Joaquim Silva is a Clay Guida fan, but that doesn't mean he won't try to put him away at UFC Austin

AUSTIN, Texas – Joaquim Silva predicts a late finish of Clay Guida.

Silva (12-5 MMA, 5-4 UFC) meets Guida (38-20 MMA, 18-17 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 52 main card at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

“Netto BJJ” acknowledges Guida’s strength of cardio, and is honored to share the cage with the longtime UFC veteran.

“Clay Guida is a very tough guy,” Silva told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “It’s very difficult to fight him because he moves a lot and uses a lot of energy to fight.

“He’s 41, he has good conditioning and it’s hard to fight him. But I’m prepared for this fight. I love this guy. I’ve watched this guy my whole life, and I’m very excited for Saturday night.”

Silva, who’s finished three of his past four octagon wins, plans on outlasting Guida and scoring the eventual finish.

“I prepared for three rounds,” Silva said. “But I think second round, I hit him and I use my condition for this fight. I think the second or the last round, I finish the fight. This is my plan.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 52.