FURY Professional Grappling 5: Alex Caceres looking for fireworks in rescheduled Clay Guida matchup, then UFC Paris

Three months after he was forced to withdraw from a planned grappling match with UFC Hall of Famer Clay Guida, UFC featherweight contender Alex Caceres is excited to deliver the performance he had intended last time out.

"We're ready to go for it this time," Caceres said.

In May, Caceres and Guida were set to compete in the co-main event of FURY Professional Grappling 4, but an ailing back forced "Bruce Leeroy" out of the contest on the day of the event. It was a difficult decision for Caceres to make, but he insists he ultimately had no real choice.

"It was a small ordeal," Caceres said. "I pinched my sciatic nerve, so it was very difficult to function at 100 percent, so I decided it would be a better opportunity to come back and try it again.

"We tried to stay on the card. I got my back cracked up right there, and I felt pretty good to try and do it, but then once again, the next day, I just couldn't do it. It was very hard to even walk."

Caceres said a combination of rest and rehab has him back to full speed, and now the match has been booked as the headliner of FURY Professional Grappling 5, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena on Saturday, Aug. 27.

Caceres previously earned a submission win over Eddy Torres at FURY Professional Grappling 3 and said he's excited to compete for the promotion once again.

"I love just going to compete and having a good time," Caceres said. "It's a good way to keep my skills sharp in the grappling department and have fun while doing it."

Guida, of course, is known for his relentless aggression and endless cardio, but Caceres says he's not intimidated by those traits and believes he can match his opponent's pace in the 10-minute contest.

"I know he's a great wrestler, very strong, so I'm just excited to compete with him," Caceres said. "I like to push the pace, too. I like to keep a high pace. I feel like that's where I shine the best, and I enjoy people that come in and try and take it from me.

"This should be a fun, fun matchup."

Back at 100 percent, Caceres is anxious to put on a show for FURY fans, and he also might handle a bit of UFC business at the show, as well. Currently No. 15 in the UFC's official featherweight rankings, the 34-year-old contender said he's planning on using his time on the mic to call for a spot on the UFC's event in France the following week.

"I'm kind of hoping a spot opens up on that Paris card," Caceres said. "I would like to hop on that one, but if not, I'll probably be booked for October."

Whether or not that happens remains to be seen, but in the meantime, Caceres is focused on putting on a memorable contest on Aug. 27.

"I'm always trying to finish the fight – even with five seconds on the clock, it doesn't matter to me," Caceres said. "But I just want to be able to make sure that I put on a good performance. I think that will be the most important thing for me.

"Check us out on Saturday. There should be some fireworks."