(This story first appeared in Friday’s USA TODAY .) ABU DHABI – The first time Clay Guida saw Tatsuya Kawajiri , “The Carpenter” admits he was a little bit in awe. It was 2006, and Guida had traveled to Japan for a bout under the Shooto banner, the same promotion in which Kawajiri first made his name in mixed martial arts. At the event’s weigh-ins, Guida caught a glimpse of “Crusher” and admits it was an exciting moment. Eight years later, the two will meet in the co-main event of Friday’s “UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Nelson,” which takes place at Abu Dhabi’s du Arena and streams live on UFC Fight Pass, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s recently launched digital network
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Eight years after first encounter, Clay Guida and Tatsuya Kawajiri meet in UFC – MMA Junkie