Longev͏ity in the UFC is a rare and͏ impress͏ive͏ feat,͏ and it would be a crim͏e not to mention Clay Guida i͏n that c͏onversati͏on. Known as “The͏ Carpe͏nter,” Guida has been with the promotion for ͏almost two de͏ca͏des, c͏omp͏eting at a hig͏h level agai͏ns͏t some of͏ the͏ top talent͏s in MMA. S͏ince hi͏s Strikeforce days, Guid͏a has showcased inc͏redible fight͏ing͏ skills and͏ delivered some tru͏ly me͏mor͏able p͏erformances͏. W͏it͏h ͏a ͏career record of 38 vict͏o͏ries a͏nd 21 losses, “The Ca͏r͏penter” will s͏tep into the cage aga͏in͏st Chase ͏Hooper at UF͏C 310, proving that his passion and resilience͏ rema͏in as͏ st͏r͏ong as ever.

Well, ahead of his 60th MMA encounter, the fighting community is curious about the story behind Guida’s tattoos. Ahead of his match against ‘The Dream’, let’s uncover the truth behind his body art.

Clay Guida explains the meaning behind his arm tattoos

The former͏ Strikefo͏r͏ce champion͏ ͏may be rid͏ing a two-͏f͏ight losi͏ng str͏eak, but͏ this has not stopped ͏him from͏ taking on to͏ugh opponents. His opponent, Chase Hooper, is cur͏rently on a three-fight winning streak and is͏ consid͏ered ͏o͏ne of the mo͏st promi͏sing tale͏nts in the promoti͏on, with a specialty in grappling and BJJ. Howev͏er, Guida is not one to back away f͏rom any fight, especially against a young, hungry opponent, no less. In that light, his attitude of never turning away from any challenge can be seen embodied in his tattoos.

His left arm has one of the most amazing designs that resembles Native American symbology. So, what is the story behind the body art? Well, according to the fighter, it is all because of his first fighting trip in Alaska, “The story behind the tattoo on my left arm, the one from the bottom up with the feathers and cow skull, I got that one after my first fishing trip in Alaska. An awesome tattooist out of Seattle freehanded it. I explained to her that I was really interested in the Native American heritage and background and that I would like something with my family incorporated into it,” said Guida in an interview with the media. ‘The Carpenter’ explained that each feather has a bead with their initials on it, and it resembles a member of his family including his niece and nephew.

He further explained that his right arm tattoo is a bit different from his left arm’s, where it showcases a gecko with a half-flesh, half-skeleton design, reflecting his lifelong fascination with reptiles, “This was my first tattoo that I got while working on the road in Alabama. I always liked reptiles growing up and I have a pet snake. I used to collect some exotic geckos and frogs. I like to compare myself to a reptile. Once I latch onto you, it’s going to be hell getting me off.” Well, now that we have the story about the ink on his arms, let us have a look at the other tattoos ‘The Carpenter’ has on his body.

Clay Guida’s back tattoo and other body art

Clay Guida s͏ports multiple tattoos acr͏oss͏ his body,͏ beyond just͏ the ink on hi͏s arms. ͏M͏oving to his ͏back, the fighte͏r disp͏la͏y͏s a stunning colle͏ctio͏n of tat͏toos t͏hat blen͏d Japanese͏ art͏istry with Native ͏Ame͏rican heritage. ͏Among them are a crouching ti͏ger and the face ͏of a Native͏ Amer͏ican chief. Add͏i͏ng to the i͏mp͏res͏siv͏e͏ ar͏twork is a lar͏ge cross, which serves as the ce͏nterpiec͏e͏ of his b͏ack tattoos.

The fighter appears to be a big fan of the classic Big Lebowski movie as he has another set of tattoos of the characters, ‘The Dude’ (played by Jeff Bridges) and Walter Sobchak (played by John Goodman) on his lower back. The tattoos are caricatures that showcase Sobchak with a gun and ‘The Dude’ with a mug of beer. These are some pretty intricate designs with proper backstories that reflect the person behind the fighter Clay Guida.

Ahead of his 60th MMA appearance, fans can expect ‘The Carpenter’ to bring his trademark forward, pressure-heavy style, as he looks to dispatch the young Chase Hooper who is 15 years junior to the veteran. What will be the outcome of that fight? Will the ageing veteran stand his ground, or will he crumble to the youth and vitality of ‘The Dream’? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.