One of the most exciting fighters in the UFC’s lightweight division is Clay “The Carpenter” Guida (23-9). A cardio machine, Guida is always on the attack, and his performances are often some of the most memorable of the night on whatever card he appears.

He’s 3-3 in the Octagon and has faced some of the division’s top fighters, including Roger Huerta and Tyson Griffin—both extremely close contests. He also holds a win over Marcus Aurelio and recently snapped Samy Schiavo’s six-fight win streak at UFC Fight Night 13 back in April.

Guida is now looking to put together a string of wins to climb the ranks of one of promotion’s thickest divisions. He faces a big test in The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 6 winner Mac Danzig (18-4-1), one of the most experienced fighters to ever come off the TUF series and a five-time King of the Cage Lightweight Champion.

It all goes down tomorrow night at UFC Fight Night: Diaz vs. Neer, which airs on Spike TV at 8:00 p.m. ET from the Omaha Civic Auditorium.

We recently caught up with Guida for a few quick minutes to find out how he plans to bring it to Danzig, check in on his ever-evolving cardio and discover a few interesting facts about the fighter that you might not have known before.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): The first big question is what is the plan of attack for Mac Danzig?

Clay Guida: The plan of attack for Danzig is pretty much the plan of attack for all my fights: stay in his face, stay gritty, establish takedowns and good position on top. Try not to stay in his guard for too long — you know just attack, attack, attack, man. I feel my stand-up has come full circle and people are going to see that Wednesday night.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): You have always been known for your cardio and pushing the pace; was this your fight plan from day one or have you evolved into that with the training at the Institute of Human Performance?

Clay Guida: I have been with them for close to a year now, and I think they definitely helped me step it up. I have always done the road work on my own, but got brought into a different environment with the personal training, and the conditioning program is awesome. I am really thankful to have my personal trainers out there, but people are going to see that I am more than just conditioning, that I am a well-rounded mixed martial artist.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): Do you have a long-term plan for going after the title and what you might be doing after fighting?

Clay Guida: Yeah, I’d like to put on Mac Wednesday night and get closer to the title, and if this ball keeps rolling the way it has been, just keep advancing in my training and eventually get to the title shot. I am in the UFC to be the champ, not just to say, “I fight in the UFC.” I have never been like that. I mean, I am having fun, fighting in the biggest echelon in MMA, but I am here for a reason, which is to get that strap.

Down the road, I’d like to open a couple of gyms with me and my brother. But right now, I am just concentrating on being the best fighter I can be.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): Rich Franklin was a math teacher, Joe Lauzon was an IT guy, what would most surprise people about you?

Clay Guida: You mean, like, just an interesting fact?

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): Yeah.

Clay Guida: I’ve traveled a lot. Since I was 18, I have just been out and about. (I was) in college for a while, lived all over the country, lived on an Alaskan fishing boat, which was just an awesome experience. I was out on the Bering Sea for about six months. It was a phenomenal experience and a lot of work.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): Probably puts fighting in perspective.

Clay Guida: Exactly. It kind of makes fighting seem like a walk in the park, ya know. We worked 18 – 20 hours a day, seven days a week, with 30 – 40 foot waves almost every day.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): Any certain hobbies to unwind when you are not fighting or training for a fight?

Clay Guida: I love to go boating. Me and my friends will hit up concerts and music festivals. I love to go to Cubs games — been to over a dozen this year. Bears games, I just love to travel. I think between my fight in April and this fight I was probably home for maybe four weekends. I train at other gyms here and there, but traveling is just my passion, I love it.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): Being a Chicago guy, do you think the Cubs are gonna do it?

Clay Guida: The Cubbies definitely have a chance. These past couple weeks have been kinda shaky, but I think they will pick it up toward playoff time. I think this might be the year.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): The 155-pound weight class is arguably the most competitive division in the UFC. With Dana trimming the roster lately, what do you think keeps you here?

Clay Guida: I am going to be in the UFC as long as I want to be, man. I dictate my career. Ws keep you in the UFC, exciting fights work for a little while, but I am here to win, not just put on exciting fights. I am here to win and get closer to that belt.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): After Mac Danzig, who would be next on your list?

Clay Guida: I am just concentrating on Mac Wednesday night, but whoever they put in front of me after this is who they pick. But Mac is my main concern.

Mike McColgan (MMAmania.com): All right, well, thanks for your time and good luck Wednesday.

Clay Guida: Thanks.