means. But we’re always on the gas pedal. We’re always on the throttle.”