By Christopher Salute — In one of the most impressive losses of 2009, Clay Guida’s “Fight of Night” against fellow lightweight contender Diego Sanchez, was nothing short of astonishing. Guida, the definite fan-favorite, lost in a split decision after a grueling fifteen minute bloodbath Saturday night at The Palms. However, the goal of the two fighters was clear as Sanchez stood in the center of the ring, post match, quoting Gladiator. “Are you not entertained?” he asked. Absolutely.

With a win over Guida, Sanchez should see an ’09 or ‘10 title shot in his UFC crystal ball. This same outcome makes Guida’s future a bit murkier. A win against Sanchez may have catapulted “The Carpenter” from middle-pack ratings draw to instant contender. But, just like most of his wins, his rise to the top isn’t going to come quickly or easily. Determined to become the UFC Lightweight Champion, Guida will need to jump through a few more hoops before he sees UFC gold. But, as he’s proven time and again, if anyone has the stamina to go the distance, it’s Guida.

This loss to Sanchez may have been a blessing in disguise. Some fighters get their title shots or big fights too early in their career, though this often happens in boxing more than MMA. With losses to two of the bigger names in an ever-changing UFC lightweight division (Sanchez and Griffin), this may be the perfect time for Guida to start climbing, again, add to his unique fighting method, and learn a few new tricks. Prior to Saturday’s fight, Guida said of opponent, Sanchez, “Diego has changed up his style in the past couple years from a ground [and] pound wrestler to more of a patient jiu-jitsu style fighter with improved striking.”

It may have been this patience paired with a little Guida-esque energy that helped Diego Sanchez in his win on Saturday. Aside from the first minute of the fight, when adrenaline beat out reason, Sanchez was able to channel his energy into more accurate shots and submission tries for the entire first round a lot of the third. And, his jiu jitsu improvements made him a double threat from under Guida’s aggressive striking mounts. But, Guida did not lose in vein. There’s a great deal he can learn from Saturday’s fight.

Already skilled in stifling jiu-jitsu attacks, Guida’s go-get-em style has made him a tough man to keep down, both in The Octagon and rankings. However, his lack of depth leaves Guida deadlocked against well rounded fighters like Sanchez. And, while stalemates may be effective in chess, Guida’s bouncy and frantic attitude has definitely established him as more of a checkers kind of guy. In fact, he’s a “triple-jumping, king crowning, get a beer while he’s waiting for your move” kind of guy. Unless, that is, he can go back to the drawing board and become more polished. While Guida is a strong submission fighter, he could spend some time varying his submission techniques, making him as dangerous with his opponent’s limbs as he is with his own. After a takedown, an opponent of Guida’s knows what is coming. Whether they can stop it or not, is another story. More jiu-jitsu training could get this done, indefinitely. The guesswork of where to block plus the inability of most fighters to match his speed will make Guida an absolute terror in on the ground.

Accurate striking could also work in Guida’s favor, turning him from a strong striker into an Ultimate Knockout highlight reel. Yes, Guida is very energetic. Contrary to popular belief, though, his energy is not infinite. And, Fighting 101 tells you that it takes less energy to connect with a punch than it does to miss. Making strikes more accurate will allow Guida to focus his energy and hit harder.

For now, Guida seems perfectly positioned to climb the ranks, learning more as he does so. With wins over fighters like Nate Diaz and Mac Danzig, it’s clear that he has the tools to destroy most of the division like the Tasmanian Devil that he is. Fighters like Joe Stevenson, in a very similar boat, may be perfect opponents to help mold Guida into the fighter he needs to be before taking on Penn or Florian. Sean Sherk would also be a great step. Either of these fights must be a win in Guida’s favor, if he intends on continuing his run for the title. Who knows- maybe a stint as a T.U.F. coach might do him some good. Though, it may be difficult to translate “Wiggle out of that Kimura and then punch until your arms fall off” into something that can be practiced. However, for someone who seems to feed off of chants and cheers, even more popularity couldn’t hurt.

Whatever path Guida is headed on, one thing is certain: His contagious liveliness and passion for the sport will keep us watching.