UFC lightweight contender Clay Guida (9-7 UFC) has put on great fights at lightweight, and now looks to make a splash at a new weight-class.

The fighter has opted for a drop to the 145-pound featherweight division, his representatives from VFD Sports Marketing today announced.
A debut date and opponent have not been confirmed for his UFC debut in the division, but a rep told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) it’ll likely come after the new year in 2012.
Guida was the first Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and held the title until being defeated by Gilbert Melendez . Guida signed with the UFC in 2006 and since then has racked up five “Fight of the Night” bonuses and two “Submission of the Night” awards.  Guida’s drop comes after a rough patch of losses to Gray Maynard and a title- eliminator against Benson Henderson. Notable victories over Rafael dos Anjos, Nate Diaz, Mac Danzig, Josh Thomson, Takanori Gomi and Anthony Pettis had Guida near the top of the lightweight division before the loss to Henderson and the sloppy split-decision loss to Gray Maynard.

Guida looks to be following in the foot steps of former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar dropping down to featherweight as well. The featherweight division has a lot of explosive fighters. Now with the addition of Edgar and Guida, the 145 fighters now have some more fast/powerful wrestlers to deal with besides Chad Mendes. Guida’s addition to the featherweight division will be nothing but exciting and great for the division.