MMA-URLS

When Nate Diaz was interviewed in the Octagon following his tour-de-force win over Jim Miller at last weekend's UFC on FOX 3 card in New Jersey, he left no doubt who he considered the number-one lightweight in the world: Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez. You'd expect him to say this, of course, since the two are training partners. But figuring out where Melendez should rank, exactly, isn't so cut and dried. With six straight wins, the 20-2 Melendez has the second-longest current win streak of any top-10 lightweight, trailing only unbeaten Bellator champ Michael Chandler (10). During that run, "El Nino" avenged his only two career losses, to Josh Thomson and Mitsuhiro Ishida. But can Strikeforce provide the quality of competition necessary to make a case for Melendez as No. 1? Strikeforce has put together Melendez and Josh Thomson in San Jose on May 19 in what might be the least-anticipated trilogy fight of recent times. If Melendez wins that matchup, as most expect, then what? Strikeforce's 155-pound division is running pretty thin these days. As is its stable of bankable headline talent. With Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Dan Henderson all back in the UFC; Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos suspended due to steroids, and the seemingly interminable heavyweight tournament finally winding down next week. Showtime isn't about to let go of one of the few remaining television draws it has at its disposal, which means Melendez might fritter away his prime against less-than-elite competition. Diaz could very well be correct in calling Melendez the best in the world. But as long as Melendez is in Strikeforce, we'll never find out. (Note: The fighter's rankings the last time we ranked the lightweights are in parentheses.) 1. Benson Henderson (4) If you want to find something to nitpick about the champion, he hasn't finished an opponent since submitting Donald Cerrone back in 2010. Beyond that, there's not much to criticize about the current king of the hill. 2. Gilbert Melendez (2) It's probably not fair that Melendez is being judged for a situation that's out of his control. But at the same time, the situation puts more pressure on the champ to look impressive in each outing, beginning with his bout against Thomson. 3. Frankie Edgar (1) When undersized fighters who take a lot of damage hit their career turning point, it happens in the blink of an eye. I'm not saying Edgar is there yet, but he's taken beatings in his past several fights and he's only won one of his past three. 4. Nate Diaz (10) The hottest fighter at 155 pounds not wearing major-promotion gold at the moment. Will a long wait for the winner of the Henderson-Edgar rematch serve to cool him off. 5. Gray Maynard (3) Yes, I'm aware Maynard beat Diaz on a split decision two-and-a-half years ago and that I'm ranking Diaz ahead of Maynard anyway. But Maynard hasn't won a fight in 21 months, while Diaz has blazed his way through the weight class. The good news for "The Bully" is that he can rectify this next month when he meets the next fighter on the list. 6, Clay Guida (5) The only loss on his record in this decade was his Fight of the Year-candidate decision against Ben Henderson in November. But he's hardly the only one to lose to Bendo, and a win over Maynard would put him right back into the Top 5. 7. Anthony Pettis (6) Still nothing on the docket for "Showtime," who has won seven of his past eight fights. Highly unlikely it will be a UFC title shot, though. 8. Jim Miller (7) Miller had a strong run in winning seven consecutive UFC fights form 2009-11. But he's also 0-4 against guys ranked ahead of him on this list. He will need a strong win in his next outing to stay ranked. 9. Michael Chandler (NR) The unbeaten Bellator champ KOd Japanese legend Akihiro Gono directly into retirement. 10. Eddie Alvarez (NR) The Philly phenom rebounded from his Bellator title loss to Chandler with a convincing TKO of Shinya Aoki, avenging a previous loss. Want more? Then check out Bloody Elbow's consensus rankings for each weight class from bantamweight to heavyweight.

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Clay Guida was on the cusp of contending for the UFC lightweight title before a loss to Benson Henderson dropped him down the ladder. Now, Guida gets former contender Gray Maynard in a key bout at UFC on FX 4. The card is set for June 22 from Atlantic City and will be the main [...]

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UFC Lightweight Clay Guida will face Gray Maynard in the headliner of UFC on FX 4 in Atlantic City, New Jersey's Revel Hotel and Casino on June 22. Guida talked about the contrast between his fighting style and Maynard's to MMA Fighting's Luke Thomas: "I think mine (wrestling attack) is a little bit more in your face, a little bit more wild attack and his is conservative -- but very high level. He gets a blast double legs. He has a very good single leg and he doesn't miss takedowns very much. When he shoots, he puts you on your butt. I think he's gonna come out and try and knock my head off and he's gonna try to put us on our back." Guida, who could easily cut down to 145lbs and make Featherweight, is going to give up a good bit of size to Maynard and both fighters are coming off losses. Guida lost a decision to current UFC LW champ Ben Henderson at UFC on Fox 1 in November, 2011. Maynard is coming back from two-straight unsuccessful shots at the title, first drawing Frankie Edgar at UFC 125 in January 2011 and then losing to Edgar by KO at UFC 136 in October of last year. Video after the jump...More UFC on FX 4 coverage from SBNation

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) finally returns to Atlantic City, NJ, with UFC on FX 4 featuring Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida in the network-televised headliner booked for the new Revel Hotel and Casino on June 22, 2012. And it's time to see what else Maynard can do in the promotion's stacked 155-pound division, now that he doesn't have Frankie Edgar to "Answer" to. The road back to the vaunted "mix" begins with Guida in what many are billing as a clash of offensive wrestlers. But don't be surprised to see "The Bully" try to saw through "The Carpenter" with a barrage of power punches. Guida talks to MMA Fighting: "I think mine (wrestling attack) is a little bit more in your face, a little bit more wild attack and his is conservative -- but very high level. He gets a blast double legs. He has a very good single leg and he doesn't miss takedowns very much. When he shoots, he puts you on your butt. I think he's gonna come out and try and knock my head off and he's gonna try to put us on our back." Hear more from Guida on his upcoming "Garden State" main event, after the jump. For more on Clay Guida vs. Gray Maynard at UFC on FX 4 click here.

Posted in: ufc, maynard, guida, garden state, butt i

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UFC lightweight Clay Guida was in Atlanta for UFC 145 and MMA Fighting had the chance to speak to him. Guida discusses his upcoming bout with Gray Maynard at UFC on FX 4 and tries to assess whether Maynard leaving Xtreme Couture is either a positive or negative for his opponent's career. The Greg Jackson-trained lightweight also contrasts wrestling styles with Maynard and argues that a fight against him is tough to win, yet places him much further ahead in the division.

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submitted by swampskater [link] [comment]

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Tickets on sale Wednesday to UFC Fight Club members, Friday to general public

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The oddsmakers have made Gray Maynard a big favorite as he heads into his UFC on FX 4 showdown against Clay Guida.

Posted in: clay guida, maynard, fx, ufc, clay

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Former two-time number one division contender, Gray Maynard, finally gets a new opponent after spending the entire 2011 mixed martial arts (MMA) fight season attempting to wrest the belt from the resilient clutches of then-UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Despite his best efforts, including two brutal first rounds at UFC 125 and UFC 136, during which he beat "The Answer" from pillar to post, Edgar stormed back to earn a draw and then a come-from-behind technical knockout. "The Bully," who recently relocated to train at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, Calif., will now have to fight his way back toward the top of the 155-pound mountain, starting with the hairy and scary Clay Guida at the upcoming UFC on FX 4 event, scheduled for June 22, 2012, In Atlantic City, New Jersey. Anyone think Maynard, who has just one loss in 12 pro bouts, can saw through "The Carpenter" on fight night?

Posted in: ufc, fight, maynard, twotime number, post edgar

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Former Lightweight title challenger, Gray Maynard, who will square off with Clay Guida in June, discusses his training and preparation for the bout and talks about his decision to relocate from Xtreme Couture to American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California.

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When Gray Maynard meets Clay Guida on June 22 in Atlantic City, N.J., it will mark his first UFC fight without any members of Xtreme Couture by his side. "The Bully" announced following his UFC 136 loss to Frankie Edgar last year that he would no longer be training at the Las Vegas gym. Maynard insisted his departure had nothing to do with the personnel at Xtreme Couture, but rather wanting to experience training with other fighters and coaches around the world. So with less than three months to go before his UFC on FX 4 fight, Maynard has settled on a new team. The 32-year-old recently told MMAFighting.com that he will train at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., "two-to-three times" a week, as well as with famed strength and conditioning coaches Marv and Gary Marinovich and boxing coach Rick Noble.The arrival of Maynard (10-1-1, 1 NC) to AKA all but cements that camp's status as the best wrestling team in MMA, as it is also home to the likes of Daniel Cormier, Muhammed Lawal, Cain Velasquez and Jon Fitch, to name a few. The Marinovich brothers are no strangers to MMA, most notably working with BJ Penn during his lightweight title reign in 2009. UFC on FX 4, headlined by Maynard vs. Guida, will take place at Atlantic City's Revel hotel and resort.

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Regroup, reevaluate, reset. It was the mantra embraced by Gray Maynard following his disappointing UFC 136 championship loss to then-titleholder Frankie Edgar in October 2011. After all, if you're not actively pursuing evolution as a fighter, frankly, you are what you are. That's you in the mirror. And we all know what happens to stationary targets in MMA (so to speak).

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One of the most memorable trilogies in MMA’s modern era is unquestionably the series between lightweights Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar. Their rivalry most recently culminated in an exciting October meeting where then-champion Edgar battled back from being rocked to eventually stop Maynard with strikes, the only defeat the Ultimate Fighter 5 alumnus has ever suffered. Unlike many trilogies, though the finish put a stamp on their trio of tilts it didn’t break a tie so much as created one thanks to a January 2011 Draw between Maynard-Edgar. With things at 1-1-1, the 32-year old Maynard has since said he’d like to give it one more go at some point in the future with the belt preferably being involved. “The title has always been the goal,” initially explained Maynard in an interview with HeavyMMA before adding, “I would love to have the belt and somewhere along the line, get another fight with Edgar. We are 1-1-1 and we need to settle it once and for all. It has to happen eventually, and after that fight we can both be done. We can walk away knowing it’s over and that we gave MMA fans some great fights to look back on.” Turning fantasy into reality will first involve beating Clay Guida on June 22 in a five-round headliner at UFC on FX 4. On that topic, Maynard showed due respect to Guida for his aggressive grappling and endless cardio, also pointing to the bout as being indicative of how deep the 155-pound weight-class is. “The lightweight division is like a drama. It is like a good soap opera that draws you in because it’s not built up off bullsh*t hype. There is no fake build-up where guys are talking a bunch of sh*t in order to get fan’s attention,” said an animated Maynard. “It’s all in the actual fights people are seeing, and it is the most competitive weight class in the UFC, hands down. The skill and heart displayed in our division is without comparison. We go out there, put it all on the line and get after it from bell to bell.” Other big lightweight match-ups on the horizon include Edgar vs. Benson Henderson and Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: ufc, fight, edgar, frankie edgar, maynard

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Gray Maynard, the perennial bridesmaid of the UFC's Lightweight division, is keeping his chin up and working to improve despite failing to take Frankie Edgar's title in two attempts at UFC 125 and UFC 136. Maynard has left Xtreme Couture, his long-time training camp and taken up the role of traveling ronin, training at the best camps all over the world. He spoke to Bloody Elbow alum Duane Finley at Heavy about his time at Nova Uniao and AKA: "My time in Brazil was eye-opening. ... (One) thing I found surprising was how close the team is. Their camp is very organized. The coaches and athletes are all open to evolving and learning. I don't know if this is the case everywhere in Brazil, but at Nova Uniao it's like a family. Coach Andre Pederneiras is a father figure to a lot of those guys. They would do anything for him, and all he asks is if you are going to be there, you train hard. It got me going every day, and for a guy who gets so much respect, he has zero ego. ..."AKA is a great gym, and Javier Mendez told me the door is open any time I want to train. He understands no one should tell an athlete he can't fly out to another gym to learn or train somewhere else if it's going to help him improve, and I appreciate that about him. ... But just like Coach Pederneiras, Javier has actual fighting experience. Coaches who have fought and been through that life operate differently. They know what it is like to be punched and kicked, and that puts ego out the door. They want you to learn because they understand they don't know everything. When they fought, they went to get help from wherever they could and want the same for you. He has also begun strength and conditioning with the Marinovich brothers. MMA fans will remember them from their time training B.J. Penn for his bouts with Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez, bouts that saw Penn get stronger as the rounds went on. Maynard will face Clay Guida in the headliner bout at UFC on FX 4 in June. The winner of the bout will stay alive in the UFC's murderous LW division but the loser will face a long, hard road back to contention. Maynard's making no bones about it, his goal is to get one more shot at the champ: "The title has always been the goal. I would love to have the belt and somewhere along the line, get another fight with Edgar. We are 1-1-1 and we need to settle it once and for all. It has to happen eventually, and after that fight we can both be done. We can walk away knowing it's over and that we gave MMA fans some great fights to look back on." More SBN coverage of UFC on FX 4

Posted in: ufc, bout, coach, maynard, nova uniao

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Not long ago Gray Maynard was an unbeaten fighter competing for the UFC Lightweight championship. In his first attempt at unseating Frankie Edgar the two fought to a draw. An immediate rematch was hoped for, but injuries prevented that rematch from taking place as soon as everyone would have wanted.  When the rematch did take place Edgar retained his title by knocking out Maynard at the 3:54 mark of the fourth round. The victory allowed Edgar to avenge what was then the only loss of his career, as he

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Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar put together three fights that will go down in the history of MMA as some of the best action ever. The lightweights each won one match, while the other went to a draw. However, it was Edgar that ended up on top, as “The Answer” delivered a knockout last year to end the trilogy and remain UFC lightweight champion. Don’t think for a minute that has settled well with Maynard, as “The Bully” remains hopeful of both claiming the title and exacting revenge on Edgar, as he told Duane Finley of Heavy recently. The title has always been the goal. I would love to have the belt and somewhere along the line, get another fight with Edgar. We are 1-1-1 and we need to settle it once and for all. It has to happen eventually, and after that fight we can both be done. We can walk away knowing it’s over and that we gave MMA fans some great fights to look back on. For now, Maynard is set to meet Clay Guida in a match that could help shape the future of the lightweight division. The two will square off at UFC on FX 4 in the main event from Atlantic City. Maynard noted that the bout grew from a rumor that started a long time ago. Someone put it out there that we were going to fight in Montreal, and even though it wasn’t true, it drew solid attention. The UFC saw this, and Joe Silva thought it was a great fight – so they made it happen. Since it has been out there, I’ve pretty much been gearing up for him for a while now. He has a good chin, great heart, and it’s a fun fight. While the division is stacked with worthy challengers to current champion Benson Henderson, the winner of Maynard-Guida could position himself nicely for a future No. 1 contender match, or even a title shot depending on what happens between now and later this year. Photo credit: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog

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For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For every push, there is a pull. For every "Ying," there is a "Yang." For every Gray Maynard ... there is a Frankie Edgar? One of the greatest rivalries mixed martial arts (MMA), fans have been privileged to witness Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history each time Edgar and Maynard have butted heads. All of the momentum between the two culminated when they fought, most recently, at UFC 136 on Oct. 8, 2011, in Houston, Texas. The fight ended in the fourth round when, after fighting neck-and-neck to that point, Edgar finally was able "Answer" the "Bully" with a knockout blow that reverberated around the building, if not around the world. Since that fateful night, things have changed quite a bit for both men. Edgar has since lost his title via unanimous decision loss to Ben Henderson at UFC 144 on Feb. 25, 2012, in Saitama, Japan. Maynard has not yet stepped back into the cage, but he has experienced some additional turmoil of his own, fluctuating between training camps. Most recently, he was a member of the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), but within the last six months, he's spent a fair amount of time at the famous Brazilian Nova União team training facilities to diversify his skills. On June 22, 2012, Maynard is set to face Clay Guida at UFC on FX 4 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Even though that is the fight in his immediate line of fire, Maynard told HeavyMMA that he still has not gotten over the notion that he and Edgar are still due for one last final showdown: "The title has always been the goal. I would love to have the belt and somewhere along the line, get another fight with Edgar. We are 1-1-1 and we need to settle it once and for all. It has to happen eventually, and after that fight we can both be done. We can walk away knowing it's over and that we gave MMA fans some great fights to look back on." The fight between Maynard and Guida came about in a somewhat less-than-organic manner, as it was the product of yet another fan-led Twitter campaign to get the two into the Octagon. Maynard talked about the way the fight was put together, as well as how he sees it shaping up: "The fight between Clay and I actually came out as a rumor a long time ago. Someone put it out there that we were going to fight in Montreal, and even though it wasn't true, it drew solid attention. The UFC saw this, and Joe Silva thought it was a great fight - so they made it happen. Since it has been out there, I've pretty much been gearing up for him for a while now. Guida has good takedowns, but I feel that is my area and what he lacks as a true athlete he makes up for in heart and toughness. Clay is well known for his cardio, but he also likes to mix it up and throw hands. He has a good chin, great heart and it's a fun fight." The winner of the fight is almost guaranteed the next title shot, but anything can happen. Especially in the lightweight division, which MMAmania.com detailed earlier in the day as being the most stacked division in the UFC. Here's what Maynard had to say about the men who fight at 155-pounds in the UFC: "The lightweight division is like a drama. It is like a good soap opera that draws you in because it's not built up off bulls**t hype. There is no fake build-up where guys are talking a bunch of s**t in order to get fan's attention. It's all in the actual fights people are seeing, and it is the most competitive weight class in the UFC, hands down. The skill and heart displayed in our division is without comparison. We go out there, put it all on the line and get after it from bell to bell." For Maynard, the loss to Edgar may not have been a totally bad thing. It made him go back to the drawing board and really re-evaluate where he was as a fighter. He's worked hard to add some new aspects to his fighting arsenal, and has branched out, as far as the resources from which he draws: "Last year, I hit a plateau - I really did. Now it's time to learn, and there is a lot of work to do. It's not like I changed camps and it's suddenly I'm leaps and bounds ahead of where I was. I have a lot to learn, but I'm excited and inspired again to do it. As far as jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai, those things are just scratching the surface. There are so many other aspects and elements to refine or develop, like nutrition, sleep and recovery, which directly affect your performance. At the end of the day, those areas are relatively untouched and there is still so much to learn. I'm at a point in my career where I'm assessing everything I've learned. Obviously I've picked up a ton of useful information along the way, but I've also learned a great deal about what you shouldn't do. It's an awesome thing when you know who you are, how to train and what works best for you. I've been through it all and how you get to the top is realizing what you can and can't do." In the ever-evolving sport of MMA, if you stagnate, you suffer. Maynard knows this and has been aggressively pursuing new ways to better himself as a fighter and as a person. Maynard has put the lightweight division on notice -- Look out for Gray Maynard 2.0: "I'm living day to day and loving life right now," Maynard said. "I'm living my dream and I'm happy again. I'm training hard, going all over the Bay Area, and there is a lot of knowledge up here. It's been a great experience and I've learned a lot so far. I've picked up new techniques, different looks and my game is definitely evolving. All I want to do is continue to grow and develop, and I'm having a great time doing it. There is so much out there to learn. I'm hungry and excited to soak it all up, add new elements to my game and improve the areas I would consider my strengths. I want to keep evolving, and that is what it's going to take for me to become the fighter I want to be. I want to be a champion, and I'm going to do whatever it takes for that to happen." First thing's first: Beat Guida. Next task? Take over the world. Can Maynard overcome the seemingly infinite ball of energy that is Clay Guida and earn himself another title shot? Will "The Bully" one day wear UFC gold? What say you, Maniacs? Comments, please.

Posted in: ufc, fight, edgar, maynard, im

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Two-time UFC lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard has changed plenty about his approach to the fight game and tells HeavyMMA's Duane Finley his evolution has him happy fighting again.

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Event: UFC on FX 4: "Maynard vs. Guida" Date: Friday, June 22, 2012, at 9 p.m. ET on FX Networks Location: Revel Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey Main Event (Five-round, non-title fight): 155 lbs.: Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida Other Scheduled Fights: 185 lbs.: Chris Camozzi vs. Nick Catone 170 lbs.: Rick Story vs. Rich Attonito 170 lbs.: Dan Miller vs. Ricardo Funch 185 lbs.: Nick Catone vs. Chris Camozzi For more on UFC on FX 4: "Maynard vs. Guida" be sure to hit up our event archive right here.

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The UFC is headed back to the boardwalk and it looks like they have a venue now.

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Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin is dropping back to middleweight to face former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le at UFC 148. In addition, UFC lightweight contenders Gray Maynard and Clay Guida will meet in a five-round main event at UFC on FX 3, the UFC announced Sunday. UFC 148 will take place July 7th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. An unnamed UFC on FX event was previously announced to being held in Atlantic City, N.J., but no venue has been named as of this time. Franklin, 37, last fought at UFC 126 in February of last year, losing a decision to former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. The Ohio native was originally scheduled to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 133 in August of 2011, but was forced to withdraw due to a torn labrum. Franklin's return against Le marks his first fight at middleweight since defeating Travis Lutter at UFC 83 in April of 2008. However, the former middleweight champion fought two catchweight bouts of 195 pounds in 2009 against Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. Le, 39, is still looking for his first UFC win in what will be his second fight inside the Octagon. The former Strikeforce champion faced Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139, losing in the third round by TKO due to strikes. Both Maynard, 32, and Guida, 30, enter their fight having most recently suffered losses. Maynard returns to action after losing to now former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in October of 2011. The former Michigan State wrestler also left his longtime camp Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada for Nova Uniao under the direction of Andre Pedernerias. Guida has not fought since losing a number-one contender match to now UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX 1 in November of 2011. The bout between Maynard and Guida will serve as the main event for the UFC on FX and is scheduled for five, five-minute rounds.

Posted in: ufc, fight, champion, middleweight, maynard

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Two of the lightweight division’s top competitors will clash on June 22 in headlining action at UFC on FX 3 in the form of a bout between Clay Guida and Gray Maynard. Both men have beaten a number of respected opponents and will be looking to get back in the title-hunt, as well as avoid a two-fight losing streak, when they meet in Atlantic City this summer. The match-up was confirmed over the weekend by the UFC. Guida is coming off a decision defeat to 155-pound champion Benson Henderson after having won four straight entering the bout. He holds an overall record of 29-12 including impressive performances against Nate Diaz, Takanori Gomi, and Anthony Pettis. The 10-1-1 Maynard, who is one of the best grapplers in the division based on his aggressive approach and top control, will also be out to bounce back from a stumble in his most recent fight. “The Bully” was last seen in October against Frankie Edgar for the belt, being knocked out in the fourth round after nearly finishing Edgar in the opening frame. Among the numerous notable wins on his record are those over Diaz, Edgar, Roger Huerta, and Kenny Florian. Maynard Talks Benefits of Training with Jose Aldo No other fights have been announced for the card. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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Gray Maynard will meet Clay Guida in the main event of the show headed to Atlantic City on June 22 but it will be for UFC on FX 4.

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A lightweight bout between recent title challenger Gray Maynard and regular top contender Clay Guida has been booked for UFC on FX 3 in Atlantic City, N.J.

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I don't know about the rest of the world, but here in Atlanta it feels like summer already. Its going to be 84 degrees today and the outdoor pool at my apartment complex is already open. That probably sounds like heaven to anyone still dealing with cold winter like temperatures since spring doesn't even officially begin until tomorrow. Don't get too jealous though. The pool may be open but its pointless to go outside for more than 5 minutes at a time here right now unless your idea of fun involves being covered in an inch of dusty radioactive yellow colored pollen and doing shots of benedryl. It may feel like summer around here but we aren't ready to Clay Guida style party it up just yet. Thanks to the UFC though we can still daydream about living it up this summer as two fun new fights have been announced to kick off 2012's UFC summer season. UFC announced yesterday that Guida vs Maynard will start off our UFC summer as a five round headliner event on the UFC on FX June 22nd card and we can finish off our Fourth of July weekend festivites with Cung Le vs Rich Franklin at UFC 148 Cruz vs Faber on July 7th. Guida and Maynard haven't been in the Octagon since the fall and both are coming back after losses. Guida off a loss to the new champ Ben Henderson and Maynard off a loss to the former champ Frankie Edgar. During his time off Maynard has left Xtreme Couture and traveled around through various training camps even spending time training with Jose Aldo in Brazil. He might be bringing a whole new Maynard into the mix at his return to the octagon. Le hasn't fought since having his nose moved around on his face a bit by Wanderlei in November and Franklin hasn't fought in over a year. Franklin is coming back after a loss to Forrest Griffin and a shoulder injury that prevented him from fighting Big Nog back in August. We should be in for a fun summer with matchups like this being announced already by the UFC.  [source]

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An interesting match in the UFC’s lightweight division has been signed, as the promotion announced Sunday night that Gray Maynard and Clay Guida would do battle in the main event of UFC on FX 3. The card is scheduled for June 22 from Atlantic City, New Jersey. With both fighters coming off defeats, this five-round war will be a much-needed victory for either “The Bully” or “The Carpenter.” Maynard had his undefeated MMA record come to a screeching halt at the hands of Frankie Edgar, as the then-UFC lightweight champion ended their trilogy with a knockout. Guida’s last bout inside the Octagon also resulted in a loss, as his four-fight win streak was snapped by current-UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson. This division is one of the deepest and most talented in the UFC, so a loss here would mean a trip to the back of the line. The winner, meanwhile, would likely remain in contention for a future title shot with another victory or two. Photo credit: Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog

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Twice Gray Maynard appeared to be just moments away from capturing UFC lightweight gold, and twice Frankie Edgar has rallied from the brink of defeat to deny him.

Posted in: ufc, defeat, frankie edgar, maynard, headline ufc

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced today on its website a pair of bouts to be contested this summer had been reached by verbal agreement. Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin is dropping back to middleweight and returning for injury layoff to face former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le at UFC 148. In addition, UFC lightweight contenders Gray Maynard and Clay Guida will meet in a five round main event at UFC on FX 3. UFC 148 will take place July 7th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC on FX 4 was previously announced to being held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, but no venue has been named as of this time. Franklin, 37, last fought at UFC 126 in February of last year, losing a decision to former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. The Ohio native was originally scheduled to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 133 in August of 2011, but was forced to withdraw due to a torn labrum. Franklin's return against Le marks his first fight at middleweight since defeating Travis Lutter at UFC 83 in April of 2008. However, the former middleweight champion fought two catchweight bouts of 195 pounds in 2009 against Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. Le, 39, is still looking for his first UFC win in what will be his second fight inside the Octagon. The former Strikeforce champion faced Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139, losing in the third round by TKO due to strikes. Both Maynard, 32, and Guida, 32, enter their fight having most recently suffered losses. Maynard returns to action after losing to now former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in October of 2011. The former Michigan State wrestler also left his longtime camp Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada for Nova Uniao under the direction of Andre Pedernerias. Guida has not fought since losing a number-one contender match to now UFC lightweight champion Ben Henderson at UFC on FOX 1 in November of 2011. The bout between Maynard and Guida will serve as the main event for UFC on FX 3 and is scheduled for five, five-minute rounds.

Posted in: ufc, champion, middleweight, maynard, guida

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Posted in: ufc, fx, maynard, thed, fx event

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The UFC announced a lightweight bout between contenders Clay Guida and Gray Maynard will headline UFC on FX 4 on June 22.

Posted in: ufc, contender, maynard, guida, summer

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A highly anticipated lightweight matchup that has long been rumored is finally official, as the UFC announced that Gray Maynard will take on Clay Guida at UFC on FX 3. The matchup will headline the event that takes place on June 22nd in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The matchup will be a five round affair. Maynard (10-1-1-1) has not fought since losing to Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in October 2011. The loss marked the first of his career. “The Bully” put a first round beating on Edgar in the third matchup much like had in the second matchup, but he was unable to secure the belt either time. Guida will be just the second fresh opponent that Maynard has faced in the last two years, as he rematched both Edgar and Nate Diaz during that span. Guida (29-12) will also be making his return to the Octagon after a tough loss, having lost to future champion Benson Henderson at UFC on FOX 1 in November. The bout was a #1 contender matchup. Prior to that loss, the longtime UFC veteran experienced the longest winning streak of his career with four straight wins, which included wins over Anthony Pettis and Takanori Gomi. The 7-time bonus winner, including 5 “Fight of the Night” bonuses, has been very active during his time in the UFC. The 7 month layoff will actually be the longest “The Carpenter” has experienced during his time in the organization. UFC on FX 3 takes place on June 22nd in Atlantic City. The venue has yet to be announced by the UFC. For complete coverage of UFC on FX 3, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com

Posted in: ufc, fx, maynard, guida, matchup

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A pair of intriguing matchups are official for the UFC's June trip to Atlantic City, N.J., as Clay Guida meets Gray Maynard and Rich Franklin faces Cung Le. UFC officials today announced that verbal agreements are in place for the fights, and bout agreements are expected to be finalized shortly. Guida vs. Maynard is the night's main event and will be contested as  a five-round lightweight affair.

Posted in: ufc, vs, clay guida, maynard, guida

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UFC on FX 3 in Atlantic City now has a main event as former lightweight title contender Gray Maynard meets Clay Guida in a five round main event.

Posted in: event, atlantic city, clay guida, title contender, maynard

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It looks like Gray Maynard will make his much-discussed return to the octagon on June 22nd in Atlantic City, and his opponent will be a tough, grinding wrestler like himself. And it will be a five-rounder. Here's what the UFC had to say: Two compelling matchups will get the Summer of 2012 off to a rousing start as the June 22nd UFC on FX event will see a five round lightweight main event battle between Clay Guida and Gray Maynard. Maynard is coming off a loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in the third bout between the two. The loss was the first of Maynard's career, and he has significantly changed up his training since then by going to Brazil and working with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in addition to joining American Kickboxing Academy. Guida is coming off a loss as well, dropping a tough decision to Ben Henderson at UFC on Fox in November. The bout will serve as the main event of the night. SBN coverage of UFC on FX 4

Posted in: ufc, fx, ben henderson, maynard, fiverounder heres

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Lightweight losers (in their most recent matches), Gray Maynard and Clay Guida, will each look to get back in the win column when the pair sling leather at UFC on FX 3 on June 22, 2012, In Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today made the 155-pound announcement via its website, revealing that the showdown will serve as a five-round main event. Maynard, a former two-time number one division contender, spent the entire 2011 mixed martial arts (MMA) fight season attempting to wrest the belt from the resilient clutches of UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar. Despite his best efforts, including two brutal first rounds at UFC 125 and UFC 136, during which he beat "The Answer" from pillar to post, Edgar stormed back to earn a draw and then a come-from-behind technical knockout. "The Bully," who now trains at American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) in San Jose, Calif., will now have to fight his way back toward the top, starting with "The Carpenter." Guida himself was in the 2011 lightweight number one contender "mix," submitting Takanori Gomi and decisioning the last man to hold the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) lightweight belt, Anthony Pettis. In fact, he was riding a four-fight win streak inside the Octagon before Ben Henderson derailed his hairy hopes, taking a unanimous decision in a great back-and-forth battle at UFC on Fox 1 just last month to earn the next shot at Edgar. So close, yet so far away, for both veterans. No other bouts or a potential venue for UFC on FX 3 are known at this time. UFC 53: "Heavy Hitters" in June 2005 was the last time the organization held an event in South Jersey. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for the latest UFC on FX 3 news and notes.

Posted in: ufc, fx, event, atlantic city, maynard

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Posted in: ufc, vs, anthony, maynard, bmilo link

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Some would say Anthony Pettis has been robbed twice. He was "promised" a UFC lightweight title shot when he defeated Ben Henderson for the WEC lightweight title in the last fight World Extreme Cagefighting ever promoted. Unfortunately for him, he watched as Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard went to a draw at UFC 125, and a third bout between the two was necessary. Since then he has rebounded from a loss to Clay Guida by beating Jeremy Stephens, and he followed that up with a spectacular head-kick knockout of Joe Lauzon at UFC 144. When Dana White was asked after UFC 144 if Pettis would get his title shot, his answer was short, but typically vague: "Probably. But we'll see what happens." "We'll see what happens" turned out to be a Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson rematch. I won't argue the merits of that decision here, though I do believe that the majority of fans aren't interested in seeing that again. This post is about what the UFC should do with Showtime now that he has been shut out of the title picture once again. To me, there's only one option - Gray Maynard. And here's why. 1. Pettis needs a signature win in the UFC. Wins over Jeremy Stephens and Joe Lauzon are good, but not good enough to give him the cred he needs to fight for a title. Sure, he holds a win over the champion, and did it in style. But like it or not, it was in another organization that only a fraction of UFC fans watched. Henderson earned his shot with three UFC wins, two over top-ten fighters. If Pettis beats Maynard, there's no denying him the shot. 2. Maynard deserves a top opponent for his comeback fight. Other than Clay Guida, there is no one else worthy of a fight with Gray. Maynard is still one of the best lightweights in the world, and has taken his training to another level since the Edgar loss. He has worked with Jose Aldo in Brazil, spent time at American Kickboxing Academy, and has taken a page out of B.J. Penn's book by working with Marv and Gary Marinovich on his conditioning. Maynard is still right there, and could easily earn another title shot if Henderson retains against Edgar and he can beat Pettis. 3. Showtime's reputation will be greatly enhanced with a win over a wrestler. Yes, he beat Ben Henderson in the WEC. But he was completely grounded by Clay Guida in his UFC debut, and UFC fans have short memories. A win over an excellent wrestler like Maynard would go a long way towards erasing the belief that Pettis can't hang with wrestlers in the big leagues. 4. It's the most logical fight to make.The only thing that comes close is Guida/Maynard, and that leaves Pettis out of the top-tier once again. Guida can fight Joe Lauzon or Gleison Tibau next. Maybe even Melvin Guillard, now that he's left Jackson's. 5. The booking should generate some trash talk. Maynard is known as a guy who is brutally honest when he does interviews, and he took Pettis to town in an interview last year. Pettis undoubtedly feels slighted by the fact that Edgar got a rematch, and has been viewed by some as a tad cocky. I think they'll have a few things to say about each other, which will help sell the bout. The winner of Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller at UFC on Fox 3 will likely meet the winner of Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson 2. That's fine. But there's nothing wrong with booking this fight as well. It wouldn't happen until the summer, and the bout can be promoted as a number one contender's bout if things play out the right way. It's the best way to go. Joe Silva - let's do this.

Posted in: ufc, title, petti, henderson, maynard

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For the first time in his reign as the UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar enters a fight as the favorite, albeit a slight one against challenger Ben Henderson at UFC 144. That's not a fact that matters to Edgar, who wasn't even aware of it until being informed about it last week, but it at least shows he's come a long way in terms of public perception.After getting past B.J. Penn twice and making a comeback for the ages against Gray Maynard, Edgar has nothing to prove as far as his toughness or ability to overcome adversity. So this fight can settle back into a more standard match: a champion attempting to fight off a No. 1 contender.In Henderson, he faces an opponent that took his game to a new level after his loss to Anthony Pettis. That defeat predated his move to the UFC, and like many of the WEC lightweights that made the shift over, Henderson found a way to adjust to his new home and the impressive talent that came with it. The biggest change? As Henderson (15-2) told MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes recently, he decided to ramp up his aggression level, to ensure there's "no doubt in anyone's mind after they watch one of my fights as to who won the fight."That will come as a difficult challenge against Edgar (14-1-1), a blur of constant motion who never stands in one place, is willing to contest the fight anywhere, and is a master of scrambles. The last of those qualities is among his most underrated strengths. Remember, against Maynard, it was out of a scramble when Edgar landed the uppercut that rocked him and led to the finish.But in some parts of his game, Henderson is a carbon copy of Edgar. He has an endless gas tank, scrambles well and is equally balanced on his feet and the ground, with his standup showing strong refinement over the last few bouts. Henderson also brings with him a wrestling pedigree that makes him a takedown threat, and has eight of his career wins by submission. One somewhat ignored advantage Henderson has going for him? He is the first southpaw Edgar has fought since he defeated Spencer Fisher over four years ago. That different look can be difficult to face after a steady diet of orthodox fighters. Edgar could potentially combat that by going southpaw himself, as he did multiple times in his most recent fight against Maynard. But more logically, he will go with his customary stance. While Edgar is considered by most experts to be the better striker of the championship pairing, according to FightMetric, Henderson lands at a higher rate, 45 percent to 41 percent. It is likely though, that Henderson's number is a bit inflated by the inordinate amount of ground strikes he lands from the top, a high-percentage position.That offense is fueled by his takedowns. While Henderson only takes down his opponent on 48 percent of his opportunities, he's capable of dominating the position once he moves the fight to the mat. He's also quite relentless and doesn't get frustrated by failure. Because of that, he averages 4.1 takedowns per 15 minutes. (By comparison, Edgar averages 2.9.) That tenacity will be key for Henderson. As Maynard learned after going 3-for-19 in takedowns against him during their two title fights, Edgar is a complex problem to solve.Prior to this fight, Henderson noted that he would work to put on a few pounds and maximize his size advantage on Edgar, perhaps a sign that he's hoping to use his strength to weigh on the champ. Even if he doesn't take Edgar down, Henderson does good work against the fence with dirty boxing and elbows. That's an area of concern for Edgar, although his lateral movement and takedown defense (62 percent) usually keeps him out of those situations.One surprising stat when it comes to Henderson-Edgar is the fact that despite a three-inch size advantage, Henderson actually has a two-inch disadvantage in reach. Edgar's extended reach is an underrated element of his success, as he often dances in and out of range, and his opponent misses him after miscalculating the distance between them.There is no obvious style advantage for either man. Both are strong wrestlers. Both have good standup, are quick and work hard to capitalize in scramble situations. So in determining a winner, you have to figure out what the biggest difference between the two is. In most of his fights, Edgar is the one creating the angles and the one more likely to land standing strikes. His quickness allows him to score at a more consistent clip. He also might have a slight edge in power, and seems to have that unexplainable X-factor that allows him to steal wins. After beating Penn twice and finishing Maynard, how do you bet against him now? Edgar by unanimous decision.

Posted in: fight, takedown, henderson, edgar, maynard

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It's amazing how much one fighter can affect a weight class. In the case of the 155-pounders under the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) banner, the fighter in question is Frankie Edgar. Almost two years prior and halfway across the globe from the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion's homebase of Las Vegas, Nevada, Edgar battled against B.J. Penn -- a man who many thought would be buried with the title being contended -- for 25 minutes. In the dry Abu Dhabi heat, the New Jersey native outboxed and outworked "The Prodigy" and won a controversial decision at the end of the night. Four months later, "Iron" earned a more one-sided and decidedly less questionable nod from the judges. If there was any doubt left in the Middle Eastern desert about his superiority over "The Prodigy," Edgar erased it in Boston. The Lightweight division was blown wide open. "Iron" had removed Penn as the constant in the 155-pound equation and any number of fighters -- all thought to have no chance at beating the Hawaiian and becoming champion -- suddenly became title contenders. One such fighter was Gray Maynard. "The Bully" held the distinction of being the only man to best Edgar and on the night the New Jersey native solidified his place as lightweight champion, Maynard punched his ticket as number one contender after defeating Kenny Florian. Their bout at UFC 125 was the first "Fight of the Year" contender for 2011. Less than 24 hours into the New Year, the two lightweights battled it our for five rounds and placed the bout of the shortlist for when MMA media outlets began tabulating year-end awards. Edgar survived the first five minutes -- an utter shellacking -- but the 10-8 scorecard on all three judges' scorecards factored into a split draw after 25 minutes. A third fight was needed. Before "Iron" steps inside the Octagon to take on former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) champion Ben Henderson at UFC 144 later tonight (Feb. 25, 2012) in Japan, we take a look at Edgar's third bout with Maynard. It was a fight where the New Jersey champion put to rest yet another series of doubters. Many thought he couldn't defeat Penn. He did. And maybe thought he couldn't best Maynard. He did that, too. The fight starts off like their first and second. The faster Edgar jabbing away and circling around while the more heavy handed Maynard stalks him. Two minutes in, "The Bully's" gameplan pays off as a vicious uppercut connects and knocks more than a few screws loose from Edgar's skull. The champion staggers around the Octagon, trying to compose himself. He lands a stiff jab that stops the challenger in his tracks but Maynard continues pressing forward, undaunted by Edgar's offense. A perfectly placed cross from the Xtreme Couture fighter catches the champion on the jaw and suddenly it seems like a replay of their UFC 125 bout. Edgar is stumbling around, legs seemingly unstable underneath him while Maynard throws everything but the proverbial kitchen sink at "Iron." Punches and knees from the challenger find their mark and Edgar does everything he can to survive. The uppercut continues to find its mark and by the end of the round, Edgar's face is a bloody mess. It looks like Dana White will be wrapping championship gold around a new man in Houston. Perhaps not wanting to expel any unneeded energy, Maynard takes his foot off the gas going into the second round. He realizes -- thanks to his previous bout with Edgar -- that championship bouts are often a marathon, not a sprint. While it allows "The Bully" to preserve his conditioning, "Iron" also finds himself regaining his composure from the first round beating he just received. The champion begins to find his rhythm. He sticks and moves likes he did against Penn. The glassed-over eyes are clear, the buckled knees are now solid. He begins to fight his fight. He continued the performance into the third round but after 15 minutes of action, the champion had to expect he had only evened up with his challenger on the scorecards. By the time the penultimate round begins, Edgar begins to pull even further away from Maynard. Putting together combinations, slipping punches and connecting with stiff punches, "Iron" begins chipping away at the armor surrounding "The Bully." Halfway through the round, a "Frankie" chant erupts among the Houston crowd. While Maynard begins to slow down under the weight of nearly four rounds of action, Edgar doesn't lose a step. In fact, the champion seems to be getting faster. He dives in for a takedown, attempting to wrangle a leg from Maynard but "The Bully" defends perfectly. In the ensuing scramble, Edgar lands a ... well, a Maynard-esque uppercut and the challenger is stunned. A big right hook staggers "The Bully" against the cage. An even bigger right hook drops him to the mat. A handful of almost perfunctory punches on the ground end the fight. Edgar and Maynard shared nearly an hour worth of fighting. After 15 minutes, three men decided "The Bully" had done enough to earn a victory through the rules of a sport. 25 minutes later, three other men decided -- once again through the rules of a sport -- that a winner couldn't be decided. Twenty more minutes passed and sport was out the window. It came down to only Edgar and Maynard. A knockout -- the most basic form of conflict resolution -- was what put the rivalry between the two lightweights to rest. No sport, just two men ... two fighters. And it was "Iron" Frankie Edgar -- the champion with immeasurable heart -- who came out on top.

Posted in: round, champion, minute, edgar, maynard

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For the first time in his reign as the UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar enters a fight as the favorite, albeit a slight one against challenger Ben Henderson at UFC 144. That's not a fact that matters to Edgar, who wasn't even aware of it until being informed about it last week, but it at least shows he's come a long way in terms of public perception.After getting past B.J. Penn twice and making a comeback for the ages against Gray Maynard, Edgar has nothing to prove as far as his toughness or ability to overcome adversity. So this fight can settle back into a more standard match: a champion attempting to fight off a No. 1 contender.In Henderson, he faces an opponent that took his game to a new level after his loss to Anthony Pettis. That defeat predated his move to the UFC, and like many of the WEC lightweights that made the shift over, Henderson found a way to adjust to his new home and the impressive talent that came with it. The biggest change? As Henderson (15-2) told MMA Fighting's Ben Fowlkes recently, he decided to ramp up his aggression level, to ensure there's "no doubt in anyone's mind after they watch one of my fights as to who won the fight."That will come as a difficult challenge against Edgar (14-1-1), a blur of constant motion who never stands in one place, is willing to contest the fight anywhere, and is a master of scrambles. The last of those qualities is among his most underrated strengths. Remember, against Maynard, it was out of a scramble when Edgar landed the uppercut that rocked him and led to the finish.But in some parts of his game, Henderson is a carbon copy of Edgar. He has an endless gas tank, scrambles well and is equally balanced on his feet and the ground, with his standup showing strong refinement over the last few bouts. Henderson also brings with him a wrestling pedigree that makes him a takedown threat, and has eight of his career wins by submission. One somewhat ignored advantage Henderson has going for him? He is the first southpaw Edgar has fought since he defeated Spencer Fisher over four years ago. That different look can be difficult to face after a steady diet of orthodox fighters. Edgar could potentially combat that by going southpaw himself, as he did multiple times in his most recent fight against Maynard. But more logically, he will go with his customary stance. While Edgar is considered by most experts to be the better striker of the championship pairing, according to FightMetric, Henderson lands at a higher rate, 45 percent to 41 percent. It is likely though, that Henderson's number is a bit inflated by the inordinate amount of ground strikes he lands from the top, a high-percentage position.That offense is fueled by his takedowns. While Henderson only takes down his opponent on 48 percent of his opportunities, he's capable of dominating the position once he moves the fight to the mat. He's also quite relentless and doesn't get frustrated by failure. Because of that, he averages 4.1 takedowns per 15 minutes. (By comparison, Edgar averages 2.9.) That tenacity will be key for Henderson. As Maynard learned after going 3-for-19 in takedowns against him during their two title fights, Edgar is a complex problem to solve.Prior to this fight, Henderson noted that he would work to put on a few pounds and maximize his size advantage on Edgar, perhaps a sign that he's hoping to use his strength to weigh on the champ. Even if he doesn't take Edgar down, Henderson does good work against the fence with dirty boxing and elbows. That's an area of concern for Edgar, although his lateral movement and takedown defense (62 percent) usually keeps him out of those situations.One surprising stat when it comes to Henderson-Edgar is the fact that despite a three-inch size advantage, Henderson actually has a two-inch disadvantage in reach. Edgar's extended reach is an underrated element of his success, as he often dances in and out of range, and his opponent misses him after miscalculating the distance between them.There is no obvious style advantage for either man. Both are strong wrestlers. Both have good standup, are quick and work hard to capitalize in scramble situations. So in determining a winner, you have to figure out what the biggest difference between the two is. In most of his fights, Edgar is the one creating the angles and the one more likely to land standing strikes. His quickness allows him to score at a more consistent clip. He also might have a slight edge in power, and seems to have that unexplainable X-factor that allows him to steal wins. After beating Penn twice and finishing Maynard, how do you bet against him now? Edgar by unanimous decision.

Posted in: fight, takedown, henderson, edgar, maynard

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He's too small for Lightweight. He didn't earn his title shot. He should have lost to Maynard. You hear a lot of criticisms of UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at times, and though fans respect his work in the Maynard fights, these criticisms generally boil down to one thing: He's a vulnerable champion, and he's going to lose. At UFC 144, many believe Ben Henderson will be the man to finally prove all of these things to be correct - to do what Maynard could not do and definitively take out Edgar, sending him down to Featherweight. And perhaps he will - it's definitely a close fight. But anyone who sees as Edgar as vulnerable should consider this: If Frankie Edgar defeats Ben Henderson at UFC 144, he will set a new record for most successful defenses of the UFC Lightweight title. Right now Edgar has three defenses - one against B.J. Penn and two against Gray Maynard. A win over Henderson would be his fourth. Some may argue against including the Maynard draw, but Edgar walked in with the belt and walked out with the belt, which is a successful defense in my eyes. He's currently tied with Penn, who also had three defenses. Other champions were Jens Pulver (2 defenses) and Sean Sherk (1). What's strange is that Edgar still is not presented as a dominant champion. I suspect it's the combination of back-to-back rematches in his defenses, plus questions about the judging in both his title win and the Maynard draw. Put these together and you can end up seeing a flawed champion. But the facts tell a different story. They show that Edgar is as dominant a champion as B.J. Penn - who is typically held up as the best UFC Lightweight ever. Not only is Edgar on par with Penn, he is on the verge of becoming the most dominant champion in the history of one of the UFC's most competitive divisions - and he's doing so at a time when there are countless supremely talented challengers out there all fighting to knock him off his pedestal. Despite any perceived vulnerability, no one has yet succeeded in that mission. People have tried, and they have failed, and at UFC 144, Ben Henderson may be added to that list. At that point, Edgar's name will stand alone in the record books. Perhaps then, more will recognize the dominance of Frankie Edgar. SBN coverage of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson

Posted in: ufc, champion, defense, edgar, maynard

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It's fun when dirt gets slung while fighters are switching camps. You really had to twist Josh Koscheck's rubber arm to get him to diss AKA head Javier Mendez, but not all fighters are as forthcoming. It's been months since Gray Maynard left Xtreme Couture, and while his explanation was decent enough, I like how this version as told by others inside the camp is way juicer, gossip wise. "Gray just was not prepared. It was really one of those deals where a coach within his staff just would not pay attention any other coaches. He was getting really upset if any other coach tried to explain to him 'hey, this is how hard I'm going to push Gray in my session. You need to back off in your session so he can recover," said Trigg, a former trainer partner of Maynard's at Xtreme Couture. "[Maynard] wasn't prepared. It's ultimately up to one coach that didn't pay attention."John Gunderson, another former teammate of Maynard's in Sin City, echoed the same sentiment about Maynard being less than prepped for the biggest fight of his life."The last fight Gray wasn't mentally prepared or physically prepared for that fight. I don't think he trained hard enough and he knows that. I think if Gray really put the time in and the work in, Gray could finish him," Gunderson said.Maynard made to decision to extricate himself from the drama well before the Edgar fight took place."We knew six weeks before the fight," Trigg said. "Gray said 'look win, lose or draw, this is my last fight. I'm out of here. I gotta leave Xtreme Couture."Randy Couture, who was away from the gym for much of the early part of 2011, returned to find a big mess and one of his top fighters leaving. Couture cleaned house with coaches Gil Martinez and Ron Frazier moving elsewhere.Martinez, with a boxing background, was Maynard's main coach. Whether it was his fault or not that Maynard underachieved, it's pretty clear that the former Michigan State wrestler was way too boxing-centric in his fights against Edgar. Keep in mind Maynard's version of the story included a back injury that kept him out of the main Couture gym for a large portion of the final month of training - partially because he was too hurt to train and partially because he was paranoid someone at Xtreme Couture would leak his injury to the world. That kinda explains the headspace Maynard was in moving towards the end of his time at Xtreme. The back injury might also explain why Maynard tried to box instead of wrestlef*ck as he normally does.Anyways, you know how it is. People in MMA are like bitches in a beauty salon. Train all day, gossip all night. All day. It's an interesting glimpse into the behind the scenes machinations that must go on all the time behind the curtain during fighter training camps. It ain't always 'Best Training Camp Evar!!!1'

Posted in: fight, fighter, coach, maynard, xtreme

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

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Even before his UFC 136 loss to Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard was talking openly about his intention to leave Xtreme Couture, his long-time training camp. At the time Maynard said it was not because he was frustrated with the coaching he got in Las Vegas, but rather a desire to see other places and learn new things from other coaches. Steve Cofield got some of Maynard's former Xtreme Couture teammates to dish the dirt about the move. Here's Frank Trigg: "Gray just was not prepared. It was really one of those deals where a coach within his staff just would not pay attention any other coaches. He was getting really upset if any other coach tried to explain to him 'hey, this is how hard I'm going to push Gray in my session. You need to back off in your session so he can recover. [Maynard] wasn't prepared. It's ultimately up to one coach that didn't pay attention." John Gunderson opened up too: "The last fight Gray wasn't mentally prepared or physically prepared for that fight. I don't think he trained hard enough and he knows that. I think if Gray really put the time in and the work in, Gray could finish him." Cofield reports that Randy Couture, who'd been away from the camp for much of 2011 cleaned house upon his return. Two coaches, Gil Martinez and Ron Frazier, left the camp. Martinez was Maynard's head trainer going into UFC 136.

Posted in: coach, camp, maynard, maynard wasnt, time maynard

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Floyd Patterson, former heavyweight boxing champion of the world, decreed that to win in boxing all that is required is speed; speed of hands to win exchanges, and speed of foot to dictate when they take place. Frankie Edgar has both of these qualities and as the UFC lightweight division's "Cinderella man" upset BJ Penn twice before having two back and forth matches with the gigantic wrestler, Gray Maynard. Frankie Edgar is always entertaining to watch, but he is never going to be a big draw such as Anderson Silva or his predecessor, BJ Penn were - he is neither a submission finisher or a knockout artist. What is unique about Edgar, however, is his method of taking apart lightweights - exploiting the same lack of striking confidence and experience in the lightweight division that Bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz does in his own weightclass: a lack of ability to deal with lateral movement. Is it possible for Benson Henderson to out-strike Edgar? Of course. Will he actually out-strike Edgar? That remains to be seen, but the opportunities do exist to pick Edgar apart, it is whether Henderson's coaches have noticed this and whether he can focus when he is face to face with Edgar's perpetual motion style. To understand how one might beat Edgar on the feet it is important to note his greatest successes and the times which he has shown weaknesses. In looking at Edgar's fight tape and record, nothing stands out more than his defeat of then number one lightweight in the world, BJ Penn. Penn was touted as a phenomenal boxer with a counter jab that jacked his opponent's head back, slick counter-punches and power which is rarely seen at lightweight. What Edgar exposed in Penn, however, was an inability to deal with lateral movement. Just as Nick Diaz does, Penn often stands in a boxing stance with his front foot turned in to maximize the reach on his dipping counter jab. This does, however mean that circling to the outside of this foot makes it hard for him to set up his punches and exposes the back of his leg for low kicks and his jaw for right hand leads. This circling is Edgar's modus operandi, and against Penn - whose dipping jab and emphasis on head movement is tailor made for inexperienced opponents who are willing to run straight at him, hoping to overwhelm him with combinations - it worked a treat. The fact that he kept having to turn and face Frankie meant that he was often unprepared from Frankie's own charging combinations. Edgar's weakest showings on the feet have been his slow starts against Gray Maynard. Though traditionally not a big finisher (his only notable KO coming over himself), Maynard caught Frankie hard in the opening rounds of both of their title fights. In the first of these two title fights, at UFC 125, Edgar was caught with a slapping left hook, which did not carry a full rotation of Maynard's hips, but caught Edgar so off guard that it was enough to send him stumbling backward and almost cost him his hard earned UFC title. In watching this knockdown, Frankie is circling away from Maynard's left hand, then pauses as if he is ready to circle back the other way, in traditional Edgar fashion - unfortunately his right hand is down by his chest when he intends to change direction so he meets the full force of the left hook while leaning into it. Edgar's habit of dropping his hands as he circles is a bad one, and while Penn was inadequate at chasing him, instead trying to bait him in, Maynard's aggressive pressure in the first rounds of both of their fights put him in position to punch into the space into which Edgar was moving. Circling into the left hook without adequate protection has produced some fantastic knockouts in the past, despite the hook lacking power it is hard to see coming and much of the force is provided by the opponent's movement into it. Here is Mitsuhiro Ishida, whose chin is fairly solid, circling into a short left hand of Hirota (the arm which Aoki went on to savagely break). Notice how Ishida is almost immediately out cold, and that the hole through which Hirota's punch entered was not especially large - Ishida could still be seen to have his hands up, but still lacked protection. Edgar showed the heart which has come to be recognized as his trademark in gritting his teeth and fighting to the draw in his first title fight with Maynard. He also showed a brilliant ability to change strategy on the fly - while he did not change his hand positioning in circling to the left, he pretty much abandoned circling into Maynard's left hook and instead dashed straight in, throwing combinations, before ducking out to Maynard's right side. As Maynard fights squared up, putting power in his left hook most of the time, his right hand lacks the power of his left as well as the room to loop in from the side, making exit to Maynard's right side a much safer option. That is not to say that Edgar could avoid the circling which had been hardwired into him from training, or that Maynard didn't catch him with good right hands once he realized Edgar had simply changed direction. Frankie's habit of dropping his outside hand on the side to which he is circling is very dangerous for someone who is fighting much bigger, heavier men. In their second title match Maynard was less able to take advantage of the left hook, but he did find massive success in another hole Edgar's new game exposed. Edgar, not wanting to take the punishment of the first fight, was no longer circling into Maynard's left hook, but firing combinations, ducking and circling into Maynard's right hand. Maynard's coaches had picked up on this from the latter half of their first title meeting and Maynard was stood more side on, waiting to throw a powerful right uppercut rather than his typical left hook. It met with Frankie's chin several times, and once again Edgar was forced to change up his style. Reverting to more wrestling, clinch boxing and even switching to southpaw, Edgar never looked truly comfortable on the feet in his title fights with Maynard as he did with Penn. In fact it was out of a sprawl which Edgar caught Maynard his own uppercut to rock Maynard before finishing him against the cage, rather than in a pure stand up domain. Of course these are only ways to exploit Edgar's circling, and Maynard got hit plenty of times while attempting to herd Edgar into his punching power. A factor which has been overlooked by many of Edgar's opponents is why he is able to circle so freely - something which also applies to UFC Bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz. In high level kickboxing and Muay Thai you will never see men circling as freely as Edgar and Cruz because they eat low kicks - something which neither of Edgar's recent opponents have brought to the table. In order to stop Edgar circling, it is important to kick his lead leg, particularly when he is circling to his right - which would make his lead leg the trailing leg and allow a sizable amount of damage to be done to the inner thigh as well as to slow him down. The objective of kicking Edgar's lead leg need not even be to hurt him, in order to shin check low kicks he will need to stop moving to lift his leg , and that is the time to barrel in and take him on in head to head exchanges where his lack of size and power will work to his detriment, rather than in the open where they simply make him a smaller, faster target. Even BJ Penn, who has reportedly never formally trained kicking in his camps, found remarkable success stifling Edgar when he attempted some kicks in the later rounds of their second fight. Being BJ Penn however, he was reluctant to acknowledge any success that he had which wasn't boxing related and so it was pursued no further. Benson Henderson, however, has decent kicks, and perhaps the defensive wrestling to stave off Edgar's trademark running knee tap takedown should he get his leg caught. Whether anyone will take advantage of these holes in Edgar's much vaunted footwork remains to be seen. It is unlikely that he will be matched with Maynard yet again, who seemed to be making decent progress in sussing out the champion, so it is up to the rest of the lightweight field to learn from Maynard's successes. Edgar and Cruz are not excellent strikers in terms of technical proficiency, but have found a gaping chasm in the understanding of striking in mixed martial arts circles and are able to move around their opponents on the feet in a manner which no experienced boxer or kickboxer would allow. It is ultimately Edgar's choice to stand most times, having the wrestling to take down even notable grapplers such as Maynard, Penn and Franca, and if he is being out-struck he has the good sense to adapt and avoid the tactics which are getting him hurt. What will be intriguing about this match is that Edgar has fought the same two opponents for the past two years, with his better performances always being in the rematches, it should be interesting to see what Edgar can do against Henderson with no previous experience against him. Jack Slack breaks down striking strategy and technique at his website www.fightsgoneby.com He can also be found on Twitter @JackSlackMMA

Posted in: penn, hand, edgar, maynard, frankie

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One storyline receiving a good deal of attention during the build to this past weekend’s headlining bout at UFC 142 between featherweight champ Jose Aldo and top contender Chad Mendes had to do with the presence of highly-touted 155er Gray Maynard in the Brazilian’s camp. The two talented competitors met backstage at UFC 136, a card featuring respective bouts from both, and quickly established a friendship ultimately resulting in Maynard’s decision to help train Aldo for his title-defense. With Aldo’s impressive takedown defense against decorated wrestler Mendes there’s little doubt Maynard impacted Aldo’s preparation in a positive way. However, when asked about the 21-1 champion’s performance, Maynard made sure to give full credit to the dynamic 25-year old. “I flew out here because who he is, because he’s a humble guy, a nice guy and I helped him on a couple small things and he did it,” said Maynard in a backstage conversation with TATAME. “It was a quick fight, obviously. He did perfect…he did awesome. I was happy. He was prepared.” Aldo Talks About the Bonuses of Having Maynard on Board The 10-1-1 Maynard is not currently linked to any future match-ups though it’s probably he’ll fight again in the next few months. He was last seen taking on lightweight king Frankie Edgar this past October where he nearly ended up winning the divisional belt only to suffer a knockout loss in the final few minutes of the fight’s fourth round. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, knockout loss, maynard, aldo

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Everybody has a weakness. My weakness is ice cream. Bauzen’s weakness is breakfast burritos, Jose Aldo’s weakness is wrestling. We all have to hope there is help out there, and while there is no help for Bauzen or myself, Jose Aldo can call on former NCAA Div. I wrestler and the only man to have ever beaten Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard. If only Gray Maynard would come to my house and punch me in the face every time I tried to eat ice cream. Negative reinforcement like that is hard to come by. Gray had recently gone on record to state that he didn’t think Chad Mendes was ready to face Jose Aldo which was of course taken as a slight by the featherweight contender. Gray isn’t one to mince his words however and he clarified things by making the following statement on MMAJunkie: “I like Chad; I met him a couple of times, but I like Jose, how he trains, where he's from – his whole story. So I thought it was an opportunity I could help... I'm just trying to learn a lot and evolve and create a new me.” I’m sure you will all sleep easier tonight knowing that Gray didn’t intend to disrespect Chad Mendes. The real story here for me is not only that Jose Aldo has brought in Maynard as a sparring partner but also that Gray is training with one of the baddest Muay Thai stylists in MMA just now then heading over to Holland to train with Andy Souwer. This new Gray Maynard is going to be a very scary individual. [Source]

Posted in: ’t, jose, jose aldo, maynard, chad

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Filed under: UFC, NewsThis is how easy these things start in the fight business. These minor beefs. These subtle slights that fighters carry with them like childhood insults that are still fresh in their minds decades later. Once I started talking to the various parties involved in the UFC 142 main event for a Sports Illustrated article this week, I heard about it from all of them. Once they start, these things take on a life of their own. How this story starts is, Gray Maynard gets to know Jose Aldo at UFC 136 and they get to talking. Maynard likes him. More than he expected to, really, since it turns out "he's actually a really humble guy." Since Maynard has already left his longtime home at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas by this point, he figures maybe it's time to do some traveling, learn some new stuff. Spending the winter in Brazil (where it's summer) working out with Aldo and the Nova Unaio team sounds fun, right? "So I contacted [Aldo's manager] Ed Soares, just kind of threw it out there," Maynard said. "I didn't know if they'd take me up on it, but a couple days later [Soares] called me back and said he'd love to have me down there. A couple days later I was on a flight, basically put everything on hold and flew down there." So far, so good. But as long as he was going to be helping Aldo prepare for fellow wrestler Chad Mendes, Maynard figured he might as well take a look at some fight footage of Mendes on his long flight to South America. Here's where it gets tricky. "The first time I trained with Jose, I told the guy, 'Hey, on the flight down here the tapes I watched [on Mendes], you seem a little more comfortable in the Octagon. I don't know if he's quite ready,'" Maynard said. "It's not a knock on him. He's the top guy to [challenge for the title]. It's just that Jose's on top of his game." More Coverage: UFC 142 Fight Card | UFC 142 Results It was a sincere opinion, Maynard said, so when people asked him what he thought of the upcoming fight, that's what he told them: Mendes isn't ready. Not surprisingly, this didn't please Mendes when he heard it. "Honestly, I don't know why Gray's even talking about me," he said. "Gray's never trained with me. He has no idea what I feel like in there. Obviously, he's training with Jose, so if he gets asked that question I guess that's what he thinks he's got to say, but honestly, Gray's style of wrestling is completely different from mine. I'm more of an explosive, blast you off your feet kind of wrestler. He's more like a bully that just gets you up against the cage and works takedowns and slams from there." Mendes' training partner and mentor, Urijah Faber, was even more direct. "Since when are the two best guys in the weight class not ready to fight each other? That's an absurd thing to say. But whatever. Who cares what [Maynard] thinks? Chad's going to go in there and fight and win." But now that Maynard's taken some heat from the Team Alpha Male crew for his comments, he's not at all ready to back away from them. If anything, he's only more committed to his original assessment, he said, because now he knows just how good Aldo is. "From watching the tapes, that's how I felt, that [Mendes] wasn't ready. But actually training with Jose, I feel it even more now," Maynard said. "For me, helping out Jose doesn't mean I want Chad to lose or I came here to make that happen. It's just a matter of helping out Jose, and now that I've been here, that's what I think is going to happen. I only know Chad a little bit, and I think he's a tough kid, but Jose is really tough. I couldn't believe it. I was seriously impressed. ...I knew he could strike. I knew that. What I didn't know is, man, he's tough to take down. And the kind of athlete he is, the way he applies that, it's amazing. He can take a punch, too." But as fight night approaches, these outside opinions tend to diminish in importance. Soon enough it'll be just Mendes and Aldo in the cage, and then it won't matter what anyone else says. When it gets to that point, however, Mendes has something that Aldo doesn't, which is the benefit of a former opponent's experience. Faber went five brutal rounds with Aldo, and learned some hard lessons that he's passed on to his protege, he said. For instance, there's the issue of Aldo's leg kicks. "The one thing I didn't take into account was, I knew the leg kicks were going to hurt, but I didn't know how disarming they would be," Faber said. "As far as leg kicks in practice, when your legs gets kicked a couple times and it starts to hurt, you don't keep wanting to get kicked in it all day. You heal it up and put ice on it so you can train the next day. But in a fight like that, you have to know that kicks like that will do damage and you have to honor that. You can't just tell yourself that you're going to take the pain and do what you want to do. You have to avoid them and make him pay when he tries it." Aldo shredded Faber's thighs with kicks early on, effectively taking away Faber's ability to shoot for a takedown in the later rounds. He took criticism for it after the fight, but even Mendes can't say it was unwarranted. "That's something even Urijah talked about," he said. "He doesn't have that explosive shot the way I do. A lot of his takedowns come off of punches, using that snap single-leg or something. Aldo took that away from him with those leg kicks, and by that point it was too late." And that -- the fact that not all wrestlers and/or wrestling styles are created equal -- is why Mendes doesn't worry about Maynard's assessment of him or Maynard's training with Aldo, he said. There are wrestlers and then there are wrestlers, and just because you've seen one in the gym doesn't mean you know what it's like to fight another in the cage on Saturday night. "We don't know how much [Maynard's work with Aldo] is going to help him, but we'll get in there and see," Mendes said. "It doesn't matter to me. I've been wrestling since I was five years old, and I've never taken a year off. It's something I've done my whole life. For him to bring a wrestler in to work with for one camp, his wrestling's not going to be anywhere near mine." With Mendes' predictions, just as with Maynard's and Faber's, we'll know soon enough who had it right. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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RIO DE JANEIRO - Understandably, Chad Mendes was irritated by the suggestion that he isn't ready to fight UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo. But the owner of that suggestion, Gray Maynard, said he isn't out to get the featherweight challenger. "It's not like I'm flying over here because I want Chad to lose and there's a grudge and I want him to lose," he told MMAjunkie.com. "Not at all."

Posted in: maynard, chad mendes, chad, isnt, featherweight challenger

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UFC lightweight Gray Maynard helped dominant champion Jose Aldo prepare for his latest title defense, along with enjoy some sun and fun in Brazil. Maynard reportedly spent more than three weeks at Aldo’s camp, helping the UFC featherweight champion train for his fight against Chad Mendes. Maynard called Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas his home, but has trained at a number of gyms, including American Kickboxing Academy and Nova Uniao. Here is what Maynard had to say about Aldo’s overall skillset: “I knew he was good, but I had no idea he was as good as he is in every area. Really unbelievable, especially his takedown defense. That goes for all of Nova Uniao [Aldo's home gym] also. He’s really one of the most, if not the most complete fighter I’ve ever worked with.” Aldo has remained undefeated in the WEC/UFC, and has quickly climbed the pound-for-pound rankings — a dominant win against Mendes will only help him gain more fans. Mendes is a tough guy and skilled fighter, but I just don’t think he’s ready for someone like Aldo.

Posted in: title defense, maynard, aldo, mende, nova uniao

Read the full article at MMA Opinion

If Gray Maynard, who knows a thing or two about wrestling, is to be believed, then Chad Mendes doesn’t stand much of a chance against Jose Aldo this weekend at UFC 142. Maynard has been training with Jose Aldo down in Brazil for UFC 142, and says Aldo’s takedown defense is “unbelievable.” “I knew he was good, but I had no idea he was as good as he is in every area. Really unbelievable, especially his takedown defense. That goes for all of Nova Uniao [Aldo's home gym] also. “He’s really one of the most, if not the most complete fighter I’ve ever worked with.” “I think Mendes is a tough kid, but I think its too early for him to fight Jose Aldo.” If Aldo was going to bring someone in to help him prep for Mendes’ wrestling, there probably isn’t anyone better his size than Gray Maynard. The big question is: Will training with Maynard give Aldo the competitive advantage he needs to shut down Mendes’ explosive wrestling and force him into a striking match? If so, it’s definitely going to be Aldo’s fight to lose. Image via Jeff Sherwood for Sherdog

Posted in: jose, jose aldo, maynard, aldo, mende

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Top featherweight contender Chad Mendes, a wrestler by trade, has openly spoken about putting champion Jose Aldo on his back at will when the two face off this weekend at UFC 142. However, one of the weapons Aldo expects to use in their headlining bout is an improved ability to fend off takedown attempts, a skill he honed in part due to the recent presence of 155-pound grappling-machine Gray Maynard at Nova Uniao. Fortunately for fans, UFC cameras were on hand to document some of the process and get s\comments from both men relating to their newfound relationship as both training partners and friends. Mendes Ready to “Blast” Aldo with a Takedown Attempt “I met Gray when I was going to fight Kenny (Florian), he was the main event against Frankie (Edgar),” said Aldo when asked about his initial run-in with “The Bully”. “We were always joking around with each other. From there we started a friendship. I told it would be great if could come train with us. Good for him and good for us. It’s great to have such a talented guy come over. And thank God, now was a good time for him to come over.” “I hope this partnership will last and that he will come train for his fights here,” Aldo concluded. The 10-1-1 Maynard echoed Aldo’s sentiments in terms of how enjoyable the process has been, explaining, “It’s been eye-opening about how they train and it’s been eye-opening about how I train, my techniques. It’s just been an awesome time so far.” The world will find out how helpful the training has been come showtime on Saturday night. However, regardless of outcome, it sounds like a both Maynard and Aldo will see each other inside the ring again someone soon, albeit as friends rather than foes. Check out the video below: PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, train, maynard, aldo, i train

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Jacob Volkmann says he won't turn into Gray Maynard and go away from the style that wins him fights and has no plans to back down from political comments, now or ever.

Posted in: maynard, style, anybody, volkmann, jacob

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsBy the time he's done in Brazil, Gray Maynard will have spent a little more than three weeks helping Jose Aldo, the UFC featherweight champion, prepare for his next title defense against Chad Mendes at UFC 142 on Jan. 14. And while it seems like a no-brainer for Aldo to train with Maynard for this fight, considering Maynard is built very much like Mendes, the idea was actually Maynard's, not the champ's. "I've talked to him backstage at the UFC's and [the UFC 136] press conference in Houston," Maynard told MMAFighting.com recently. "[He] really seemed like a humble, nice guy. So, I wanted to reach out to him to help." Maynard has trained with some of the best fighters in the world at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, and more recently at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, Calif., but he believes Aldo may top them all. "I knew he was good, but I had no idea he was as good as he is in every area. Really unbelievable, especially his takedown defense. That goes for all of Nova Uniao [Aldo's home gym] also. "He's really one of the most, if not the most complete fighter I've ever worked with." Maynard is coming off a UFC lightweight title loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in Houston. The loss marked the first of his career. Since then, he's been a bit of a nomad, training at different gyms across the world. He said he is "still in the process of moving" gyms but did not commit to a new home just yet. He's also still waiting to finalize his next fight, which is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2012. Interestingly enough, Maynard, who was complimentary of Mendes' skills, believes "Money" isn't quite ready to fight someone like Aldo, even though Mendes is getting his first title shot in his 12th pro fight, while Maynard fought for the UFC 155-pound title in just his 11th pro fight. "I think Mendes is a tough kid, but I think its too early for him to fight Jose Aldo." UFC 142, headlined by Aldo vs. Mendes, airs live on pay-per-view from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: ufc, fight, maynard, aldo, mende

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From its very first day, when Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard staged a 25-minute classic for the ages at UFC 125 in Las Vegas, it was clear that 2011 would be a special year for MMA.

Posted in: ufc, las vegas, frankie edgar, maynard, frankie

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Two-time lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard thinks featherweight Chad Mendes isn't ready for a title shot. Mendes, who's four years into pro MMA with 11 fights to his name, strongly disagrees. "Maynard saying that he doesn't think that I'm ready for a title shot - I don't know why Maynard's saying anything about anyone," Mendes said today during a media call in support of UFC 142

Posted in: title, maynard, mende, champ aldo, anyone mendes

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: jose, mattyblayze, maynard, mattyblayze link, pederneira

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UFC lightweight, Gray Maynard, has been spending time training in Brazil at Nova Uniao, and was recently awarded his blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Andre Pederneiras.

Posted in: brazil, training, maynard, nova uniao, brazilian jiujitsu

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UFC 141 victor Diego Nunes caught up with the media following his win in Las Vegas. He talked about his performance, training and hope to work with Gray Maynard.

Posted in: ufc, las vegas, diego, maynard, performance training

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Posted in: ufc, vs, maynard, march, robertoandrad

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Top lightweights Gray Maynard and Clay Guida will look to get back on track when they’re scheduled to meet at UFC 145 on March 24 in Montreal, Canada, UFC President Dana White announced today. Maynard (10-1-1) suffered a fourth-round TKO to Frankie Edgar in October after fighting the UFC lightweight champion to a draw in January, while Guida (29-12) dropped a unanimous decision to fellow contender Ben Henderson at UFC on Fox 1 following four-straight wins. UFC 145 is still in need of a main event, but the UFC 145 fight card also includes Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell, Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs, and Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills. For the latest UFC 145 news and UFC 145 rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com. Pictured: Gray Maynard

Posted in: ufc, vs, clay guida, maynard, guida

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Two of the lightweight division’s finest will collide at UFC 145, as Clay Guida locks horns with former title challenger Gray Maynard at the March 24 event in Montreal.

Posted in: ufc, maynard, division ’s, title challenger, march

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submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]

Posted in: training, mattyblayze, maynard, aldo, mattyblayze link

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What were the best fights of 2011 in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) overall? Yep, it’s the most wonderful time of the year: that time when you sit back on the couch, spike the eggnog and argue with your friends (or frienemies) about the most awesome fights that took place over the past 12 months. Continuing this grand tradition, MMAmania.com will spend this week looking back at a phenomenal year of combat sports action and, in traditional fan fashion, determine which among the wildly diverse candidates was, definitively, the best. Join us after the jump for a look at our candidates for 2011's "Fight of the Year" and cast your vote to determine the winner: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 2, UFC 125 Photo via ESPN.com Despite his commanding win over B.J. Penn back at UFC 118, Frankie Edgar’s prospects looked grim as he stepped into the Octagon to defend his title against the only man to ever defeat him: Gray Maynard. The first five minutes of the rematch proved even more disastrous than anticipated, with "The Answer" catching a hard left hook to the jaw and spending the remainder of the round flitting in and out of consciousness, while "The Bully" threw everything short of the kitchen sink at his head. Miraculously, Edgar roared back in the second round, slamming Maynard hard and kicking off four excellent rounds of back-and-forth action. In the end, the bout was declared a draw, setting the stage for a third go-round later in the year and one of the greatest trilogies in MMA history. Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann, UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann Photo via Yahoo! Sports After his horrendously one-sided massacre against B.J. Penn and subsequent drubbing at the hands of John Hathaway, many had written off Sanchez as yesterday’s news. In his UFC 121 throwdown opposite Paulo Thiago, however, he proved he was far from done, and after shaving his head and rechristening himself "The Dream," looked to re-establish himself as a contender in the talent-laden 170 divsion. Kampmann, fresh off a frustrating split decision loss to Jake Shields, had no intention of being a stepping stone, however, battering Sanchez in the first round of their bout. The fight quickly devolved into a hellacious brawl, both men scrapping their hearts out until a bloodied, unrecognizable Sanchez took the unanimous decision and both men took home a well-deserved bonus. Daniel Straus vs. Nazareno Malegarie, Bellator 37 Photo via Sherdog.com Ever since Toby Imada defied the odds, logic and basic human anatomy to choke out Jorge Masvidal, Bellator Fighting Championships has gotten a reputation for producing some of the most spectacular moments in MMA, often from the last places you’d expect. This lightweight throwdown in March was no different, as undefeated Argentinian Nazareno Malegarie took on American wrestler Daniel Straus, who survived an onslaught of submission attempts to take a unanimous decision after three rounds of highly-competitive action. Nick Diaz vs. Paul Daley, Strikeforce: "Diaz vs. Daley" Photo via MMAconvert.com Neither Diaz nor Daley is known for putting on boring fights, but nobody could have anticipated the insanity that this match up would produce. Both men came out like a house on fire, with Diaz coming the closest to being knocked out he had since his first fight with Jeremy Jackson and Daley resorting to a takedown attempt after being cracked by his smack-talking foe. In the end, the body attack of Diaz was too much for Daley, and he laid into the turtling British striker and knocked him out for the first time in his career in the waning seconds of the first round. Quality and quantity all packed into less than five minutes. Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3, UFC 136 Photo via Yahoo! Sports The third and final scrap between Edgar and Maynard had quite a lot to live up to and did so with gusto. A huge Maynard uppercut had Edgar on the ropes in the early going, leaving the champion scrambling for a takedown, but unlike the last time, Frankie kept his wits about him and, as soon as the bell rang for the second round, immediately went to work. "The Bully" found himself unable to replicate his early success, nor could he get Edgar to the ground, and unfortunately for the beleaguered challenger. "The Answer" decided to flip the script even further in the fourth round. The champion rocked Maynard as the latter was getting to his feet, pursued him as he tried to back away into the cage, and finally put his lights out with a hard right hand, capping off an amazing trilogy and putting to rest accusations that he was nothing but a point-fighter. Lightning truly did strike twice. Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler, Bellator 58 Photo via Sherdog.com Many questioned the veracity of Bellator’s marketing of Alvarez as the number one lightweight in the world, but one would be hard-pressed to deny that he had a knack for producing some of the most spectacular fights in the sport. His brawls with Joachim Hansen and Tatsuya Kawajiri are the stuff of legend, and his fight with Chandler proved no different. The notoriously knockdown-prone Alvarez was rocked in the early going by the latest tournament winner and, for a brief time, it looked as if even his notorious resilience would finally fail him. In the third round, however, he fired back, forcing Chandler against the cage and brutalizing him with hard punching combinations. Unfortunately for the long-reigning champion, Chandler would not be denied, and crumpled Alvarez with punches before taking his back and securing the rear-naked choke, pulling off a huge upset and providing a Hollywood ending to a fantastic bout. Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua, UFC 139 Photo via UFC.com Later that same night (Nov. 19, 2011) as the Alvarez-Chandler barn burner, Pride FC veterans Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua, not to be outdone, put on one hell of a show in their five-round throwdown. For the first three rounds, it seemed like Rua was simply unable to handle the colossal power of the reigning Strikeforce champion, as he found himself crumpled on multiple occasions by Henderson’s legendary right hand and was very nearly stopped in the third round. Once they went into the championship rounds, however, "Shogun" proved to have the heart of a champion, taking advantage of Henderson’s emptying gas tank to put him on his back and lay down the hurt from mount, although he found himself just too exhausted to put Hendo away. In the end, Henderson walked away with a unanimous decision, and both men proved themselves the toughest sons of guns this side of the Mississippi. Diego Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez, The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale Photo via MMA Weekly From his Henderson-esque pasting of Jesse Newell in the elimination rounds to his nigh-instantaneous knockout of Steven Siler on the show proper, Greg Jackson product Diego Brandao proved himself one of the most exciting TUF products in recent memory, combining huge power with a near-psychopathic drive to obliterate everything in his path. Dennis Bermudez, who had upset the highly-touted Jimmie Rivera to get into the house, had no intention of becoming another piece of Brandao’s highlight reel, and after surviving a knockdown and suplex, flattened the overzealous Brazilian with a right hand counter and pounced. In an astounding show of heart, Brandao weathered the onslaught and rolled directly into a bone-crushing armbar, ending one of the best rounds of MMA this year with a bang. That's a wrap from 2011. So, Maniacs, what was your favorite slobberknocker of the year? What did we miss? Make sure to cast your vote and then argue the reason(s) behind it belligerently in the comments section below. Remember, too, to join us tomorrow as we look for 2011's "Best Knockout." Poll What was the 2011 "Fight of the Year?" Edgar vs. Maynard II Sanchez vs. Kampmann Straus vs. Malegarie Diaz vs. Daley Edgar vs. Maynard III Alvarez vs. Chandler Henderson vs. Rua Brandao vs. Bermudez Other   86 votes | Results

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"Hopefully he holds on to the belt, because there’s got to be a part four, I think, to make it a true trilogy. Now he has one and I do two, so that’s a draw. So, we gotta do it again. Hopefully, he holds on the belt and I can work back up there." MMA math? Former UFC lightweight number one contender Gray Maynard tells Tatame.com he wants to face reigning division champion Frankie Edgar for a fourth time because in three fights, they are both 1-1-1. "The Bully" was stopped by "The Answer" at UFC 136 back on Oct. 8 and will now have to work his way back into contention while Edgar defends his title against Ben Henderson at UFC 144 in Japan. So who do you, as a fight fan, want to see Maynard challenge next? And would you be opposed to another fight against Edgar? What say you?

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For some reason people tend to think in terms of trilogies when it comes to a series of events. The same is true in Mixed Martial Arts where three-fight series are fairly common if need for a “rubber match” comes into play after the competitors’  first two encounters. However, as far as UFC lightweight Gray Maynard is concerned, he’s looking to meet Frankie Edgar for a fourth time to truly break their 1-1-1 tie, and, after the quality involved in their highly competitive 2011 offerings, it’s not hard to understand why. As such, Maynard is hoping Edgar retains his title this February when he faces Ben Henderson in the main event at UFC 144 and even beyond if necessary in order to set up a fitting finale to their fantastic run of rumbles. “Hopefully he holds on to the belt, because there’s got to be a part four, I think, to make it a true ‘trilogy’. Now he has one and I do too, so that’s a draw. So, we gotta do it again,” said Maynard in a conversation with Tatame. “Hopefully, he holds on the belt and I can work back up there.” As far as what might be next up for the 32-year old Ultimate Fighter alumnus, Maynard was unsure with many of the division’s top names already booked for upcoming fights. “Well, that’s a lot of stuff up in the air. I know Melvin Guillard got (put) up against Jim Miller. I know Donald Cerrone is going to go up against Nate Diaz, so there’s a lot of interesting stuff that you kinda have to wait to see what happens.” Maynard Confident He Can Beat Any Opponent Maynard holds an overall record of 10-1-1 with the only flaws involving Edgar (as well as one of the victories). In addition to Edgar, “The Bully” also holds past wins over top 155ers like Miller, Diaz, Dennis Siver, Roger Huerta, and Kenny Florian. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, ben henderson, edgar, frankie edgar, maynard

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If you invite them, they will come ... maybe. UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo is preparing to defend his title against one of the best wrestlers in the division, former All American college wrestler, Chad Mendes. Mendes, the former WEC standout, is undefeated in his young mixed martial arts career and relies heavily on his wrestling background. So much so, that he has won six out of his last seven fights via unanimous decision. "Money," who naturally uses his wrestling skills to dictate the pace of the fight, will definitely pose problems for Aldo when it comes to the grappling department. How does Aldo plan on preparing for such a dangerous wrestler? By training with another wrestling guru, of course; specifically, former lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard. Maynard, who was co-captain of the Michigan State University team during his college days and a 2004 U.S. Olympic Wrestling team hopeful, has also relied on his wrestling pedigree to get the job done throughout his career and has the credentials to be of great assistance to Aldo's ever expanding game. Speaking to Sherdog.com, "Scarface" says he hopes to bring Maynard in to help prepare him for his fifth title defense against Mendes, which headlines UFC 142 in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, on Jan. 14, 2012. "We have a big interest in bringing Maynard to train with me. He has such strong wrestling and we want people that (have) the same game Chad Mendes does. Mendes is a competitive and hard guy to fight. Me and Maynard have been in touch since UFC 136, and he also said it's his will to train with us at Nova Uniao, but nothing is confirmed thus far, especially because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm waiting for the answer." Maynard, who was last seen at UFC 136 on October 8, 2011, being knocked out at the hands of UFC lightweight champion and arch nemesis Frankie Edgar in the final chapter of their trilogy, recently parted ways with long time camp Xtreme Couture out of Las Vegas, Nevada. After suffering the first loss of his mixed martial arts career, Maynard seeks newer pastures to broaden his horizens in order to climb the ranks of the UFC lightweight division once again. Though Maynard has not settled on a new gym he can call home, he has stated that he wouldn't be opposed to traveling to as many gyms in order to train with as many new partners as possible in hopes of increasing his MMA knowledge. A few training sessions with one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world would definitely benefit Maynard as much as it would Aldo. But is bringing in "The Bully" enough to help "Scarface" neutralize the wrestling skills of Chad Mendes? Or will "Money" prove that he has what it takes to dethrone the UFC featherweight champion regardless of who he trains with? Opinions, please.

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Gray Maynard came up short in his second shot at the UFC lightweight title At UFC 136 when Frankie Edgar once again rose from the ashed and scored a comeback victory. But it had been decided long before the bout that he would be leaving Xtreme Couture no matter the outcome. His (former) boxing coach Gil Martinez expressed his disappointment with Maynard supposedly leaving for good, and today Maynard confirmed it himself in an interview with Heavy. He also discussed the possibility of joining another major gym, American Kickboxing Academy. On getting out of Las Vegas: "Leaving Xtreme Couture is something that has been going through my head for awhile," Maynard said. "I know people want to assume the worst, but that isn’t the case. During my camp for Kenny Florian, I started to think about everything that is out there in this sport. A month before my fight with Edgar in Houston, I made my decision. "I informed the gym (Xtreme Couture) that I would not be coming back. I felt it was important because win or lose, I wasn’t going to return for my training. I did things this way because I didn’t want to win the title and have people thinking I won the belt and left for something else. I made sure to tell them long before my fight on October 8th, so there wasn’t any confusion." He discussed the troubles he had with his last camp at XT, and that it had nothing to do with the guys that were there. He just wants to try something new. And that something new could be AKA: "Right now I’m up in Santa Cruz and things are great. There are a few gyms I have been training at. I’ve also spent some time at AKA. They have a great gym, an awesome team and I’m enjoying my time here. At this point my focus is on broadening my horizons and wherever I feel that can be accomplished is where I will go. There is a huge world out there and so many great camps where I can learn so many things. "I just want to get out and train with whoever I can. There are so many other camps and so much I can learn, it became something I needed to do. If that means going down to Brazil and training with Jose Aldo, I’d be excited to go. There are a ton of gyms in Holland and to train with Andy Souwer would be something that interests me. There is so much to learn out there and I want to grow." While Maynard isn't saying it directly, other sources have indicated that there's a strong chance that Maynard will be joining AKA in the near future. Even if that doesn't turn out to be the case, it's obvious that Maynard is looking to improve and that can only be a good thing for him. And a bad thing for the rest of the UFC lightweight division.

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Former number one UFC lightweight contender Gray Maynard has parted ways with his long-time camp and gym in Las Vegas, Nevada, Xtreme Couture. Maynard, who was among the original members who helped former UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture open up the now world famous gym, has been a member of Xtreme Couture since his early days on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). In fact, Xtreme Couture has been Maynard's home base throughout his UFC career, which includes two memorable lightweight title fights against UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 125 and UFC 136, both of which he came up on the short end of the stick. As "The Bully" embarks on a brave new journey, he tells HeavyMMA.com that the move was not on bad terms and he still remains close to his family at Xtreme Couture: "Leaving Xtreme Couture is something that has been going through my head for awhile. I know people want to assume the worst, but that isn't the case. During my camp for Kenny Florian, I started to think about everything that is out there in this sport. A month before my fight with Edgar in Houston, I made my decision. I informed the gym (Xtreme Couture) that I would not be coming back. I felt it was important because win or lose, I wasn't going to return for my training. I did things this way because I didn't want to win the title and have people thinking I won the belt and left for something else. I made sure to tell them long before my fight on October 8th, so there wasn't any confusion. The group of guys I started with at Xtreme Couture -- Martin, Jay, Pyle, John Alessio -- those guys are family to me. That won't change just because I'm not doing my training camps there. It isn't about anything other than it was time to move and me wanting to train anywhere I can. I was at Xtreme Couture for a long time and I never trained anywhere else. I was loyal and no one can question that. Xtreme Couture is a great gym with some of the best coaches. I heard Ray Sefo is the head coach over there now, and he does an awesome job. That will be great for the guys. Gil Martinez is a great coach, but my leaving Xtreme Couture isn't about the quality of coaching or who's there - it's about me wanting to train all over the place and learn everything I possibly can." Maynard goes on to say that privacy in a crowded gym was one of the issues he had to deal with while at Xtreme Couture: "Four weeks away from my fight against Edgar in Houston, I hurt my back, received an epidural and was out for a week and a half. I couldn't go into the gym because there are always so many people coming and going who I don't know. I didn't want anyone to put it out there I was injured. Because of this I had to go to a small gym to train. Without bodies I couldn't really spar heading into the fight, and the final month is the time to turn it up. My training ended up being all over the place and it just wasn't a good situation. I had to be very controlled with whatever training I could do. This is fighting and those things happen. I'm not making any excuses whatsoever. Fighters get hurt and for me it just happened at that time." Maynard also touched on which camp he may end up with in the future. American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), which houses UFC stars such as Cain Velasquez, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch, among others, appears to be on the short list:  "Right now I'm up in Santa Cruz and things are great. There are a few gyms I have been training at. I've also spent some time at AKA. They have a great gym, an awesome team and I'm enjoying my time here. At this point my focus is on broadening my horizons and wherever I feel that can be accomplished is where I will go. There is a huge world out there and so many great camps where I can learn so many things. I just want to get out and train with whoever I can. There are so many other camps and so much I can learn, it became something I needed to do. If that means going down to Brazil and training with Jose Aldo, I'd be excited to go. There are a ton of gyms in Holland and to train with Andy Souwer would be something that interests me. There is so much to learn out there and I want to grow." Maynard (10-1) was last seen in action at UFC 136 on Oct. 8, 2011, suffering the first loss of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career when he was knocked out by Edgar in the fourth round in the third fight of their trilogy. As Maynard looks to climb the stacked UFC lightweight ladder once again, it will be interesting to see whose services he enlists to help him in his quest for UFC gold. Though he is not committed to bunking down with just one camp,  AKA in San Jose, Calif., seems to be the front runner to land one of the top lightweight's in the world. Is the wrestling-minded gym the perfect fit for Maynard -- perhaps the missing piece to his championship puzzle? Or would he be better off in New Mexico or perhaps just north of the United States border? Opinions, please.

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"The Bully" discusses the reasons he decided to leave Xtreme Couture and begin training elsewhere in this exclusive HeavyMMA interview.

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1 - 1 - 1 vs. the Champ He's in a horrible spot now. He won't get a title shot for a long time as long as Edgar's the champion. He's good enough to beat any lightweight in the world, but this can cause problems for the UFC if he starts eliminating all the contenders. My suggestions: *Maynard vs. Melendez * Pretty sure this is not going to happen even though it'll be an amazing matchup. It's kind of a lose/lose situation for the UFC because Melendez vs. Edgar would be a blockbuster PPV. Also Melendez is the kind of champion the UFC really wants. *Maynard vs Bendo if he loses. * Both would be coming off of losses to Edgar. Has the recipe for Match of the year. *Maynard vs. Pettis / Lauzon winner * If they can beat Maynard, it's title shot time. *Maynard vs. BJ Penn * I'm really hoping BJ Penn comes back down to Lightweight. *Maynard vs. Miller / Guillard winner * Miller and Guillard are both coming off of losses. So two straight wins for them should lead them to Edgar. sigh would suck if Maynard becomes the "fitch" of the lightweight division. submitted by DrNgo [link] [4 comments]

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Prior to his Oct. 8 match up against champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136, former lightweight number one contender Gray Maynard was sitting atop the pile of fellow 155-pounders. He was viewed by many to be "neck-and-neck" with Edgar, after their razor thin bout at UFC 125 that ended up as a draw. One punch changed everything. In the fourth round of the historical rubber match between Maynard and Edgar, "The Bully" was clipped by a solid strike to the jawline that sent him plummeting to the mat, unconscious. It was decisive. There was no controversy. Edgar won, fair and square. He will now go on to face his next challenger and continue to defend his belt. Is it back to the drawing board for Maynard? Let's take a look. On that very same UFC 136 card, Melvin Guillard suffered a somewhat shocking defeat at the hands of Joe Lauzon. It was a fight that had fans talking for days. It changed the lightweight division picture. Also featured on the Houston fight lineup, Anthony Pettis showed mixed martial arts (MMA) fans that "Showtime" is not a thing of the past by winning a conclusive decision victory over Jeremy Stephens. Throw Donald Cerrone into the mix, who won his last fight against Charles Oliveira in devastating fashion when the two met at UFC on Versus 5 on Aug. 14 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ben Henderson and Clay Guida will be competing for what will likely be the number one contender spot when they face off at UFC on Fox 1 on Nov. 12 in Anaheim, California. With all the other divisional shaking and moving, it seems like everybody forgot about Maynard. It's a given that his recent loss has taken him out of the picture. You've got to earn your way back in. He'll certainly need a win or two before that's even a conversation we can have.  But is it back to square one? It shouldn't be. Don't forget, Maynard is still the only man alive who can say he's beaten Edgar in an MMA contest. He's still an incredible wrestler whose stand up skills have come a long way since he started fighting professionally in 2006. In addition to his win over the current champion, he's also beaten names like Dennis Siver, Jim Miller, Nate Diaz and Kenny Florian. It's hard to believe that with one loss, he could be in a position where he needed to fight any of those names again.   So what's next for Maynard?  Lauzon and Pettis would seem to have their dance cards reserved for each other. While that fight has not been officially confirmed, it looks like it will happen. Jim Miller is available, but we've been there and done that. It's not out of the question. Both are coming off losses and rematches are fun. It just seems unlikely at this point in time. The same exact paragraph could be written concerning a rematch with Florian. This match up is even less likely, as the last time these two tangled, Maynard won handily, essentially forcing "Ken Flo" to switch divisions and re-think his career. Sean Sherk is an interesting name, but he probably will need to notch one more decent victory before he is given someone like Maynard. Matt Wiman is another possibility. He's coming off a nice win over Mac Danzig on Oct. 1. While Wiman did lose to Siver, a guy that Maynard beat, many felt like the decision could have gone "Handsome Matt's" way.  Those are possibilities, but none of them hold the prospective drawing power as would a match up between Maynard and Guillard.  Granted, it's entirely possible that Maynard takes Guillard down and lays on him for three rounds. It really depends on which Gray Maynard you get on that given night. Maynard seems to be aggressively working on his hands and looking to use them as a more prominent tool in his fights. A slugfest between him and Guillard could end up being a firework-filled affair for fans. Are you Maniacs interested in a match up between "The Young Assassin" and "The Bully?" Got a better idea? We're all ears!

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At UFC 136, we saw Frankie Edgar wrap up his trilogy with Gray Maynard with an emphatic exclamation point, knocking the undefeated Maynard out in the 4th round in order to gain a degree of closure and retain his UFC Lightweight title. But it wasn't an easy night for Edgar, who very nearly saw his title slip away during a Maynard onslaught in the opening round. Both men were able to land serious blows on their opponents, using combinations of punches to great effect. And for both men, the punch that really started it all was the same. The uppercut. Along with the hook, cross, and jab, the uppercut is one of the punches that forms the foundation of a fighter's boxing skills. At UFC 136, Edgar and Maynard both utilized this punch with great success, but they did so in different ways. In this Judo Chop, we'll break down the mechanics of the uppercut and see what these two Lightweights did in common, and where their techniques differed. Before getting to the fight, let's look at the basics of an uppercut. Here's the description, courtesy of Fight Night: The Thinking Fan's Guide to Mixed Martial Arts: The uppercut is a close-range boxing-based punch that travels in an oblique (vertically upward) trajectory. It can be delivered with either hand with the primary targets being the chin and solar plexus. The uppercut is a potent punch to use when applying the dirty boxing clinch or in conjunction with hooks... The rear uppercut to the head is the most prevalently used version of the punch in MMA. There is a lot to like about the uppercut. It can be a devastating punch, with great knockout potential, as Junior dos Santos proved in his UFC debut against Fabricio Werdum. There are a few reasons for this. First, the momentum of the fist coming up with the weight of the body behind it gives a lot of power behind the blow. Second, defenses are more geared towards blocking punches down the middle or from the side. By coming up from below, the uppercut can break through those defenses. Third, if it doesn't get the KO, the uppercut can set up a devastating hook, as an uppercut forces the victim to lift his chin and potentially expose his head. Let's see how these techniques are delivered by Edgar and Maynard in their UFC 136 title clash. Full breakdown with gifs in the complete article. Gifs by BE reader Grappo. We start with Maynard landing the first truly significant blow of the fight - an uppercut that buckles Edgar's knees. Maynard uses the rear uppercut, throwing with his right hand. He throws it with a lot of power, and is clearly looking for the big shot here. Notice how Edgar's hands are in good position to strike or to block a hook, jab, or cross, but leave a gap up the middle to his chin. Maynard finds that gap perfectly, sending Edgar's head popping up. One source of power for Maynard here is his footwork. As he throws, he steps forward with his lead leg, moving to Edgar's side. This accomplishes a few things. By moving to Edgar's side, he gets very close to the champion. That proximity allows him to keep the uppercut relatively tight, committing his power to the upwards motion, and not to closing the distance on a far-away target. While he steps with the left lead leg, Maynard also keeps his right leg planted, using that rear leg to generate more power into the punch. Here's a second angle that further shows Maynard's nice timing. As he steps in, Edgar begins to throw a right hand. But this just leaves his head further exposed, and Maynard takes excellent advantage of that opening. Notice too how Maynard sees Edgar's right hand pulled back, and after connecting with the uppercut, Gray uses his own left to block his face from Edgar's right. Because Edgar is rocked, that right hand never comes, but it's impressive to see Maynard blocking it in order to remain safe. Finally, watch Maynard's hips here. He does a good job after landing the punch of quickly rotating back towards Edgar and getting his hips squared again to continue the attack. A few seconds later, Maynard continues the assault, again utilizing uppercuts well. Here, Edgar attempts to regain his feet and back away from Maynard to create some distance. But as Edgar stands, Maynard drops his left hand onto the back of Edgar's neck, securing a dirty boxing clinch. He sneaks in a quick uppercut before Edgar ties up the right arm and Maynard transitions to a Thai clinch. That uppercut comes fast, but is delivered with good technique. Despite the scrambling going on, Maynard has his feet firmly planted when he throws the punch. Also, watch his hips again, as you can see Maynard rotate his hips to add more power from his base into the punch. As the round progresses, Maynard continues coming forward, but Edgar begins to avoid the shots. Here, Maynard throws an uppercut-hook combo. As I mentioned before, this is a common and effective combo, as the uppercut forces your opponent's head up and leaves him exposed to the left hook. Unfortunately for Maynard, this one doesn't land. Edgar throws his own left, and his arm blocks the uppercut. Maynard seems to get a bit of the hook, but without the uppercut having landed, the combo is not very effective. Throughout the round, Maynard becomes very reliant on the uppercut, beginning to use it without much of a set-up. Here we see him head-hunting with an uppercut near the end of the round. This time, Maynard is really telegraphing the punch. As he comes in, he keeps that right hand low, and his right shoulder a bit further back. He also uses a slower, and more obvious wind-up. These motions give the punch more power, but they also make it more obvious that it is coming. As Maynard throws, you can see Edgar slightly move his head back and to his right in order to avoid the blow. He's too slow to fully avoid it, but it saves him from the clean KO Maynard is going for. Contrast this with the first gif and you can see what a better job Maynard does at throwing the punch with surprise in the first gif. Despite his early success, Maynard didn't get the job done, and in round 4, Edgar came back, using his own uppercuts to gain the advantage. Here's a very quick, tight uppercut that drops Maynard. Like the second example above, Edgar throws this punch coming out of a scramble. As both men come to their feet, Edgar uses his right hand to keep Maynard's head in position, then throws a fast uppercut. One big difference you see here is speed. Frankie's hands are very fast, as is his set-up. He barely has his hand in position for the clinch before the punch comes in. He also does not wait to load up the punch, instead throwing it quickly from his side. Finally, you can see from his body movement that he does not throw as much power behind it. The punch drops Maynard because of the precision - Edgar lands it right on the chin, so that even without Maynard's big power, the damage is done. Immediately after this punch, Edgar swarms on Maynard. As Gray comes up, he is bent at the waist and his head is low. Edgar quickly connects with an uppercut, forcing Maynard to bring his head up. Watch Maynard's hands as he comes up - he keeps them low, leaving them to defend more incoming uppercuts. But with his hands low and his head high, he is a perfect target for the hook, and Edgar uses a pair of hooks to drop him again and end the fight. This is something of a variation on the more traditional uppercut-hook combo Maynard used above, but it is the same basic idea - Edgar's uppercut moves the head into position for the hooks to end it. Beautiful footwork by Frankie here as well. As he delivers the uppercuts he moves off to Maynard's right, just as Gray did in the first clip. Then, when he switches to the right hook, he totally switches his momentum and moves to Maynard's left to get more behind those hooks. Great adjustment there, and the kind of little detail that makes this a fight ending combination, and Edgar a champion. In the fight, both men have success with some very similar uppercuts, though you can see a difference in their approach. In Maynard you see an uppercut based on power and textbook technique - he's looking for the dos Santos style one punch KO. In Edgar, you see a greater reliance on speed and mixing the uppercut into combinations. And ultimately, it's Edgar's speed and accuracy that win the day.

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During the lead-up to what was the biggest fight of his professional fighting career, top Lightweight contender Gray Maynard granted MMAWeekly an inside look at the final days prior to his rematch with division Champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136.

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Gray Maynard allowed MMAWeekly videographer Conner Cordova a behind-the-scenes look in the days leading up to his UFC 136 challenge of Frankie Edgar.

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The complete list of medical suspensions from UFC 136 was released with Gray Maynard leading way.

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Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard battled it out for a third time this past weekend after two competitive clashes beforehand and will now be licking their wounds until early 2012. Though neither man was actually suspended beyond December based on the damage sustained Saturday night, each is due for a solid break from the ring making a return this year highly unlikely. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation released the list of casualties stemming from UFC 136 earlier today with Maynard receiving the lengthiest sentence at sixty days. Comparably, Edgar will be sidelined until November 23. Edgar Credits Maynard with Bringing Out the Best in Him After Early Scare No specifics were listed as far as what injuries either man actually sustained. Also featured on the list were Eric Schafer (11/8), Mike Massenzio (11/23), and Leonard Garcia (11/23). A handful of other athletes received a standard ten-day suspension for precautionary reasons. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation released the suspension information for UFC 136. Main event title challenger Gray Maynard was handed the longest suspension following his knockout loss to Frankie Edgar. Maynard duplicated his first round success from the January meeting between the two men by having Edgar on the verge of being finished in the opening frame. By the fourth round it was Edgar that had established control and he landed a series of hard punches that put Maynard down and forced the stoppage. Maynard is suspended until December 8. The other suspensions of length worth noting were handed down to Frankie Edgar, Leonard Garcia and Mike Massenzio who all were given no-contact suspensions until November 23. Eric Schafer was suspended until November 8. Almost everyone else on the card was handed the standard 10 day recovery period suspension. The State's PDF document containing the info can be located here. SBN coverage of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III

Posted in: suspension, knockout loss, edgar, frankie edgar, maynard

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Underdog, fluke, one hit wonder: names like these have been associated with a lot of people but most recently, with UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar. Going into his third match (and third title defense) in a rubber match with Gray Maynard, many felt that history could repeat itself and Edgar may lose the belt at [...]

Posted in: title defense, edgar, frankie edgar, maynard, frankie

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The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on Monday released the medical suspensions for UFC 136. Gray Maynard topped the list of lengthy suspensions.

Posted in: ufc, suspension, monday, maynard, texas department

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Following this past Saturday’s UFC 136 event in Houston, the Texas athletic commission has issued medical suspensions to five fighters, including UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and fellow headliner Gray Maynard, according to MMAjunkie. Maynard received the longest suspension at 60 days after his fourth-round TKO at the hands of Edgar, who was suspended 45 days after nearly being knocked out himself in the opening round of the rematch. Also suspended were Leonard Garcia (45 days), Eric Schafer (30 days), and Mike Massenzio (45 days). UFC 136 fight salaries will not be released, but the event drew a sellout crowd of 16,164 to the Toyota Center in Houston for a live gate of $2.3 million, while Edgar, Joe Lauzon, Leonard Garcia, and Nam Phan earned $75,000 bonuses. Check out the links below for MMAFrenzy.com’s complete UFC 136 coverage: Kenny Florian Plans to Take Time Off Following UFC 136 Loss to Jose Aldo UFC 136 Videos: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, Aldo vs. Florian Highlights UFC 136 Bonuses: Edgar, Lauzon, Phan, and Garcia Earn $75K Awards UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Comes Back to KO Gray Maynard, Retain Lightweight Title UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo Retains Featherweight Title Over Kenny Florian UFC 136 Results: Sonnen Submits Stann, Lauzon Stuns Guillard, Phan Outpoints Garcia UFC 136 Preliminary Card Results: Demian Maia, Anthony Pettis Among Decision Winners UFC 136 Results, Recaps, and Play-by-Play for “Edgar vs. Maynard” Pictured: Edgar and Maynard

Posted in: ufc, result, day, edgar, maynard

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Gray Maynard, despite his best efforts, suffered the first defeat of his career at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas. Not only that, the loss to Frankie Edgar effectively erased him from the 155-pound title picture for the foreseeable future. So where does "The Bully" go from here? MMAmania.com founder Thomas Myers wades in right here. Photo via UFC.com.

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Thomas Myers asks "What's Next for Gray Maynard" at MMA Nation.

Posted in: mma nation, nation, thomas myers, maynard, myer

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Shortly after UFC lightweight champ Frankie Edgar completed his comeback against Gray Maynard this past Saturday night, UFC President Dana White referred to the performance as something only seen in movies. However, White was wrong, and not because his heart wasn’t in the right place. Rather, because Hollywood hasn’t ever ended a trilogy on as brilliant a note. For the unlucky few who may not have tuned in, “The Answer” was hurt early by Maynard’s power much in the same way he was at UFC 125 but managed to hold on until the second round where he started mounting enough offense even things up on the scorecards entering the fourth frame. Then, with about a minute to go – the 59th total minute the duo had spent together in the Octagon over three bouts – Edgar dazed Maynard with an uppercut, sprung in, and finished him off with a number of well-placed strikes. Edgar reflected on his jaw-dropping performance at the post-event press conference for UFC 136 where he credited Maynard with keeping him supremely motivated and expressed a sense of relief at being able to put their rivalry behind him for the time being. “When you have an adversary like that it makes you bring the best out of yourself, so Gray definitely made me bring the best out of myself,” the 29-year old explained. “Obviously the first fight he won over me and the next one was a draw. I knew I’d closed the distance a little bit and I knew had to make the gap even bigger this time around so he forced me to be the best Frankie Edgar.” “Sometimes you get hit like that and you’re in survival mode,” Edgar continued. “I don’t think you really have a plan. I got the fight in me, you know? That’s what it is. You’re gonna hit me, rock me, and I’m gonna keep coming no matter what. I think the biggest thing for me was I listened to my corner. I really do think they helped me make the adjustments I needed to make so I could come back and win this fight.” Edgar Earns “Knockout of the Night” Honors at UFC 136 As far as the method of victory feeling particularly special after going having gone the distance in their previous two pairings, the 14-1-1 Edgar admitted the ending meant more to him than a decision might have. “I think it just put some closure on it. Obviously the last fight ended in a draw so we didn’t have a definitive winner. This one, I ended it with a bang and it’s good to go home and be done with it.” Up next for Edgar could be the winner of Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson (who meet on November 12 at the UFC on FOX event) or possibly Strikeforce’s lightweight title-holder Gilbert Melendez depending on how his current contract is handled. Regardless, Edgar will no doubt be ready to meet the next challenge head on to write another fantastic next chapter in the story of his already awe-inspiring career. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

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In the main event of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III, Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard looked to complete the trilogy they started in 2008. This time, it was defending champion Edgar who came out on top, stopping Maynard with strikes in the fourth round. The series is now perfectly even at 1-1-1, although Dana White has said there will be no 4th fight for now. This is Maynard's first official loss, and Edgar's 3rd defense of the Lightweight title. In round 1, things were looking remarkably similar to the 2nd fight at UFC 125. Once again, Maynard landed heavy shots to rock the champion. It looked like it could be over, but just as in January, Edgar survived. Maynard, wary of gassing out as he did in the last fight, pulled back to conserve his energy. That allowed Edgar to slowly creep back into the fight. By the 4th round it seemed we were heading for another close decision when Edgar suddenly changed the fight completely, landing a series of punches that put Maynard down and out. An incredibly dramatic ending to this classic series of fights. What was the high spot of this fight? That ending was everything you want out of a champion. Faced with serious adversity AGAIN, Edgar came back. But this time, he wasn't content with the draw - he wanted the win. And he got it. Amazing stuff. Where do these guys go from here? Edgar finally will move on to a new challenger after four straight fights of either Maynard or B.J. Penn. Who will that challenger be? There's two real options - either Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, or the winner of Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson. Maynard is in a tough spot. He has a good shot at defeating anyone he faces at Lightweight, but he's also out of the title scene until he either gets a big win streak going, or Edgar loses. Essentially, he's the Jon Fitch of Lightweight. The UFC will have to decide now if they want him spoiling potential challengers, or just biding his time.  Watch it now, later, or never? Now. Incredible action and drama to close out a fantastic series. More BE coverage of UFC 136 in the full entry. UFC 136 Results: Post-Hangover Thoughts and Reactions - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Embodies Rocky's Message in Win Over Gray Maynard - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Aldo vs. Florian, Phan vs. Garcia FightMetric Reports - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II Will Produce Massive Interest Despite Skepticism - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Dana White Says Frankie Edgar Is Top 2 Pound-for-Pound, Wants Him to Face Jose Aldo - Anton Tabuena UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Fight Video Highlights UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3 Fight Video Highlights Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 88: UFC 136 Results Review UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Stops Gray Maynard In Four - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for PPV Fights - Brent Brrokhouse UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo Decisions Kenny Florian - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen Challenges Anderson Silva After Dominating Brian Stann - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Nam Phan Wins Decision Over Leonard Garcia - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Joe Lauzon Makes Quick Work of Melvin Guillard - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play For Spike TV Fights - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Demian Maia Decisions Jorge Santiago - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Anthony Pettis Narrowly Edges Jeremy Stephens - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for Facebook Fights - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Results: Stipe Miocic Makes Successful Debut, Edges Joey Beltran - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Darren Elkins Out Grapples Tiequan Zhang, Wins Decision - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Aaron Simpson Dominates Eric Schafer - Leland Roling UFC 136 Results: Mike Massenzio Batters Steve Cantwell, Takes Unanimous Decision - Leland Roling

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EDGAR—ARE YOU KIDDING ME?Frankie Edgar was a beaten man at the end of the first round. Gray Maynard was landing right uppercuts at will, dropping the champion multiple times. Edgar returned to his corner at the end of the round with a broken nose, a severely cut left eye and down two points on the scorecards.I was debating whether to begin writing the coronation piece for the challenger. Luckily, I didn’t waste my time.Round two got underway and Maynard inexplicably stopped punching. He started circling and posing. Edgar started sticking and moving. His foe started pulling straight back with his head up and his left arm extended, leaving himself wide open for more shots. He stopped countering. And that is when Edgar took over.I have no idea how Edgar survived the opening round. It was basically a carbon copy of the heart he showed in his January bout with Maynard. This time, however, he responded to adversity with even better offense than before. He showed killer instinct by knocking out Maynard, something that I thought was next to impossible for the Jersey-based fighter, in the fourth round.Edgar deserves serious respect as the champion. He won the title from one of the greatest fighters of our generation, BJ Penn. Successfully defended it against Penn in an immediate rematch. Survived a devastating first round in his next fight against Maynard, the only man to ever defeat him, and somehow found a way to pull out a draw. And then he settled the score by stopping Maynard in the third installment of their war, after having to again survive a savage beating in the opening round.The champion not only has skills. This guy has crazy heart. I’m talking Forrest Griffin-like heart. If his next defense is going to come against Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez, there will be several fight cognoscenti, me included, who will label him as the underdog. Well, he was the underdog against Maynard and the underdog against Penn. We all know how that worked out.WHY DID MAYNARD SHUT IT DOWN?That is the proverbial $64,000 question after the main event of UFC 136. Was he injured? Did he once again gas out during his first-round onslaught? Only Maynard and those closest to him know the real truth. All I know is that Edgar was a beaten man when he retreated to his corner in between the first and second round. All Maynard needed to do was come out in the second, land a few good shots early, and remind Edgar that the nightmare of the first round wasn’t yet complete.He did none of those things. He instead let Edgar get into a rhythm, and once the champion gets into a rhythm, he is extremely tough to beat. I’m sure Maynard is bitterly disappointed in himself right about now. Understandably so. He lost the fight as much as Edgar won it, if you know what I mean. I’m not trying to be hyper critical. I just don’t understand why he shut it down after the first round. That decision will forever haunt him, particularly if he never wins the UFC 155-pound title. He will always wonder what if. So will I.ALDO CONTINUES TO MAKE HIS POUND-FOR-POUND CASEWhen most people talk about pound-for-pound greatness in mixed martial arts, they typically discuss only two names: Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre. Those in the know also throw around the name Jose Aldo.Aldo handled a much bigger, exceptionally well rounded Kenny Florian with relative ease on Saturday night. It was his 13th consecutive win. GSP has never enjoyed a 13-fight winning streak in his career. His longest is nine—his current winning streak. Silva, on the other hand, is in the midst of 15-fight winning streak. Not to mention the fact that two of those wins came in a division 20 pounds north of his division home. Plus, he has the UFC record for most consecutive title defenses.Silva is, in my opinion, the unquestioned pound-for-pound king. But I think that the number two spot is a toss up between GSP and Aldo. It will be interesting to see if Aldo continues to dominate at 145, or if he will opt to move up to lightweight to continue to build his legacy. He has an extremely difficult time cutting to the division maximum, so a move north may be all but set in stone at some point in the near future.For the time being, he is without a shadow of a doubt the very best featherweight on the planet. And he continues making his case for consideration as the number two guy on the pound-for-pound list.WHAT IS LEFT FOR FLORIAN?Florian is now 0-3 in UFC title fights. It is tough to imagine him receiving another title fight any time soon. Not unless Aldo is dethroned in the short term. That makes for a seriously uncertain future for the affable fighter.Don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of interesting fights for Florian at featherweight. But one must wonder if he will have the same motivation to train hard, follow a strict diet, and live the monk-like lifestyle that has helped shape him into arguably the best fighter in the UFC never to win a title. Fighters fight for two reasons: winning championships and paying the bills. That is a gross overgeneralization. I know. Still, the statement has some merit. Remove the first reason from the equation, and that leaves paychecks as the sole motivation for KenFlo. I don’t know him personally, but it seems unlikely to me that money is a sufficient motivation for a true martial artist like Florian. This may very well be the most devastating loss of KenFlo’s career, because this is the one that will weigh on him the most mentally. It is tough to imagine what will motivate him to continue striving for greatness, knowing that he may never receive another shot at a title, in any weight class. Then again, if anyone can find a silver lining in this situation, it is probably Florian.IS THERE ANY DOUBT WITH SONNEN?Chael Sonnen is the most polarizing middleweight in the UFC. He might even be the most polarizing figure in all of mixed martial arts. Love him or hate him, there is no denying that he stands alone as the clear number one challenger for Anderson Silva’s middleweight crown.Sonnen’s utter annihilation of highly regarded Brian Stann after a 14-month layoff was a vivid reminder of that fact. No other man in the UFC has come close to defeating Silva. Sonnen came within 2 minutes of doing just that. He dominated Silva for 23 minutes, just like he dominated Stann on Saturday night.Sonnen’s request to fight Silva on Super Bowl weekend is a great idea, if anyone wants my opinion. I absolutely love his “upping of the stakes,” to use his quote. He wants Silva to retreat to light heavy, if he wins the title. If he fails to win the title, Sonnen claimed he would leave the UFC.I’m sure that was bravado. I don’t see Sonnen retiring if he loses to Silva. But it was an exceptional sound bite. Sonnen is full of those. He is the king of the one-liner. He is the undisputed champion of trash talking. And he may very well be the best middleweight in the world—he certainly thinks so.PHAN EVENS THE SCORE; LET’S DO IT ONE MORE TIMELeonard Garcia received a gift decision over Nam Phan in Las Vegas back in December 2010. There were no gifts at UFC 136. He instead received a beating from Phan in Houston. Garcia and Phan will forever be linked due to their two scintillating fights. Despite the fact that the second bout ended with a clear cut winner, Garcia still thrilled the crowd with a third-round knockdown and 15 full minutes of crazy, all-out attacking, proving that he is one of the most exciting fighters in the promotion, bar none.Phan was all-action in his own right. He isn’t always the most exciting fighter in the world, but when you put him in the cage with Garcia, it brings out the absolute best in him. Phan turns into a whirling dervish. For those who also watch boxing, Phan and Garcia are eerily reminiscent of Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward. Their three fights, which ended with Gatti winning twice, were three of the best fights I’ve ever seen. Another example would be Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, with Barrera winning twice. MMA needs a good trilogy in that same vein. Let’s run it back. What do you say, Dana White?LAUZON BEATS GUILLARD AT HIS OWN GAMEJoe Lauzon knew he could not outstrike Melvin Guillard over the course of three rounds. If the fight devolved into a kickboxing-only bout, he was a dead man walking. Oh, wait a minute. Lauzon didn’t receive a copy of the memo. He stopped Guillard in less than a minute and used a punch to get the win. He didn’t knock out Guillard, but he put him on ice skates with a counter left when Guillard jumped in with a lead left uppercut to the body. The New Orleans native left his jaw wide open when he threw the punch, and Lauzon took full advantage of the situation, re-establishing himself among the always robust group of lightweight contenders. The question for Lauzon is whether he will use this win to put together an impressive streak of performances. To date, he has not been able to win more than three consecutive fights in the UFC, and even that feat (which he accomplished just once) is dubious, since it was interrupted by his stint on “The Ultimate Fighter,” where he came up short. Lauzon has all the tools to be great. Consistency is his enemy. Let’s see if he can fix that in 2012.BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR GUILLARDGuillard was on the cusp of his first UFC title shot. All he had to do was defeat Lauzon. He couldn’t do it, ending his winning streak at five. There is no doubt that UFC President Dana White will make Guillard win at least one more fight, likely more, before he is back in a position to fight for a title. With 155-pound monster Gilbert Melendez expected to head to the UFC sooner rather than later, Clay Guida and Ben Henderson trying to make their claim, and the fact that the lightweight division is the most stacked in the UFC, one must assume that Guillard is now well back in line, which is too bad. He is one fun fighter to watch. Win or lose, his fights are rarely boring.

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Pic of the Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3 scorecards from UFC 136 last night (Oct. 8) in Houston. Judges Cecil Peoples and Nelson Hamilton scored the first round a 10-9 while Doug Crosby scored it 10-8. Had the fight gone to decision it very well may have ended in controversy once again, but Edgar made sure to avoid as much by knocking Maynard out in the fourth round. Read more about that by clicking here. For a larger version of the scorecard picture, snapped by MMA Nation, click here.

Posted in: edgar, maynard, nelson hamilton, scorecard picture, doug crosby

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Exclusive UFC 136 fight photo gallery featuring lightweight champion Frankie Edgar defending his belt in a rematch with Gray Maynard in Houston.

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Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we come to you from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas where fans saw one of the best cards of this year. Edgar bullies Maynard The first round of Edgar Maynard III looked a lot like Edgar Maynard II. Instead, Maynard remained composed throughout the rest of the round. However, Maynard seemed too lax in the second and Edgar got to Maynard in the fourth. Maynard looked stunned after the match. Not sure who looked more crestfallen: Maynard or Kenny Florian. Aldo outlasts Florian Jose Aldo controlled the match and defeated a game Kenny Florian. When the final round ended, Florian had a look of a defeated fighter and someone that knew his career (at least trying to win UFC gold) was over. Sonnen outclasses Stann Chael Sonnen returned to the Octagon to beat Brian Stann. This was a definite step up in competition for Stann and it showed. Sonnen had his way with Stann and used the arm triangle to choke him out. But what was more interesting than the fight was the post-fight interview. Short, brief and concise. Sonnen challenged Anderson Silva (who was in attendance and sitting next to Charles Barkley) to a loser leaves match (Silva leaves division or Sonnen leaves the UFC). A textbook pro wrestling promo: 1) Insult opponent, 2) challenge said opponent to a fight, 3) state when the fight is happening, 4) state stipulations and 5) leave. Silva thought the promo was hilarious and the UFC attempted to diffuse the situation by panning the camera to Barkley. Phan outlasts Garcia – Third fight upcoming? In the fight of the night, Nam Phan defeated Leonard Garcia in another entertaining slugfest. How is it that Leonard Garcia got more post-fight interview time than Nam Phan? It seems like the UFC is trying to package these guys together. Initially, Phan said in the post-fight interview he didn’t want another fight with Garcia but seemed more receptive later. I think Phan is thinking about moving up and on but the UFC may sign them up for another fight. Garcia will never be cut by the UFC although he really must try something different. All of his fights look like he’s swinging like a guy in a bar at last call. He’ll be in the same category as Pat Barry and Dan Hardy. Entertaining fighters but not successful. Attendance and Gate: MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta reported attendance of 16,164 for a gate of $2.3 million. According to the Toyota Center web site, the arena houses 18,300 for basketball and 19,000 for concerts. Not sure The attendance figure is better than the UFC’s last event at the arena, UFC 69. However, 69 produced a bigger gate: $2.8 million. Bonuses MMA Junkie reports that the bonuses for UFC 136 were $75,000 each. Fight of the Night: Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garcia Submission of the Night: Joe Lauzon KO of the Night: Frankie Edgar Promotion of UFC 136 The UFC had an off beat promo for UFC 136 entitled, “The Great Debate.” It currently has over 191,000 views on YouTube. The UFC also held another #Hunt4UFC, where White gave hints on places around Houston to be at for fans to win tickets. Sponsorships Upcoming movie release, Immortal, Tapout, Dodge, UFC Trainer, UFC.com store, Xyience, SafeAuto Insurance, Toyo Tires and Bud Light with the center were in the cage tonight. Is it me or is the UFC.com store being promoted much more. Fighter walkout shirts are here. I like the track jackets that some fighters are using. Although its hard to pull over the gloves, its still another piece that clothing brands can market. We saw for the first time the video game cover for the UFC video game, “Undisputed 3”. As reported by USA Today, Anderson Silva was voted to be on the cover after THQ conducted a poll to see which UFC champion should be on the cover. Xyience took the fighting check point. It appears that its a revolving sponsor although Harley Davidson had the checkpoint for some time. There was a huge push for the movie Immortal. Chael Sonnen wore it on his fight trunks and had an Immortal hat on during a taped interview in the pre-fight hype package. UFC Fan Expo The UFC held another fan expo in Houston which gave fans, sponsors and fighters the ability to interact. No word on attendance at the expo but we will follow up. With the first one going on in Toronto for 129 and this one happening for 136, we should expect at least a couple expos in 2012. Post-UFC 136 storylines Sonnen vs. Silva – Super Bowl Weekend. The event is not on the schedule yet but I guess we have our first fight. This will be a big event and should help jumpstart 2012 with a big buy rate. Sonnen will be in full promo mode and with the help of Fox, we’re going to be seeing Sonnen’s face all over the Fox networks. There are talks of this being in Cowboys Stadium although that seems like talk at this point. Aldo vs. Mendes – An interesting matchup but what will be more interesting will be how much longer Aldo will stay in the Featherweight division. He’s had trouble with the weigh cut and an Aldo-Edgar, Aldo-Melendez fight would bring some spark to the lighter weight divisions. Edgar vs. Melendez or Aldo? – The worst kept secret is that the Strikeforce lightweight champion is coming to the UFC to “unify” the titles. The matchup makes sense and would draw interest. But when will it happen. Melendez is slated for a Strikeforce title defense in December. But, Dana White is bullish on Melendez in the UFC lightweight division. White also said that he’s interested in Edgar going up against Jose Aldo. PPV Buys Last night marked the end of a three week period where four UFC titles were up for grabs. UFC 136 was one of the best, if not the best card the UFC has put on this year. Top to bottom, the card was exciting. It will be interesting to see what the PPV buys will end up at. Does anything lower than 400K say anything about fan perceptions of the lower weight divisions? Or is it just that there are too many PPVs going around that fans just can’t buy them all? Odds and ends Rashard Evans got booed again when the camera panned to him. What was funny is when the camera widened fans cheered for Forrest Griffin who was sitting next to him. Griffin looked back at Evans and playfully laughed at him. Pretty funny considering these two fought for the title a couple years ago. Chad Mendes was announced as the newest member of Team Edge. Good for him considering he may get the next title shot against Jose Aldo. Another loss by Tiequan Zhang. He was thought to help garner interest from Chinese fans. But, his losses are mounting and it seems like the UFC may have to look to someone else to make inroads into the Chinese market. The Spike Prelims featured Anthony Pettis and Demian Maia. Good match-ups which should mean another good rating. Among the writeups for UFC 136, there was this one on Nam Pham.

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-Through three fights Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard have spent a total of 12 rounds in the Octagon together, with just under an hour of fight time (58:54) to their credit. -The loss was the first of Maynard's career. -The fight was the first non-decision or draw for Maynard since a September 2007 KO of Joe Veres-For Edgar it was his first win by TKO since July 2007 victory over Mark Boeck-Edgar and Maynard first fight came on the undercard of UFC Fight Night 13 in April 2008. 33 months later the two had their rematch at UFC 125. The third fight between the lightweights came nine months after their second fight. Three fights over the course of 39 months between Edgar and Maynard. -Per Compustrike Edgar outlanded Maynard 76-23 in rounds two thru four after being outlanded 36-11 in round one in total strikes.-Jose Aldo is now 10-0 inside the UFC/WEC cage-Three of five of Aldo's WEC/UFC title bouts have gone to a decision. -Aldo is 2-0 versus former Ultimate Fighter cast members -Kenny Florian drops to 0-3 in UFC title fights-Florian is 3-3 in his last six fights -Per Compustrike Aldo successfully stuffed 12 of Florian's 14 attempted takedowns. -Fight Metric scored the Aldo-Florian fight 300-74 in favor of the champ. In the ten point must system Fight Metric scored the fight 50-45 in favor of Aldo. -UFC 136 was the longest event in UFC history. The 11 fights equaled 158 minutes and 32 seconds of fight time.-Betting favorites at UFC 136 went 7-3 on the night. Joe Lauzon's upset of Melvin Guillard at +350 was the biggest upset of the night. -With UFC 136 the promotion returned to Houston, Texas for the first time since UFC 69 in April 2007. UFC 69 was headlined by Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra. Below is a gate and attendance comparison. UFC 69Attendance: 15,269Gate: 2.81 millionUFC 136Attendance: 16,164 Gate: 2.23 million

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Let's play "what if?" for a moment. Imagine Frankie Edgar doesn't land the uppercut that sent Gray Maynard stumbling back toward the fence. The round ends with Edgar taking his third decisive round. Maynard, after hearing an earful from his corner about his offensive output, comes out spirited in the final frame and wins the round. Ruh roh, right? Nope. The above image is the scorecards from last night's main event. While Douglas Crosby correctly scored the first round 10-8 for Gray Maynard, judges Nelson Hamilton and Cecil Peoples both awarded Maynard a 10-9. Had the above scenario played out, Edgar would have won a majority decision, with Crosby holding the dissenting draw card. UFC President Dana White announced that the promotion would move on from Edgar-Maynard regardless of the result. But it makes one wonder what would have happened had Edgar won an undeserved decision. And, of course, shame on Hamilton and Peoples. I've railed against the half-point system since its inception, and this is precisely why. If we can't trust judges to correctly award a 10-8 round, what makes us believe they'll be able to implement finer gradients? (And one only needs to look at the Jimmo-Sokoudjou MFC fight on Friday for further proof that the half-point must system isn't going to fix bad decisions.)

Posted in: round, decision, edgar, maynard, douglas crosby

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UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" took place last night (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, featuring Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar finally putting down his own "Bully," Gray Maynard, to defend his 155-pound crown. And become the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, apparently. Jose Aldo successfully defended his featherweight championship against Kenny Florian, who came up short for the third time in three title fights scattered throughout his UFC career. In other action, Chael Sonnen smashed Brian Stann before challenging Anderson Silva, Nam Phan got his revenge on Leonard Garcia and Joe Lauzon shockingly submitted Melvin Guillard. A complete photo gallery (via UFC.com) available for your viewing pleasure after the jump: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens

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If there was a moment during last night's lightweight championship bout when Frankie Edgar seemed defeated, it was gone within the blink of an eye. Late in the first round, with under a minute to go, after the champion had been dropped by a barrage of hooks, uppercuts, and knees from Gray Maynard, after the champion had begun lunging forward recklessly, desperate to close distance, he was clipped by a stiff right cross from his challenger and for the briefest second his arms dropped and he was vulnerable to anything Maynard wanted to do. But in the time it would've taken just to begin thinking Edgar was out of it, his hands were right back up and he had reset himself to finish out the round. Bolstered by an indomitable will, Edgar went into the second frame calmly and found his range, able to avoid most of Maynard's shots while peppering "The Bully" with his own. As the third round rolled through, Edgar began showcasing the quick, darting style of boxing that won him the title against B.J. Penn, dancing into range with slick head movement to land combinations and dancing out to avoid Maynard's counters. Then, in the fourth, as the two combatants jostled for control in a brief scramble, Edgar landed an uppercut that staggered Maynard. As his Maynard reeled, Edgar charged in and landed thunderous hooks that felled his opponent, then continued to pummel him until Josh Rosenthal stepped in to save Maynard from further punishment. It was the culmination of twelve rounds that have come to define Edgar as a champion, even more so than his pair of fights against Penn. Maynard notched the only defeat on Edgar's record back in 2008, a smothering decision victory long before either man had truly come into his own as a fighter. These last two fights, however, have been contests between athletes at their maximum potential and at the pinnacle of the sport. They drew a match on New Year's Day in a bout that also saw Maynard batter Edgar early on, only to have the defending champ launch an incredible comeback signified by the iconic slam in round two. Although their first match won't be appearing on any "Best Fights of All Time" lists, the past two contests have been truly epic encounters. Seeing Edgar, a natural featherweight, withstand the punishment of Maynard, who could probably compete at welterweight, then take the fight to his opponent after whole rounds on the brink of defeat reminds me of why I follow the sport. Edgar's resilience suggests he won't relinquish his title unless his opponent is prying it from his cold dead hands, and Maynard set out to do just that. It's the sort of collision we all hope to see every time we tune in. Edgar vs. Maynard has become the sort of series people will opine about for generations, a trilogy the likes of which MMA has long needed to supplement its thin history. Fans of each sport often haphazardly compare boxing and MMA, but hands down boxing can claim a richer tradition with dozens of famed series acting as pillars of the sport's pantheon. Bowe/Holyfield, Barrera/Morales, and, of course, Ali/Frazier all come to mind. MMA has no such comparable history, and to suggest so would be ludicrous. As the ongoing history is written, though, Edgar/Maynard is one hell of chapter on which to begin. SBN coverage of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III

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At UFC Fight Night 13 back in the spring of 2008, undefeated lightweight prospect Frankie Edgar inevitably met his match inside the Octagon at the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colorado. NCAA Division I wrestler and The Ultimate Fighter season five cast member Gray Maynard manhandled the smaller Edgar, taking him down with consistency over three rounds to win a dominant unanimous decision. That loss plagued the perception that Edgar could ever attain the UFC lightweight strap over the next two years. Edgar erased those perceptions when he defeated B.J. Penn in a duology, beating the perceived best lightweight in the world at his own game in two separate bouts at UFC 112 and UFC 118. Against overwhelming odds, Edgar persevered through adversity, and we were mesmerized that this tiny lightweight from Toms River, New Jersey could win despite his physical disadvantages. Enter Gray Maynard, Edgar's nemesis from two years prior who proved that size and wrestling could defeat the lightweight champion convincingly. As expected, Maynard was the clear cut favorite, and most analysts predicted a copy of Maynard's performance at UFC Fight Night 13. Instead, Maynard used his hands to crumple Edgar in the opening round. Edgar survived, and what followed can only be described as a miraculous showing of fortitude, enough to earn himself a draw and another day as the UFC's lightweight champion. Saturday night at UFC 136, fans didn't expect a repeat performance. It had been nine months since their first encounter, and that offered plenty of time for both men to hone their skills, create different strategies, and implement other gameplans. Once Edgar and Maynard touched the gloves, any notion that this would be different went out the window. Maynard pummeled Edgar in one of the most one-sided rounds we've seen all year, reminiscent of the first round barrage Edgar took in their previous bout. This time around, Maynard was more cautious and patient, landing consistently with right hands to the chin of Edgar. Edgar absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment, running around the cage in a punch-drunk daze attempting to stop Maynard's continued onslaught. Miraculously, Edgar survived once again, and deju vu settled into our minds as we intently watched what would unfold. From the brink of defeat, Edgar returned to the center of the Octagon in the second round and outstruck Maynard while avoiding the right hand that had found its mark so easily in the opening frame. Over the next two rounds, it was an eerily similar turnaround to their first encounter. Maynard couldn't find his mark any longer, and Edgar had turned up the tempo on his footwork, circling around Maynard and popping off shots.  Dramatically, Edgar found closure to the trilogy in the fourth round, blasting Maynard with a right uppercut followed by a bevy of hard right hands to finish his nemesis off. As cliche and cheesy as it may sound, the comparisons of Frankie Edgar to the fictional Italian Stallion Rocky Balboa aren't unfounded. Edgar wasn't a brutalizing power striker who's forehead was his best defense, but he did pull off unfathomable come-from-behind victories twice in two unbelievably entertaining bouts. The Rocky series conveyed a message that it isn't over until it's over, and Edgar proved it to be true. I don't know if Frankie Edgar will be able to drop down to featherweight and beat Jose Aldo. I have no idea if he can maintain his status as one of the best lightweights in the world for years to come. He may allow his teammate Eddie Alvarez, whenever he leaves Bellator, to take the reigns in the UFC's lightweight division. Whatever the case may be and wherever Edgar goes from here, the trilogy of bouts with Gray Maynard and the incredible fortitude and determination he displayed will go down in the history of mixed martial arts as must-see bouts for generations to come. The scrappy, New Jersey-native will go down as the man who proved, like Rudy Roediger, that anything is possible.

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Beats BJ twice, now finally gets Maynard out of the way (showing balls of steel in the two Maynard fights). It makes no sense to me. submitted by Madrugadao [link] [10 comments]

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Jonathan Snowden asserts that with his UFC 136 win over Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar punched his ticket to immortality. Read it at MMA Nation.

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After a full trilogy of fights, we've finally got some closure. And it sure as hell didn't come easy for the defending UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar, as he once again had to overcome a horrible first round against "The Bully," Gray Maynard in the main event of UFC 136 last night (October 8, 2011). This time, not only did Edgar bounce back from nearly being finished, he came back and stopped "The Bully" for the first time in his professional career with a fourth round technical knockout victory. So how did the undersized lightweight champ pull it off? And who's on the horizon as the next challenger to the throne? We've got the answers inside. Things did not start well for Frankie Edgar. After a relatively even first two minutes, Gray Maynard was still testing the waters with a pawing jab, trying to find his range and keep "The Answer" at bay.  Maynard finally got his opening when Edgar unwisely began circling to his left, which is directly into Maynard's power. Maynard stepped in with a beautiful looping uppercut that Edgar never saw coming. It was a strike he must have been working on in his time off because he did not throw it in either of their previous meetings. It also caught Edgar as he was winding up to charge in for a strike of his own so the surprise factor may have increased the staggering effect of the powerful blow to the chin. For the next two minutes and 40 seconds, Frankie Edgar was in complete survival mode, just like their rematch this past July, but Maynard was much more composed, picking his spots and blasting Edgar repeatedly when he saw an opening, and there were many of them. Edgar's footwork and head movement go completely out the window when he's hurt. Perhaps the most damaging blow of them all was another attack Edgar couldn't possibly expect, the flying double knee. It was another attack Gray Maynard had never thrown in a previous bout.  Edgar, still woozy, throws a lazy jab and absolutely eats a face full of Maynard's knee. He wisely latches onto one of "The Bully's" legs with a takedown attempt to help himself clear out the cobwebs. You always hear about the "fight of flight" response, well Frankie Edgar has no idea what it means to flee from battle. Despite getting pounded repeatedly in the latter half of the first round, he never cowered, never turned away, never even winced and never once despaired.  It was an ugly sight when Edgar went back to his corner, but he came out in the second round and went right back to work. Gray Maynard? He decided to sit back on his laurels and do absolutely nothing. Maynard came out for the second round in a wrestler's stance, barely ever throwing a strike and by doing so, he allowed Edgar to find his rhythm. The pawing jab that was helping keep Edgar at bay and allowing him to find his range had completely disappeared. Instead, he was loading up with the right hand and trying to occasionally throw it with power. By the third round, Edgar had completely taken control of the fight. Maynard's footwork was atrocious and he was chasing the champion around the cage instead of cutting him off. Edgar was dancing circles around him and attacking without getting hit back.  Edgar's confidence was soaring as the fourth round began and he opened it with a big right hand, his most powerful of the fight, that connected solid. He also began landing some thudding leg kicks which staggered the challenger.  After stuffing the Maynard's second takedown attempt of the round, Edgar landed a crisp short right uppercut that hurt the Xtreme Couture product. Maynard stumbled and Edgar exploded forward for the kill. After initially landing a nice short right hand on his staggering opponent, notice how much of his body he puts into that right hook that connects with the side of Maynard's head. Maynard is all but finished after that right hook connects. Who says the little guy doesn't have power? Once Maynard dropped face-first, Edgar swarmed him with repeated huge left hands from above until referee Josh Rosenthal had seen enough and put a stop to the bout. For Gray Maynard, he once again let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers. Not only could he not secure a finish when he had Edgar hurt for over half of the first round, but he came out so passively in the second that he allowed Edgar to get back into the fight and even take control. He completely abandoned what had worked so well in the first round and went back to trying to land his big power punches instead of working the left jab and mixing things up. It's likely going to be a long time before "The Bully" ever sniffs a title shot again due to the fact that the lightweight division is absolutely loaded right now. A bout with recently defeated contenders Jim Miller or Melvin Guillard would be interesting. If not, don't be surprised to see Maynard step in against the loser of the upcoming bout between Ben Henderson and Clay Guida.  For Frankie Edgar, what a comeback. He probably gave his family back home yet another heart attack in that first round, but maybe that's what it takes to get him to wake up and get into the fight. Edgar is absolutely fearless, even in the face of adversity. Once he found his groove with about a minute left in the second round, Maynard never had a chance and major props to him for going for the finish when he had his opponent hurt. He answered a lot of his critics last night. Edgar has two options right now. He can either face the winner of the upcoming match between top contenders Clay Guida and Ben Henderson at the UFC on FOX event, or he can take on Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez, who's heavily rumored to be transitioning over to the UFC any day now. Either way, fans can likely expect another incredible performance from one of the gutsiest fighters in MMA history. So what did you think, Maniacs? Did Edgar "answer" all your questions last night? Has his trilogy with Maynard finally been put to rest despite the 1-1-1 record between them? Who do you think should fight for the title next? Sound off! For complete UFC 136 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here. All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.    

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The curtain has officially fallen on the latest pay-per-view (PPV) fight card from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which took place last night (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Where do we begin? Let's start with the main event of the evening, Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, in what could be best described as shockingly surreal. In their rematch earlier this year at UFC 125: "Resolution," Edgar survived a brutal first round in which he was beaten from pillar to post and within moments from unconsciousness. "The Answer" apparently learned very little from that experience. Or, just maybe, it's the other way around. Maynard once again torched Edgar in round one, connecting with a hellish haymaker that nearly turned out the lights of the Toms River, N.J. tough guy early. "The Bully," this time around, was a bit more selective and calculating with his follow up shots, but even his restraint, combined with additional well-placed blows, could not stop Edgar. In fact, like a bad recurring nightmare, Edgar came out of the gates for round two -- just like the first time around -- and turned in a solid effort. Ditto for round three. But, it was the fourth round where he really left his mark. Literally. In the midst of a scramble, Edgar landed a short uppercut that sent Maynard stumbling back to the fence. Before he could get there, however, Edgar drilled him with a right hook, and then another, that forced Maynard crumbling to his knees. At this point, Maynard was face down, unable to defend himself, eating several left hooks from the little man made of metal. Shortly after the referee pulled off Edgar, Maynard was visibly stunned and questioned the stoppage. Who wasn't? It was legit, believe it or not. Somehow, someway not only did Edgar once again survive an insane beatdown, but he came back to dish out one of his own and finally provide clarity to the "trilogy" between him and Maynard. But then again, with the scoreboard now reading 1-1-1, it looks a little more fuzzy than ever before. Kind of like my senses after watching that memorable masterpiece. Kenny Florian attempted to script a masterpiece of his own, chasing down the world title that has escaped him since he made his Octagon debut way back in 2005. In 17 career fights with the promotion, he's now had three opportunities to capture championship gold. And thanks to featherweight champion Jose Aldo -- like Sean Sherk and B.J. Penn before him -- "Ken Flo" has blown them all. Florian actually started his night out on the right foot, closing the distance between him and the dangerous Brazilian bomber and attempting to neutralize his strengths by turning it into a grappling competition. For two rounds, his gameplan appeared to be paying dividends, but then "Scarface" came out in round three and turned the tide. Aldo began to find his rhythm, keep his distance and outwork Florian in all aspects, and positions, in the fight. It wasn't an instant classic, not by any stretch. In fact, as the championship rounds endured, the crowd appeared to turn on the combatants. That certainly wasn't warranted -- Aldo and Florian put on a good fight. But it appeared that Florian uncharacteristically faded as the fight progressed. And so, too, have his title aspirations one again. Perhaps indefinitely. Chael Sonnen finally returned to mixed martial arts (MMA) competition after more than a year on the sidelines because of "off the field" transgressions to put it mildly. Did he ever. However, it didn't feel like a recent Sonnen fight because he refused to talk any type of trash on his opponent, Brian Stann, a United States military veteran who just so happened to be riding a three-fight win streak in the UFC 185-pound division. Not anymore. Sonnen didn't let his respect get in the way of immediately walking across the Octagon, grabbing a hold of the "All American" and pressing him up against the cage to land takedown after takedown. Along the way, Sonnen punished Stann at every turn, nailing him with body punches, elbows and other incessant strikes. It was cumulative, annoying punishment that has worked so well in his recent fights against Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt and, of course, Anderson Silva. But this time Sonnen didn't get sloppy like he did against "The Spider," he stayed glued to Stann and didn't leave any real room for him to secure a defensive submission. On the contrary, Sonnen used it to set up a submission of his own, a slick arm triangle choke in round two, his first since forcing Tim McKenzie to tap way back in 2006. With the win, the foul-mouthed Oregonian likely sets up "the biggest rematch in the history of this business" sometime in early 2012 if Sonnen has his druthers. I say let him. That's a fight that everyone has been waiting to see since their first fight ended with the best come-from-behind win ever last year. Diggity. Oops, Nam Phan and Leonard Garcia did it again. Back on Dec. 4, 2010, the pair engaged in an all out stand up war, winging wild punches and flinging furious fists for three rounds jam-packed action. In the end, Garcia was announced the winner; however, it was clear to just about everyone watching -- with the exception of two of the three judges sitting ringside that night -- that Phan was the clearcut winner. He wasn't. And Garcia left town with another gift decision that was dubbed "Robbery of the Year." Nearly a one year later, the dynamic duo once again went to-to-toe in Texas. And once again, it was an absolute slobber knocker that had fans jumping out of their seats in amazement. Phan came out strong once again, taking the first two rounds. Heading into the third, Garcia knew he had to go big or go home. And he nearly went home a legitimate winner this time around, hurting Phan and dropping him early in the final stanza. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't get him out early. In fact, Phan fought back even though he was clearly in trouble and landed a few stiff shots that momentarily put "Bad Boy" in check. When all was said and done, it was a case of too little, too late for Garcia. He was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision. Justice has been served. And hopefully it means we get to see the rubber match. For five rounds. Joe Lauzon waltzed into his lightweight fight with surging division contender, Melvin Guillard, winner of eight of his last nine fights, an overwhelming underdog. It was familiar territory for the East Bridgewater, Mass., fighter, who burst onto the scene at UFC 63 back in 2006 to score (at the time) perhaps the biggest upset in the history of the promotion when he finished returning lightweight champion, Jens Pulver, in less than a minute. He did it again, but it took him a second longer (:48) to dispatch of the overconfident and cocky "The Young Assassin" this evening via submission (rear naked choke). Guillard came out aggressive, landing several strikes right off the bat, including a big punch the wobbled Lauzon. But rather than carefully wade in and pick his next shots, Guillard taunted his wounded opponent and stormed him with reckless abandon. Big, big mistake. Lauzon connected with a big left hand, which Guillard essentially ran into, that sent him backpedaling to the floor immediately. Lauzon wisely followed him to the canvas, but quickly made his way toward his back, working for a rear naked choke that quickly had Guillard begging for mercy. He got it, as well as a major setback for a fighter who proclaimed that he was the best in the division and would be its champion in 2012. Guillard might still have a shot down the road, he's still just 28 years old, but Lauzon just stole his thunder. Straight up clubbed and then strangled him ... in less than 60 seconds. Holla! That's enough from us -- now it's your turn to discuss "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" in the comments section below. It was a great night of fights, which featured two successful title defenses and the return of the man who everyone loves, or loves to hate. There is much to talk about -- highs, lows, finishes and long-lasting legacies. How will you remember UFC 136? For complete UFC 136 results and detailed blow-by-blow commentary of the televised main card fights click here.

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UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar says Gray Maynard brought out the best in him, now he's ready for the UFC to bring on Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez.

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After a stirring win over Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar is staking his claim near the top of the pound-for-pound list.

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At UFC 136, UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar successfully defended his belt against the much larger Gray Maynard in their all-important third fight.

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It took him 43 minutes and 54 seconds, but Frankie Edgar finally provided a resolution to what he and Gray Maynard started on New Year's Day. The trilogy fight followed the same script as their UFC 125 rematch. Edgar found his range early, peppering strikes in and out against the slower, more deliberate Maynard. The fight continued this way until Maynard caught an incoming Edgar with an uppercut, sending the champion staggering. Maynard sent Edgar flailing around the Octagon just as he nine months ago, this time with a measured aggression. Edgar, somehow, escaped the round intact. One would think Maynard would come out stronger than in the second round of the rematch. In that fight, the challenger, whether due to exhaustion or headhunting or some combination of the two, fought passively, allowing the champion not only to recover, but earn back a round on the cards. Maynard's relative patience in the first round figured to leave him more in the gas tank this time around, but the same pattern emerged. Edgar, somehow recovered from his first round suffering, looked fresher and faster, beating Maynard to the punch throughout the second frame. This is where the script changed. Maynard bounced back in the third round back in January. This time, Edgar continued to fluster Maynard, taking the third round on all three judges' scorecards. That momentum carried into the fourth round. It began to look like Maynard would need to win another 10-8 round in the fifth to win the fight. And the spectre of a draw loomed its head once more. Edgar erased the need for the fifth round with just over minute left in the fourth. It started with, of course, an uppercut. Maynard staggered back into the fence. Edgar sensed weakness, and charged. Maynard succumbed to the onslaught. He fell to his hands and knees. Edgar kept punching. Maynard's head bounced off the canvas twice before referee Josh Rosenthal stepped in. Edgar jumped to the top of the fence. He kissed the camera, leaving behind a smudge of sweat and blood. I imagine Gray Maynard feels the same way as the Buffalo Bills teams of the early '90s. After coming within a field goal of winning Super Bowl XXV against the New York Giants, the Bills had their championship dreams slammed shut by the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys in subsequent years. Maynard found himself within seconds of winning the title on two different occasions. At 32, he likely has one more reasonable run at a title, though he'll probably have to win at least two, and probably three, fights to get another shot. If you've grown tired of my criticisms of the broadcast team, you're going to want to skip down to the next bullet point. I was more annoyed by Joe Rogan, UFC color commentator, than ever, which is saying a lot. He claimed anyone who doesn't love Leonard Garcia must not be a fan of the sport. He ignored Jose Aldo's effective offense throughout the fight, wondering aloud whether Kenny Florian's "aggression" would win him a decision. He verbally orgasmed at the end of Phan-Garcia, while giving us a more subdued call for the exponentially more entertaining, relevant, and lasting title fight in the main event. The constant defense of the Goldberg-Rogan team as the best in the business is a sad reflection of the state of broadcasters in the sport. Speaking of the co-main event, I scored the fight 50-46 for Jose Aldo. I can understand a 49-46 card, though Florian didn't show me enough effective offense in the first to outweigh the flurry Aldo landed earlier in the round. Kenny Florian "choked" in another big fight. The reality is that Florian is a great example of "good, not great." He's maximized his skills given his genetic athleticism, but that's just not good enough to beat the truly elite in MMA. Chael Sonnen made a mockery of Brian Stann, but the real story is the post-fight interview he gave to Joe Rogan. Calm and composed, he stepped up to the microphone and announced, "Anderson Silva, you suck," before proceeding to challenge him not only for the middleweight title on Super Bowl weekend, but for his career and against Silva's future in the division. Nam Phan got his revenge against Leonard Garcia, but not before scaring the hell out of everyone in the process. After taking what looked to be a decisive first two rounds, Garcia dropped him in the third. Phan recovered, arguably won the round, and took home a unanimous 29-28 win from the judges. Demian Maia defeated Jorge Santiago by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). I've seen some complaints about Maia's performance, but it's become increasingly more difficult for him to mount offense on the floor when his opponents shell up in defense mode...Anthony Pettis defeated Jeremy Stephens by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)...Stipe Miocic won his UFC debut with a unanimous decision over Joey Beltran (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)...Darren Elkins defeated Tiequan Zhang by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)...Aaron Simpson foiled Eric Schafer's comeback fight with a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)...Mike Massenzio opened the evening with a unanimous decision over Steve Cantwell (29-28, 30-27, 29-28).   FIGHTER OF THE NIGHT Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images You can take your Leonard Garcia and shove it up your ass. If you don't love Frankie Edgar, you're not a fan of MMA. In 2010, he beats B.J. Penn twice within a year. He follows that up with two of the most impressive performances ever seen in the sport in 2011. This is what manhood looks like. MOMENT OF THE NIGHT Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images If you didn't love Chael Sonnen's post-fight promo, you probably take yourself way too seriously.  GOLDBERG LINE OF THE NIGHT Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images "Sometimes I think the more tired Joey Beltran looks, the more dangerous he is." ENTRANCE SONG OF THE NIGHT "Intergalactic" by the Beastie Boys (Steve Cantwell) CHOPPING BLOCK Despite Dana White's assurance that Zuffa needs more fighters, there's no margin for error in the UFC. It only takes one loss to find a pink slip waiting for you on Monday morning. Who's on the Chopping Block? Steve CantwellEric SchaferTiequan Zhang

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Video highlights of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard and Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian at UFC 136.

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In case you missed it, here's ESPN's brief highlight video of the UFC 136 main event bout between lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar, and Gray Maynard. Here's the entire play-by-play from our live blog of the event: UFC Lightweight Championship - Frankie Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard - Round 1 - Nice quick combination by Edgar. Edgar charges in after a combination and locks up Maynard against the cage but they separate. Maynard with a huge uppercut and Edgar is rocked. Maynard tries to follow up and lands a knee. A few more punches just miss. Maynard with another few huge punches and Edgar is hurt again. Edgar with a jab out of nowhere. Flying knee now and Edgar is rocked. This is the first fight all over again but without Maynard's wasted energy. 10-8 round for Maynard. Round 2 - Edgar looking steady on his feet again. Edgar's speed is taking the round over a bit here. Edgar almost scores a takedown but Maynard keeps it standing. Two punches land for Edgar and he continues to avoid the strikes of Maynard. Nice combo by Edgar. Close round. 10-9 Edgar. Round 3 - It's round two all over as Edgar is using speed to get in and out while Maynard chases. Maynard is having trouble really getting anything off. There's not a ton of action to call here. Edgar won the round. 10-9 Edgar makes it 28-28. Round 4 - Right hand misses for Maynard. Right hand by Edgar. Maynard drops for a takedown and can't get it so he settles for a knee to the body. Right hand by Edgar and Maynard is backing up. Right hand by Gray on the counter lands hard. Leg kicks by Edgar are landing. Maynard tries a single leg and can't get it. Right hand by Edgar, Maynard is hurt badly! Another big shot and Maynard is down! Edgar following up with a flurry of punches and the referee has stop it! Frankie Edgar wins by TKO (punches), round 4.

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Living up to the lofty standards set by their epic bout at UFC 125 was always going to be an uphill battle for Frank Edgar and Gray Maynard. Amazingly, they somehow managed to replicate the drama and excitement that was produced by their January encounter. Once again, Edgar found himself staring defeat in the face in the opening minutes of the fight, as “The Bully” clobbered him with an uppercut that put him on wobbly feet, before later knocking him down with a straight right. From there, it was one way traffic as Maynard continued to pounce on his foe. Yet again, Edgar survived and rallied his way back into the fight. This time around however, Edgar outdid himself. In the fourth round, he landed an uppercut after a failed takedown attempt that rocked Maynard badly. “The Answer” was not to make the same mistake that his opponent did, and two subsequent right hands and some ground-and-pound earned the champion one of the most memorable comebacks in UFC history. That terrific finish gave Edgar “Knockout of the Night” honors, while Joe Lauzon earned “Submission of the Night” for his upset of Melvin Guillard. Lauzon caught his opponent with a counter left hand before taking his back and choking him out forty-seven seconds into the fight. Both men won an extra $75,000 for their efforts. Elsewhere, Nam Phan gained a measure of revenge over Leonard Garcia in a highly entertaining affair that saw the pair engage in the type of slugfest that Garcia has become famous for. Phan dominated the first two rounds with superior technical boxing, but a late knockdown for Garcia almost turned the tables. It proved to be insufficient however, as Phan earned a 29-28 decision across all three scorecards. The showing earned the bout the distinction of being the event’s “Fight of the Night” with the two featherweights each taking home an addition $75k. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

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Frankie Edgar knocks out Gray Maynard in the main event of UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" tonight (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) in Houston, Texas, to retain his lightweight championship and bring an dazzling end to a thrilling trilogy. This one will -- or should -- go down as the greatest pair of fights in one year between two talented mixed martial artists in history. What an unbelievable night. For complete UFC 136 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here. After the jump is the detailed blow-by-blow from the fight from our very own Andrew Mendez: UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Round one: Double jab from Edgar. Leg kick from Edgar. Leg kick from Maynard. Hard combo from Edgar finishes with a left hook. Right from Edgar. Short uppercut from Edgar. Edgar with a heel hook take down attempt and has the back of Maynard but cannot finish it off. Now their in the center of the cage again. HUGE uppercut from Maynard ROCKS EDGAR. Another uppercut from Maynard and now he lands a big knee. Edgar is HURT!!! Big right hook from Edgar. Right from Maynard lands hard. Maynard lands a short right that knocks Edgar back. Now their on the mat and Maynard lands a little and Edgar is back up and Maynard lands another big uppercut. Left from Edgar. Edgar is bleeding bad from His nose. Big right and knee from Maynard. Left from Edgar and big jump knee from Maynard. Now their on the mat and Maynard lands some punches and now their back up. Big left and then right from Maynard. Another left from Maynard. Edgar with a left hook. That is the bell and that was a creepily similar round 1 to the last fight but this time its not a 10-8 round. 10-9 Maynard. Round two: Both men dancing around feeling one another out. Nice uppercut left hook combo from Edgar. Body head combo from Edgar and then a leg kick. Nice uppercut left hook combo again. Leg kick from Edgar and a big right hook from Edgar. Left hook from Edgar. Edgar shoots and nothing there Edgar lands a left on the break. Nice uppercut and left hook from Edgar. Jab from Edgar, and nice combo with a finishing left hook from Edgar. Right from Maynard and that is the bell. That was all Edgar in that round. 10-9 Edgar. Round three: Inside leg kick from Edgar. Jab from Edgar. Leg kick from Edgar. Knee from Maynard. Left from Edgar. Hard leg kick from Edgar. Edgar ducks under for a single but is stopped. Jab from Edgar. Leg kick from Edgar and one from Maynard. Body shot from Edgar. Edgar with a duck under right hand. Left from Edgar. Jab from both men. Right from Maynard. Inside leg kick from Edgar. Short uppercut from Maynard. Big right hook from Edgar. Nice leg kick from Edgar. Hard left hook right straight combo from Edgar. Jab from Edgar. Uppercut from Edgar. Nice combo from Edgar. Nice body kick from Edgar. Jab from Maynard. That is the bell and another round goes to Edgar. 10-9 Edgar. Round four: Right from Edgar. Inside leg kick from Edgar. Edgar goes for a take down and he lands a good uppercut. HARD right hand and left from Edgar. Leg kick from Edgar. Maynard goes for a take down and Edgar stuffs it. Maynard with a knee to the body. Hard right from Edgar. Nice uppercut from Edgar now. Another good uppercut from Edgar and coutner right from Maynard. Right from Edgar and then a leg kick and another leg kick. Edgar slips out of a take down attempt. Leg kick from Edgar. Left from Edgar. Nice body head combo from Edgar. Left from Edgar. Edgar shoots for a take down and then lands a HUGE uppercut!!!! Maynard is dropped, and bounces back to his feet. Edgar now charges in and lands two uppercuts and a big right!! Maynard is hurt bad!!! Edgar lands a MONSTER right and Maynard drops to the mat!! Edgar jumps on top and is pounding away with punches and that is it the ref stops it!!! WOW, Frankie Edgar with a vicious KO win!

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ESPN has UFC 136 highlight videos from Saturday’s event in Houston, Texas, where UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar came back to score a fourth-round knockout of Gray Maynard and featherweight champ Jose Aldo earned a unanimous decision win over Kenny Florian. Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard UFC 136 video: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian UFC 136 video: MORE: UFC 136 Results, Recaps, and Play-by-Play for “Edgar vs. Maynard”

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Frankie Edgar held onto his lightweight title and finished Gray Maynard at UFC 136. Read here to find out how the champ retained the belt and prevented a repeat draw of UFC 126.

Posted in: ufc, title, frankie edgar, maynard, frankie

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Frankie Edgar beat Gray Maynard by TKO to defend his lightweight championship on Saturday night in the fourth round at UFC.

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After another phenomenal fight, "The Answer" remains the UFC lightweight champion with a fourth round TKO win.

Posted in: frankie edgar, maynard, frankie, round tko, instant

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Frankie Edgar finally had “The Answer” to Gray Maynard on Saturday night, as Edgar retained the UFC lightweight title with a fourth-round TKO of “The Bully” in the main event of UFC 136 in Houston, Texas. Like their second fight that ended in a draw in January, Edgar was nearly finished in a first-round onslaught by the challenger Maynard, but narrowly survive. After regaining his composure in the second, Edgar attacked with more combinations and leg kicks in the third and hurt Maynard following a takedown attempt in the fourth. Edgar chased Maynard down near the fence and dropped him with a right before forcing the referee to step in after a barrage of unanswered punches on the ground. MMAFrenzy.com’s play-by-play of Edgar vs. Maynard is below: Round 1 – Maynard comes out in a low stance as he meets Edgar in the center of the Octagon. Edgar lunges with jabs, but they don’t connect. Maynard kicks and Edgar nearly grabs it. Edgar lands with a punch close then circles away. Edgar rushes for a takedown, but he can’t get him down and they return to their feet. Maynard misses with a high kick, but rocks Edgar with an uppercut. Maynard lands another uppercut followed by a big knee. Edgar is wobbled, but avoids a follow-up. Edgard hasn’t recovered yet and Maynard hunts for a finish with several combos that hurt Edgar again, but the champion survives another barrage that looks to break his now. MMAFrenzy.com scores the first for Maynard 10-8. Round 2 – Edgar looks mostly recovered from the first as he comes out on the attack to start the second. Maynard patiently looking for an opening, but Edgar connects with a good left. Edgar avoids a lunging punch from Maynard and counters with another of his own. Both fighters connect with solid punches as they look for openings. Edgar stays more active as he circles, but Maynard shrugs off another takedown. Edgar lands another good combination and avoids Maynard’s attack in the final seconds. MMAFrenzy scores the second for Edgar 10-9 to make the fight 19-18 Maynard. Round 3 – Edgar and Maynard avoid most of the punches and kicks to start the second. Edgar ducking Maynard’s jab and avoids an uppercut like the one that put him down in the first. Edgar works the jab and fires leg kicks. Edgar controls the pace as Maynard has settled in too much and struggles to find his target. Edgar with several more good combinations as he avoids Maynard’s power punches. Edgar dives in again with another combo and avoids the counter leg kick before the bell. MMAFrenzy has the third for Edgar 10-9 evening the fight at 28-28. Round 4 – Edgar lands another combo to start the fourth. Maynard’s warned for poking Edgar’s eye but they fight on. Edgar tags Maynard with another combo then shrugs off a takedown. Edgar rushes in with combos that land, but Maynard counters with a pair of hard rights. Edgar mixes in more leg kicks and continues to connect with punches in close. Edgar goes for a takedown and Maynard sprawls, but Edgar hurts him with a combo, drops him with a right, and finishes him with punches on the ground. Frankie Edgar (c) def. Gray Maynard via TKO (punches) – Round 4, 3:54 Pictured: Frankie Edgar

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Filed under: UFCHOUSTON -- Usually, the last of a trilogy ends up as a letdown. Whether it is a movie franchise that has gone on too long or fighters that compete past their prime, it doesn't often require three cracks at something to make it memorable. But the final fight of the Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard trilogy was so riveting it blew past any expectations. Again, Maynard had Edgar in a world of trouble early, and again Edgar refused to be put away, surviving on guts for an entire round. And then, summoning the unreal courage of a scripted action hero, he came back and vanquished the man that had been the thorn in his side, blasting Maynard into a fourth-round TKO finish at UFC 136. It was an epic finish to a fight series that saw each man win one time as well as fight to a draw. "Think about all the fights we've seen in the last 10 years," UFC president Dana White said. "How many fights you have seen where you see where a guy goes out gets hurt that bad in the first round? I tell you, that's movie s---. That stuff doesn't really happen in real life. There's two guys I've seen do it: Arturo Gatti and Frankie edgar. That's it. What he did last time and this time ... he's an amazing human being, an amazing athlete, and he has a heart the size of his room." How Rocky-like was his performance? In the post-fight press conference, a Brazilian reporter raised his hand to ask a question, played the Rocky theme from his phone and asked Edgar for his comment. He needed every bit of that fighting spirit to retain his gold. Maynard tattooed Edgar early in the first, dropping him several times. It began much like their last fight in that regard. But in their January bout, Maynard went all in for the kill, didn't get it, and fought through exhaustion the rest of the way as they went to a draw. This time, Maynard stalked Edgar around the cage and picked his shots more judiciously. The result was the same: Edgar in trouble but finding a way to escape. Even though Maynard out-struck Edgar 36-11 in round one, the champ lived to fight another round. Afterward, a dejected Maynard said he didn't regret his approach. "I did hit him with a knee, a right, a hook," he said. "What else? If there was a bat there I probably would have hit him with that, too. I couldn't find one." For Edgar, it was sheer basic instinct keeping him alive, much as it did the first time around. "Sometimes you get hit like that, you're in survival mode," he said. "I don't think you have a plan. I got fight in me. That's what it is. You're going to hit me and rock me, I'm going to keep coming no matter what. The big thing for me is I keep listening to my corner. They helped me make the adjustments i needed to make so I could come back and win this fight." The big adjustment he made was in his movement. Maynard caught him with several uppercuts early, and Edgar made a concerted effort to adjust his positioning to keep him from being lined up down the middle. That immediately paid dividends as his footwork and activity immediately started taking over the fight. According to Compustrike, Edgar out-struck Maynard 20-5 in the second round and 22-11 in the third. But it was the fourth when Edgar ended the trilogy in style. Though never known as a huge puncher, Edgar blasted Maynard with an uppercut which clearly wobbled him. Edgar went for broke, firing off right hands as Maynard fell to the mat. A couple more shots on the grounded challenger, and it was over. Edgar went wild in the cage after scoring his first finish since tapping out Matt Veach in December 2009. Maynard said later that it was the first time he'd ever been rocked like that, including in training. "It's a weight lifted off my shoulder," he said. "After every fight, you think about it for so long. It's a weight lifted off my shoulder that much more when I've been thinking about him for the last 10 months, and he also had the previous win over me." For Edgar, those previous results no longer matter. Gray Maynard had nine rounds to win the belt from him. He rocked him multiple times. He had Edgar down and out. And he couldn't finish. It was amazing to witness, even if you were the guy on the other side of history. "He's just a tough kid," Maynard said, shaking his head. "I know don't know if he has a button that puts him out." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, time, round, edgar, maynard

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Gray Maynard outwrestled Frankie Edgar the first time the met. The second bout saw Maynard dominate the first round with powerful strikes before a great comeback by Edgar in a bout that ended up a draw. At UFC 136 the two men met in a third fight with the winner walking away with the UFC lightweight championship. The fight started off almost exactly like the first round of their previous meeting. Maynard landed some big punches that dropped Edgar and seemed to have him on the verge of being stopped multiple times. Maynard was unable to close the deal and Edgar managed to battle back over the next few rounds. Edgar came back with speed and never really let Maynard get on track after the first round. Maynard couldn't ever really get his offense back on track as the fight wore on. In the fourth round Edgar managed to land a series of right hands that rocked and eventually dropped Maynard. Edgar flurried with left hands on the ground and forced the stoppage. Maynard appeared to be attempting to protest the stoppage but it was completely justified as he was badly hurt and not defending. Frankie Edgar now holds the win he wanted over Gray Maynard and can move forward with his career.

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The main event of UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" tonight (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) in Houston, Texas, featured the third and final showdown in the trilogy pitting Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar against longtime top contender Gray Maynard. The two last tussled at UFC 125 on Jan. 1 in Las Vegas, where the bout ended in a controversial and unsatisfying draw. This, of course, dictated the need for a deciding fight. Tonight was it. And who can we say is now the undisputed number one 155-pound fighter in the land? That would be Frankie Edgar, who emphatically brought an end to one of the most exciting trilogies in the history of the UFC by knocking out Gray Maynard in the fourth round. Whew. What a fight. The fight began as a feeling out process, as is usually the case. Mistakes were at a premium and neither man wanted to be the one to slip first. It was Maynard, once again, who landed big shots in the opening frame, "bullying" his opponent no different than he did earlier this year. He stayed patient this time, not just diving in looking for a finish. He bloodied and battered Edgar, absolutely having his way with him.  But, once again, Frankie survived to the second round. Unreal. A measured Maynard came out decidedly slower in the second, very much conserving his energy, waiting for the right time to strike. He ate quite a few punches while doing so, allowing Edgar to regain his footing and creep back into the fight. By the time it was done, Edgar looked to have evened things up. Uh-oh. The third saw Edgar work hard to get back to even, as an argument could be made that Maynard scored a 10-8 in the opening frame. He was quicker and far more explosive, looking fresher while landing enough shots to keep it extremely close. The championship rounds would truly determine who the man was. Edgar came out strong, landing shots that went unanswered until Maynard came down the pipe with a solid counter right hand. It stunned the champion, enough that he backed off, if only momentarily. Maynard's once vaunted wrestling was nowhere to be found ... again. Finally, mercifully, Edgar landed a clean uppercut that rocked Maynard and put him on his behind. This was absolutely "The Answer," as he followed up with a blitz of punches. Enough of them landed to put Maynard out. And while he protested, "The Bully" had clearly been slain. It's finally over, folks. Thoughts? To check out MMAmania.com's LIVE UFC 136 results post, which includes up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow coverage of EVERY fight click here.

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Frankie Edgar retained his lightweight title at UFC 136 with a comeback performance against Gray Maynard that had more than a little echo of their UFC...

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Filed under: UFC, NewsFrankie Edgar survived another first-round onslaught from Gray Maynard on Saturday. But this time, rather than going the distance for a draw like the two did in January, Edgar got out of the first, controlled the pace of the fight in the second and third, and in the fourth he dropped Maynard with a right and finished him on the ground. One of the best rivalries of the year finally had a finish - with an exclamation point - at UFC 136 in Houston. Edgar's fourth-round TKO in the lightweight championship main event earned him $75,000 for Knockout of the Night - the night's only KO stoppage. Joining him with $75,000 bonuses were Joe Lauzon for Submission of the Night and Nam Phan and Leonard Garcia for Fight of the Night. It was like deja vu for Edgar and Maynard in the first round. Just like their second fight at UFC 125 on Jan. 1, Maynard dominated the first, dropping Edgar with big shots on the feet. In January, it was a decisive 10-8 round for Maynard that Edgar had to come back from. On Saturday, just one just, Doug Crosby, gave a 10-8 to Maynard, while the other two scored it a standard 10-9. Still, Edgar had to go into rally mode with his face bloodied to start the second round. Maynard was decidedly more cautious in the second and third rounds, both of which saw Edgar controlling the tempo and landing decent shots on the feet. But deep in the fourth round, Edgar landed a right uppercut that stunned Maynard, followed it with several more rights on the feet that put Maynard on the canvas, and then finished with several big shots on the ground. The end came at 3:54 of the fourth, and Maynard retained his lightweight title. It also gave him a win over Maynard in his third try. In the pair's first fight, in April 2008, Maynard won a unanimous decision. After Edgar won the lightweight title from BJ Penn and defended it in their rematch, he defended it against Maynard at UFC 125 - and the two fought to a rare title match draw. Finally with some closure, Edgar's next opponent will be just his third in more than two years after a steady diet of Penn and Maynard the last four fights. Lauzon's Submission of the Night was also the card's biggest upset. It came just 47 seconds into the first round against Melvin Guillard, who was riding a five-fight winning streak and came into the fight a more than 5-to-1 favorite. Guillard came out bouncing around and looking to land big shots, but a left from Lauzon stunned Guillard, and Lauzon pounced, quickly took Guillard's back and sank in a fight-ending rear naked choke. Amazingly, Lauzon now has won six straight fight night bonus awards and seven in his last eight fights. He has four submission bonuses and three Fight of the Night awards in that stretch. He also won Submission of the Night in June, a first-round kimura against Curt Warburton. Lauzon's only competition for the Submission of the Night award came from Chael Sonnen, whose second-round arm triangle choke of Brian Stann probably earned him another shot at middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen called Silva out after the fight and said that he wants to up the stakes. Sonnen proposed that if he wins and takes the middleweight title, which he nearly did in August 2010, Silva should have to leave the 185-pound division. And if Sonnen loses, he said he will leave the UFC forever. At the post-fight press conference, UFC president Dana White said it was tough to choose between Lauzon and Sonnen for Submission of the Night, but he ultimately gave it to Lauzon because Lauzon was such a heavy underdog and he rocked the favorite so quickly in the first round. The Fight of the Night may had checks written for it the day it was announced. Phan and Garcia fought to a controversial split decision win for Garcia at the TUF 12 Finale in December. A rematch was booked for March, but Phan was injured. And when Phan's original UFC 136 opponent, Matt Grice (who replaced Josh Grispi) was forced out, Garcia stepped in. In what amounted to a continuation of their first fight, Phan and Garcia again had moments of a backyard brawl. But Phan was more accurate and controlled the pace in the first two rounds, landing more consistently. Garcia may have been on his way to a possible 10-8 third round, but Phan did enough to stay in the round and won a 29-28 unanimous decision. Both Phan-Garcia fights have been Fight of the Night winners, and while Phan said after the fight he doesn't want to do No. 3, Garcia said if the fight could be in Houston, in his native Texas, he'd gladly do a trilogy fight. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Filed under: UFCFrankie Edgar finally has his victory over Gray Maynard. The third fight between Edgar and Maynard got off to an explosive start and had an even more explosive ending Saturday night at UFC 136, with Edgar winning by fourth-round knockout after nearly getting knocked out himself at the start of the fight. It was the third fight between the two great lightweights, and the first won Edgar won. Maynard beat Edgar in 2007, and the two of them fought to a draw on New Year's Day this year. Now Edgar has finally beaten Maynard and eliminated any doubt that he's the best lightweight in the world. "This ain't easy fighting someone three times," Edgar said afterward. "Gray forced me to bring the best out of myself." Maynard busted up Edgar's face in the first round, just like he did the last time they fought: Within the first few minutes of the fight Edgar had been knocked down, had his nose broken and gotten blood all over his face. It was a dominant first round for Maynard, just as he dominated the first round of their New Year's Day fight. But just as in their New Year's Day fight, Edgar came back and looked much better in the second round, while Maynard looked tired and allowed Edgar to get back into it in the second round. Edgar had to be feeling good at the end of the second. Edgar continued to look fresh and comfortable in the third, and Maynard still wasn't doing any damage. It was surprising to see Maynard not attempt any takedowns, not hurt Edgar with any punches and allow Edgar back into the fight, just as he had done in the prior bout. And in the fourth round Edgar made Maynard pay for letting him survive so long. Edgar rocked Maynard with punches in the center of the Octagon, bullied the Bully against the fence, knocked him down with more punches and finally finished the fight after 3 minutes, 54 seconds of the fourth. The win improves Edgar's record to 14-1-1. And now he'll get to defend his belt against someone other than Gray Maynard. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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HOUSTON -- This is the UFC 136 live blog for Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, the main event of tonight's UFC 136 pay-per-view from the Toyota Center. Lightweight champion Edgar (13-1-1) would be holding a perfect MMA record if it wasn't for Maynard (10-0-1). Edgar lost to Maynard at a UFC Fight Night event back in April 2008 and earlier this year, fought Maynard to a draw at UFC 125. The live blog is below. More Coverage: UFC 136 Results | Latest UFC 136 News Round 1: Low stance from both to open. Edgar opens with a leg kick. Maynard throws a kick and Edgar catches it. Big right from Edgar. Edgar with a combo. Edgar drives and nearly takes Maynard down. Maynard grabbed the fence but ref Josh Rosenthal let them continue. Maynard tried a head kick that missed. Maynard rocked Edgar. Maynard with a left hook. No flurry this time. He's being patient. Edgar clinches. Edgar with a straight right. Maynard misses a power left hook. The crowd chants for Edgar with two minutes left. Maynard floors him with a hook. Edgar tries for the takedown. Maynard lets him up. Maynard with an uppercut. Edgar is in trouble. Over a minute left. Maynard with a headkick. Maynard with a knee to the head. Edgar down. Maynard with punches from behind. Edgar back to his feet. He's all heart. Edgar looks unsteady and has blood in his eye. Maynard taking his time picking his shots, and a lot are landing. Edgar's nose is leaking blood. They make it to the horn, Maynard 10-9. Here we go again... Round 2: Maynard a little slow out of the gate. Edgar lands a strong left hook early. Round 3: Round 4: Round 5: %VIRTUAL-Gallery-136100% Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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 UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and number one division contender Gray Maynard share last words before their third and final fight tonight (Oct. 8, 2011) at UFC 136 from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The "trilogy" fight, which the "Bully" doesn't really think is an appropriate description because "The Answer" has yet to score a win in the series, is a long time coming. The pair fought to an exciting, albeit disappointing draw, in their last encounter earlier this year at UFC 125: "Resolution." Will Edgar finally get in the win column or will Maynard finally get the 155-pound belt that has eluded him this far?

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As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III. The live blog will start with the beginning of the Facebook prelim stream (5:45 p.m. ET), continuing through the Spike TV prelim broadcast (8 p.m. ET) and finally through the pay-per-view broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. The pay-per-view main card is headlined by the third meeting between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. The two men fought to a draw in their epic rematch this past January. Also on the card is a featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and Kenny Florian. The card remains solid all the way through with former middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen facing Brian Stann, a rematch Nam Phan and Leonard Garcia's exciting slugfest and fast rising lightweight star Melvin Guillard battling Joe Lauzon. It's one of the best cards in UFC history and we'll be here to break it all down. Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event takes place. SBN coverage of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III

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As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III. The live blog will start with the beginning of the Facebook prelim stream (currently scheduled for 5:45 p.m. ET), continuing through the Spike TV prelim broadcast (8 p.m. ET) and finally through the pay-per-view broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. Before the main card featuring Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard and Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian, we'll be giving live results of the two Spike TV bouts right here. The Spike broadcast features a pair of very good fights with Demian Maia facing Jorge Santiago as well as an exciting class of lightweights as Anthony Pettis meets Jeremy Stephens. Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down. SBN coverage of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III

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The main event of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III will see one of the most exciting rematches in the history of the Lightweight division. Frankie Edgar (13-1-1; 8-1-1 UFC) will defend his Lightweight title against Gray Maynard (10-1-1, 1 NC; 8-0-1, 1 NC UFC) for the second time in the final fight of the evening. This is also a clash between the men ranked #1 (Edgar) and #2 (Maynard) in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. If you are a fan of fights mixing history with the highest level of skill, this is the fight for you. Edgar and Maynard have, over the course of two previous fights, demonstrated just how evenly matched they are in every aspect of the game. They first met in 2008 as two undefeated prospects. It was a much closer fight than the 30-27 scorecards would indicate, but Maynard was able to use his wrestling to control Edgar enough for the win. After that loss, neither man would lose again leading into the rematch earlier this year, this time for Edgar's title. That fight is an all time classic with Edgar surviving a brutal first round to drag it back to a draw and retain his belt. The third fight was planned for earlier this year, but was delayed due to injury. We finally get it this weekend. How do these two stack up? Edgar: 29 years old | 5'6" | 72" reachMaynard: 32 years old | 5'8" | 70" reach What have these two done recently? Edgar: D - Gray Maynard | W - B.J. Penn (UD) | W - B.J. Penn (UD)Maynard: D - Frankie Edgar | W - Kenny Florian (UD) | W - Nate Diaz (SD) How did these two get here? As is the theme with these two, Edgar and Maynard come to this fight through very similar paths. Frankie Edgar came into the UFC with a strong wrestling pedigree. He immediately made a splash by winning a spectacular debut fight against Tyson Griffin in the early days of the resurgent Lightweight division. He won 3 straight before the first Maynard loss, where his smaller size cost him. He turned that size into an advantage with speed, conditioning, and boxing, winning 3 in a row before challenging and upsetting B.J. Penn for the Lightweight title. This is his third title defense. Like Edgar, Gray Maynard came in as a strong wrestler with high hopes for success in the UFC. A cast member of season 5 of The Ultimate Fighter, Maynard does have one unofficial loss on his record, as he was defeated by Nate Diaz during the show. After a fluke No Contest in his UFC debut, Maynard rattled off 8 straight wins, including Edgar, Diaz, Kenny Florian, and Jim Miller. He is convinced that he won the second fight, and comes into this fight determined to claim his belt. Why should you care? Seriously, how can you not? The second fight was amazing, full of skill and drama between two supremely evenly matched fighters. Add in the rivalry of this being the third fight, and you have a real classic brewing here. I can't wait. More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 136 after the jump. UFC 136 Judo Chop: The Striking of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard - Fraser Coffeen UFC 136 Preview - Melvin Guillard Gunning for Knockout Bonus - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136 Video - Bruce Buffer: 'You Can't Announce the Way I Announce If You're Not Into It' - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Weigh-In Video and Results - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Video: Frankie Edgar Says Belt Proves He Belongs at Lightweight - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Bloody Elbow Staff Predictions UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Frankie Edgar Talks Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 87: UFC 136 Preview UFC 136: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 136: Spike TV Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Jose Aldo's Second Chance to Destroy Foolish Assumptions - Leland Roling UFC 136: A Running Diary of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video and Updates - Tim Burke UFC State of the Union: UFC 136 and the Lightweight Division - Fraser Coffeen Countdown to UFC 136 Video UFC 136: Melvin Guillard's Continuing Quest for a Title Shot - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Preview: Looking Back at Edgar vs. Maynard 2 Highlights and Reaction - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Dana White Video Blog, Day 1

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The semi-main event of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III features just the second Featherweight title fight in UFC history. Champion Jose Aldo (19-1; 1-0 UFC) will defend his title against challenger Kenny Florian (15-5; 12-4 UFC) in the second to last fight of the evening. Aldo will also unofficially be defending his #1 ranking in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings. Florian is ranked #4. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. This is a fight defined largely by the pressure on both men. For Jose Aldo, there's the pressure of carrying the newly formed UFC Featherweight division. Since moving over from the WEC, the division has received little attention outside of Aldo. But he's the kind of fighter that can make people care about every fight he's in. For Kenny Florian, the pressure comes from his 3rd UFC title fight. Dana White has painted him as a choker, who can not win the big one. This could be his last chance to prove his boss wrong. How do these two stack up? Aldo: 25 years old | 5'7" | 70" reachFlorian: 35 years old | 5'10" | 74" reach What have these two done recently? Aldo: W - Mark Hominick (UD) | W - Manvel Gamburyan (KO) | W - Urijah Faber (UD)Florian: W - Diego Nunes (UD) | L - Gray Maynard (UD) | W - Takanori Gomi (Sub) How did these two get here? Aldo comes in making what is technically the 2nd defense of his UFC Featherweight title, though realistically, this is his 4th defense since winning the WEC belt from Mike Brown in 2009. Aldo's stand up skill and knock out power had brought him to the top of the 145 pound ranks, and has prompted many to call him a pound for pound top 5. He's coming off a fight where some felt he struggled with Mark Hominick, and needs a decisive win to keep in the pound for pound discussion. Florian has taken a long and winding road to this bout. Starting in the UFC as a Middleweight on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter (where he made the finals), Florian promptly dropped down to Welterweight, then Lightweight. As a Lightweight, he was in the first title fight of the reborn division, losing to Sean Sherk in a bloody battle. He won 6 in a row before his next title challenge, losing to B.J. Penn. After two more impressive wins, he was defeated by Gray Maynard in a top contender fight, which prompted both White's comments about Florian choking, and a drop down to Featherweight. His 145 debut saw him have a few troubles against Diego Nunes, but he won, and his name value was enough to earn him an immediate title shot. Why should you care? On the one hand, you have the dynamic Jose Aldo looking for another huge highlight reel KO. On the other, you have the long journey of Kenny Florian looking to finally capture UFC gold. Fireworks + emotion = win. More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 136 after the jump. UFC 136 Judo Chop: The Striking of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard - Fraser Coffeen UFC 136 Preview - Melvin Guillard Gunning for Knockout Bonus - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136 Video - Bruce Buffer: 'You Can't Announce the Way I Announce If You're Not Into It' - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Weigh-In Video and Results - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Video: Frankie Edgar Says Belt Proves He Belongs at Lightweight - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Bloody Elbow Staff Predictions UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Frankie Edgar Talks Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 87: UFC 136 Preview UFC 136: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 136: Spike TV Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Jose Aldo's Second Chance to Destroy Foolish Assumptions - Leland Roling UFC 136: A Running Diary of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video and Updates - Tim Burke UFC State of the Union: UFC 136 and the Lightweight Division - Fraser Coffeen Countdown to UFC 136 Video UFC 136: Melvin Guillard's Continuing Quest for a Title Shot - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Preview: Looking Back at Edgar vs. Maynard 2 Highlights and Reaction - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Dana White Video Blog, Day 1

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Rather than keeping cool in the air conditioning over the summer, Gray Maynard found himself consumed by a fire sparked months earlier after his title-fight against Frank Edgar at UFC 125 was named a draw by ringside judges. Now, nine months later, Maynard will finally have a chance to unleash the flames he’s internalized since coming up a hair short. Earlier this week, Maynard spoke candidly about how the outcome has affected him and why he’s supremely motivated to prove he’s the better fighter between the two later tonight in the main event at UFC 136. “At that time, I felt like I wanted to do it again,” the Xtreme Couture original explained of the draw in a conversation with the UFC’s website. “Over and over….if I had to sign a contract that I had to go up against this guy 100 times to prove to everyone that I (could) beat this guy 100 times then I would have done that. I still feel that way. I want to fight him. I’m not tired of fighting him. I want to fight him. I want to prove to everyone that I can beat him.” “For me, I’m not trying to hold onto the fact that I beat him before,” Maynard continued. “I forget about that stuff. You can ask me who I beat and I will tell you to check for yourself because I don’t remember. But if you ask me who beat me – I’ll tell you when, the date, the time, who it was, his background – I’ll tell you everything about it. I just hate to lose. I hate draws. I hate everything but a win.” Maynard Going into UFC 136 Angry The 32-year old also made it clear he knows he was handed a gift in the form of an immediate rematch though not one he feels he didn’t necessarily deserve. “I feel like I’ve earned this. I didn’t try to back door it. I didn’t drop to my knees. I didn’t think this marketing plan will have me at 300,000 Twitter followers and that’s going to get me a title shot. I just asked for the best guys every fight until I had the opportunity. I felt like I won that. The judges say it was a draw – ok. But this dude hasn’t beaten me and he’s the champ. I don’t understand how I don’t get another shot at that. I don’t understand how it’s a question. Thank God they did. I think it was Dana who called and said it was mine and I think I told him I loved him and cried a little bit because that was awesome. He could have chose whoever he wanted to because that’s his job…he chose me and I appreciate that more than anything – it’s unreal.” If people wonder why Maynard is so passionate about the chance to eliminate the doubt surrounding the situation it has to do with the level of personal investment he’s put into being a great fighter. “I just want people to know that I really do put everything I have into this sport – into my dreams,” Maynard revealed. “Whether it is cash, time, I put it ahead of a lot of things – of everything. It isn’t a game to me; it’s my life and it’s who I am. You only have a couple times to achieve your dreams and I want to make the most of it. I feel that I’m the guy who can beat him. I feel like I’m the guy who can beat everyone. I’m not trying to say I’m the best or anything, but I put a plan and camp together and I feel like I have the edge in that aspect. I believe in myself.” At 10-0-1, and with a previous win over Edgar, it’s hard to question Maynard’s self-assurance. Then again, whether or not the same will ring true tomorrow morning remains to be seen. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, time, guy, “ i, maynard

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Top ranked lightweight Gilbert Melendez is making his statement clear. He wants to face the winner of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard after UFC 136 concludes.

Posted in: winner, gilbert melendez, frankie edgar, maynard, frankie

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As with every major show, Bloody Elbow will be here to bring you live results, play by play and commentary for UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III. The live blog will start with the beginning of the Facebook prelim stream (currently scheduled for 5:45 p.m. ET), continuing through the Spike TV prelim broadcast (8 p.m. ET) and finally through the pay-per-view broadcast (9 p.m. ET) so make sure to make Bloody Elbow your home for this event. This post will cover the live results and thoughts on the Facebook preliminary stream. Before getting to the huge main card with two title bouts including Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian and Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard there will be four fights show on Facebook. The featured webstream bout sees Stipe Miocic take on Joey Beltran in a heavyweight clash. Zhang Tie Quan meets Darren Elkins, Aaron Simpson squares off with Eric Schafer and former WEC light heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell faces Mike Massenzio. Make sure to come back during the event and share your thoughts as the event goes down. SBN coverage of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III

Posted in: vs, facebook, edgar, maynard, maynard iii

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It's arrived. The trilogy will conclude in the headliner of tonight's UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III event, a blockbuster pitting the two best lightweights in the world in a sure-fire dogfight. For all the hoopla surrounding this match up, anyone who's watched their previous collisions should know what variables are at play here. Frankie Edgar will wield his hyperspace agility and abstract cage flux to combat the sheer power Gray Maynard packs in his monster punches and enveloping takedowns. It's no secret that Edgar will surely look to avoid being clobbered by Maynard's rocket-fueled left hook, which robbed him of his faculties in their last encounter and burdened him with climbing back from a 10-8 round right off the bat. While Maynard's crushing meathooks put him in the driver's seat early, the siren call of his killer instinct was almost too loud, as he overzealously pounced with an extreme level of aggression that left his defenses exposed in later rounds. The see-saw affair resulted in a very clear list of successes and failures scribbled on the drawing board for the rubber match. Edgar is the superior technician standing who must "box the brawler" and finesse his takedowns; Maynard is a ravenous gorilla who must intelligently create scenarios where he can impose his overwhelming will. Gifs and analysis in the full entry. First and foremost, make sure you peruse Fraser Coffeen's Judo Chop that analyzes the striking exchanges in their last fight, as well as K.J. Gould's Judo Chop on the grappling. What makes this a great match up is that even though Edgar's edge is his speed and Maynard's is power, neither are weak by any means where their opponent excels. Maynard has good hand speed and agility for such a strong lightweight; Edgar has powerful takedowns and saying he has "pillow hands" is a bit of an exaggeration. Maynard uses nothing but basic boxing backed with skull-splitting heft to rock Frankie. In both fights, Maynard connected with his biggest blows while lunging forward and leading rather than waiting to counter Edgar's incoming combinations. Therefore, "getting off first" becomes a priority for Maynard. Edgar's poetic explosion of crisp combinations from unexpected angles is better left defended than attempted to pick apart. Maynard's bread and butter punches are his lunging left hook and uppercut, both of which are anchored by his absolutely devastating short right hand. The flip side is that Edgar excels in counter punching, especially against the more basic combinations that Maynard throws. The fuse that sparks his comeback is the laser-straight one-two he responds with to the right. You can see that Maynard is much more of a stationary target with his hands low, playing right into Edgar's warp-speed "in and out" strategy. Again, Edgar is successful when he's leading the exchanges. Notice how Maynard is now on his heels and forced to react, both defensively (dodging the strikes with footwork and head movement) and offensively (trying to get a bead on some of the fastest hands and best head-work in the division). It's also worth mentioning that Edgar tones down the volume and breadth of his strikes, relying on just one- and two-punch combinations thrown straight and long. Edgar secures his takedowns one of two ways. His absence of significant striking power gives his adversaries the confidence that they can absorb the blows. They relent on reacting with urgent motion, enabling the surprise double leg (like vs. Penn). Or, his endlessly elusive tendencies are so unbearably annoying that his opponents barrel forward. This allows him to rapid-shift from reverse to high gear and use their own momentum to get ultra-deep with a simple and precise level drop, as we see to the left. Between two high level and prestigious wrestlers like this, I can't hammer on the importance of penetration enough for the takedown battles. Re-examine the gif above with this in mind. Facilitated by timing, Edgar gets so deep on the double leg that Gray's entire waist and torso are draped perfectly across Edgar's lowered shoulders. It's the perfect fulcrum to topple someone over. It's also the exact reason why Gray doesn't succeed on this attempt to the left. The ideal ploy for Gray is something I was surprised he didn't do more. Since Frankie doesn't elude the attempt entirely, makes contact and uses a little muscle to shuck him off, Maynard should play the game of dropping levels and then bashing hooks when Edgar lowers his hands to sprawl. Kevin Randleman executed the technique flawlessly in his knockout upset of Mirko Filipovic. While Edgar's motion alternates between in and out, Maynard's should be up and down from striking to takedowns. All in all, these two are incredibly even-matched and I expect another razor-thin decision. The overwhelming consensus seems to be that Edgar will prevail. I agree. Please insert all the recycled but truthful disclaimers about this statement, but a broad brush stroke on the last fight might be that Edgar "got caught" and was merely delayed on implementing his bulletproof gameplan. My feeling is just that it will be easier for Edgar to fine-tune and replicate his performance than it will be for Maynard. Frankie's chin has been phenomenal and, although Gray obviously broke it down, the big first round scare last time will probably give Frankie the right amount of confidence that he can trudge through Maynard's best punches and a spike in caution to avoid it, knowing that eating one punch can end his title run. I expect Edgar to start out overly hesitant -- much to the chagrin of the bloodthirsty audience -- and methodically needle straight punches for the first few rounds. I think a painfully safe onset early to avoid any of Maynard's haymakers or takedown attempts will boost his confidence and bait the challenger into upping his aggression. Mid-fight, I imagine Maynard will get antsy and succumb to the pressure to make something dramatic happen, which will open the door for Edgar to prey on openings and methodically pick him apart with pinpoint punches and evasive movement. My Prediction: Frankie Edgar by decision   All gifs via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com Poll Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Frankie Edgar Gray Maynard   13 votes | Results

Posted in: takedown, punch, edgar, maynard, frankie

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All that glitters is not gold, as evidenced by the lightweight logjam created by Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard's inability to settle their differences inside the cage. They'll attempt to do so again tonight (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) in the main event of UFC 136 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The 155-pound championship has been in a suspended state since UFC 125 on Jan. 1 when "The Bully" failed to find "The Answer" to finishing Edgar and went home pissed off and empty handed after cageside judges couldn't make up their collective minds. Anger can be a crippling emotion but motivation fueled by failure can be equally as powerful. While Maynard was unable to defeat Edgar in their second meeting to kick the year off (read all about that incredible war here), he does hold the distinction of being the only man to hold a victory over the lightweight king. That victory, however, came all the way back in 2008. With everything that's occurred in the meantime, that seems like light years ago. Edgar holds victories over Hermes Franca, Sean Sherk, Matt Veach and B.J. Penn since then. That's an impressive resume and one that should serve to remind fight fans how exactly how dangerous the New Jersey native really is. Maynard has yet to truly taste defeat, although he might tell you otherwise. The draw on New Year's Day felt like a loss to him, especially considering the fact that he didn't get to go home with the title he's spent his life working for. He's got one more shot to grab that belt and take it for himself tonight. Failure is not an option. Can he do it? Stay tuned.

Posted in: ufc, year, edgar, maynard, victory

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The last WEC lightweight champion gave MMA fans the term "Showtime kick" and came into the UFC with a guaranteed title shot. One title fight draw before he got his shot changed all that, and a loss to Clay Guida has Showtime looking to finally establish himself in the UFC in Houston. On the other side of the coin, one of the hardest-hitting lightweights out there is looking to completely derail the Showtime hype train and finally establish himself in the upper echelon of the packed 155-pound division. Anthony Pettis (13-2, 0-1 UFC) squares off with Jeremy Stephens (20-6, 7-5 UFC).  Pettis is currently sitting at number 10 and Stephens is unranked on the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings.  Stephens actually just missed and is currently at 28, and a win over Pettis would guarantee him a spot in the top 25. Pettis doesn't have much to gain rankings-wise, but his first UFC win would be huge for him. This lightweight UFC 136 fight will be on the preliminary card, which will be shown live on Spike TV. The Spike prelims show begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. How do these two stack up? Pettis: 24 years old | 5'10" | 72" reachStephens: 25 years old | 5'9" | 71" reach What have these two done recently? Pettis: L - Clay Guida (UD)  | W  - Ben Henderson (UD) | W - Shane Roller (SUB)Stephens: W - Daniel Downes (UD) | W - Marcus Davis (KO) | L - Melvin Guillard (UD)  How did these two get here? Anthony "Showtime" Pettis made his MMA debut on his 20th birthday, and just kept winning. He earned his way into the WEC and won a bout there before dropping a highly controversial split decision to Bart Palaszewski at WEC 45. That didn't stop him though, and three more impressive wins earned him a WEC lightweight title shot against champion Ben Henderson at the promotion's final show, WEC 53. And what a fight it was. In the 5th round of a fight that was dead even, Pettis used the cage as a projectile and kicked his way to a win and the title. He thought he was getting a UFC title shot too, until UFC 125 saw champion Frankie Edgar go to a draw with Gray Maynard. A rematch was ordered, and Pettis was matched up with Clay Guida at the TUF 13 Finale. Guida grounded him and picked up an easy decision win, and now Pettis needs a win badly to establish himself in the UFC and stay in the title hunt. Jeremy "Lil Heathen" Stephens has definitely had an up-and-down career since his UFC debut back in 2007. He's 7-5 in the UFC, but has never strung together more than two wins at a time. He's on one of those two-fight winning streaks now, and a win over Pettis would likely be the biggest of his career. The heavy-handed lightweight has won the knockout of the night bonus three times, and picked up a fight of the night bonus as well. Why should you care? Come on folks. This is MMA's version of July 4th - guaranteed fireworks. Stephens is unlikely to follow the Guida gameplan and will look to take Showtime's head off, which should lead to some amazing exchanges. This fight is a PPV-worthy matchup, and it's on free TV. That's how deep this card is. You can catch more UFC 136 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump. UFC 136 Judo Chop: The Striking of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard - Fraser Coffeen UFC 136 Preview - Melvin Guillard Gunning for Knockout Bonus - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136 Video - Bruce Buffer: 'You Can't Announce the Way I Announce If You're Not Into It' - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Weigh-In Video and Results - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Video: Frankie Edgar Says Belt Proves He Belongs at Lightweight - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Bloody Elbow Staff Predictions UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Frankie Edgar Talks Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo - Mike Fagan UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 87: UFC 136 Preview UFC 136: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention - Leland Roling UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Betting Lines - Tim Burke UFC 136: Spike TV Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann? - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Jose Aldo's Second Chance to Destroy Foolish Assumptions - Leland Roling UFC 136: A Running Diary of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II - Mike Fagan UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video and Updates - Tim Burke UFC State of the Union: UFC 136 and the Lightweight Division - Fraser Coffeen Countdown to UFC 136 Video UFC 136: Melvin Guillard's Continuing Quest for a Title Shot - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136 Preview: Looking Back at Edgar vs. Maynard 2 Highlights and Reaction - Brent Brookhouse UFC 136: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston UFC 136: Dana White Video Blog, Day 1

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UFC 136 takes place later tonight at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The event airs live on pay-per-view at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The pay-per-view broadcast will be preceded by prelim specials on Facebook at 6pm ET/3pm PT and Spike TV at 8pm ET/5pm PT. In the main event, Frankie Edgar puts his UFC lightweight title on the line again against Gray Maynard. In the co-main event, Kenny Florian challenges Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight title. Chael Sonnen returns from his “time-out” to take on Brian Stann in a middleweight bout. Melvin Guillard looks to put himself in lightweight title contention against Joe Lauzon. Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan meet in a featherweight rematch. Results, recap and bonuses after the jump. Results Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens Joey Beltran vs. Stipe Miocic Darren Elkins vs. Tiequan Zhang Eric Schafer vs. Aaron Simpson Steve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio Recap & Thoughts Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens: Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard: Bonuses $??? Submission of the Night: Knockout of the Night: Fight of the Night:

Posted in: vs, brian stann, joe lauzon, nam phan, maynard

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Ahead of Saturday's UFC 136 main event between Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard for the third and quite possibly final time, I'd like to cast our minds back to their UFC 125 war at the beginning of the year that ended in a draw. UFC have kindly enough put up the fight on their website to watch for free and have marketed the rematch as 'The Great Debate' pushing the notion fans are divided over who should have won the fight. Judges in MMA are often maligned for decisions made that seem so obviously at odds with what actually happened in a fight, but when it comes down to closely contested bouts like Edgar vs Maynard 2 it can be a hard task keeping score no matter how into the sport you are. On first viewing I didn't have much of an issue with the match ending in a draw Giving 2 rounds to Maynard and 3 rounds to Edgar but the first 10-8 round for Maynard resulted in my personal score of 47-47. Watching the fight again in full and uninterrupted I'm leaning to Edgar winning 4 rounds to 1 and even with the first round as a 10-8 against him, Edgar gets the nod 48-46. I may end up changing my mind watching another time before the UFC goes live in Houston, Texas at the Toyota Center. It really was that close of a fight. Earlier today Fraser Coffeen looked at the striking of Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard. As usual my specialty for these Judo Chops is a look at the grappling element of a match and I'll be featuring the highlights of each round as well as some elements that caught my interest and may have been missed by most on initial viewing. Join me after the jump for my analysis that is as always illustrated with animations. Round 1 Sprawl'n'Brawl - A little more than a minute into the first round Maynard lands a left hook that sends Edgar hurtling backwards and flipping over himself as he fights to regain his balance and defend himself. Maynard swarms on Edgar looking for a finishing blow and uppercuts Edgar who dives for a leg out of desperation and will to survive. Maynard is using his left arm to whizzer and is sprawling on the side of his left leg while using his free arm to land shots to the top of the head and side of the body. Sprawling on one hip like this is sometimes known as a Knockout Sprawl as it 'Knocks Out' the Wrestling Shot it's countering. Presumably this type of sprawl could also cause the opponent to face-plant as well, but I've not heard it called a Knockout Sprawl for this reason. Red Mist - Maynard switches to a very shallow double over-hook control but Edgar's hips are too far back and his arms free to block Maynard's own hips to push back and break free and get back to his feet. Maynard maintains a grip with his left hand to the back of Edgar's head and lands a short uppercut that drops him. Maynard is now only focused on swinging for Edgar's head with little control of Edgar's body. Maynard is at times swinging wildly hitting Edgar's arms more often than his head. It could be this very sequence that cost Maynard the victory. Grounding before Pounding - Maynard finally gets some semblance of control on a turtled Edgar. Maynard is using his right arm and hand to wrap over Edgar's back and pry the inside of his thigh - what's known as a Seatbelt grip (not to be confused with the over-under back control Jiu Jitsu calls a Seatbelt, which is why I prefer to call that a Lasso to avoid confusion). This Offensive Position from Wrestling is the same control Dan Henderson used when he finished off Fedor Emelianenko in their match. Some analysts incorrectly called it a tight-waist which in wrestling is a more encompassing hold that's usually used as part of a turnover series. The dangers of a tight-waist without a cross-face, half-nelson, bar-arm or arm-chop is the ability of the Defensive Wrestler to grip the arm and Side-Roll because the tight-waist is far across the belly. The Seatbelt grip makes the side roll much harder to execute because your giving the down wrestler less to grab onto and less leverage. Maynard does well to drive off of his left foot to keep his hips pressuring Edgar's hips, but having his right knee on the ground means not all of his weight is on Edgar which allows Edgar to inch towards the fence that he grabs to help him get back to his feet. Hard Maynard kept that knee just an inch off the ground he may have been able to maintain enough pressure to keep Edgar down while looking to punch with his left arm. Although Edgar is back on his feet Maynard is able to drag him back down to the mat and ends in a similar Whizzer-Sprawl position as before. Pressure Cooker - Feeling Edgar trying to grab a single-leg again from this sprawl, Maynard switches to a Front Headlock to control Edgard and get him back down to the mat when he tries to stand back up, using a chin grip in the Front Headlock to do so. Once on the mat again Maynard tries to setup a 'Pressure Cooker' - something he had been working on with his grappling coach Sean Spangler at Robert Drysdale's BJJ gym. The 'Pressure Cooker' is essentially a modified Three-Quarter Nelson into a Side Chancery off of a Front Headlock. You can get the tap with it, or it can be used like a Nelson to turnover but in its modified form can lead right into a Brabo / D'Arce choke. I slowed the gif down at the point Maynard attempts this Three-Quarter Chancery so you can spot it. Maynard's problem again is not getting his weight off of his knees and onto Edgar who can endure and pop out getting the fight back to standing and in the clinch. Below are pictures of a Three-Quarter Nelson and Side Chancery for reference, as well as video of Sean Spangler demonstrating the 'Pressure Cooker'  on Robert Drysdale.   Spiral Ride Attempt - Since the last gif Maynard has dropped Edgar an additional 2 times and Maynard has Edgar again in a Front Headlock and looks like he might try a Three-Quarter Chancery again but doesn't have full control. Instead he uses the Seatbelt grip again only this time to set up what looks like an attempted Spiral Ride - a move from wrestling designed to breakdown the opponent so they become either belly-down flat on the mat or on their side. The trouble is Maynard's right arm needs to be on the outside of Edgar's right arm so it can knock that arm forward taking away Edgar's base as Maynard spirals him to the mat. Because of this Maynard can not start the Spiral Ride and Edgar is able to turn into the opposite direction (Clockwise) to the direction Maynard would want to take him (Counter-Clockwise). Again I slowed the animation down so you can see Maynard make the attempt. Below is a video of Wrestling legend Wade Schalles demonstrating the Spiral Ride. Round 2 Half-Beat Pick Up - Astonishingly Edgar started Round 2 as if he hadn't been through the beating of his career in minutes earlier. Edgar had been using the jab well to find his distance and switched up his lateral and circular movement from left to right in order to wrong foot Maynard. Edgar had also found success with his right cross causing Maynard's head to recoil on more than one occasion. Edgar had got Maynard's timing down with less than 2 minutes left in the round, and as Maynard telegraphed himself coming in with a power right hand Edgar was able to slap and deflect the punch across his centerline. It was this slap that helped break Maynard's rhythm enough for Edgar to duck down and get under Maynard's center of mass for the pick-up and slam, crashing his whole bodyweight into Maynard and narrowly missing the top of his (Edgar's) head colliding with the mat. Breaking the rhythm of an opponent as well as your own rhyhtm when striking by using 'half-beats' was a concept of fighting the great Bruce Lee advocated in order to disrupt the opponent and expose them temporarily for attack, as well as avoid having your own timing figured out. Just after the slam it looks like Maynard tries to scissor Edgar's head while Edgar is looking to turn into Maynard, trying to use his left leg to Turk as an assist. In the scramble Maynard is able to get his feet away and hip in with a sprawl so he can get back to standing. Round 3 Snap Catch - Edgar had been scoring points in round 3 by coming in with short combinations and getting back out again to avoid Maynard's retaliation. Edgar looked to be landing more strikes, but when Maynard was able to catch him with a punch or two he was able to bloody Edgar's nose which may have swayed the judges in damage being done. Edgar then tries to throw a rear front snap kick and had it landed and KO'd Maynard, he'd have beaten Anderson Silva to the glory by just over a month. Sadly for Edgar, Maynard saw it coming and instinctively grabbed the leg and drove him towards the fence looking for a takedown. As he's doing this Edgar isolates an arm and looks to setup a Double Wrist Lock / 'Kimura'. Maintaining his body-lock, Maynard is able straddle his legs deep across Edgar's right leg and while pulling on Edgar's hips is able to use his head to drive through Edgar's lower back and get him to the mat. Shin Up - Maynard's advantage is short lived as Edgar maintains his grip of Maynard's right arm now using a Single Wrist Lock grip so that he can use his free arm to base. Edgar also uses his right shin as a block against Maynard's so he can push off and return to his feet. Countering Counters - Edgar decides to adjust and get his Double Wrist Lock grip back, but before he has a chance to pull guard Maynard is already driving him down controlling the fall and blocking Edgar's legs from wrapping him up. Edgar is able to get a shallow scissor on Maynard's leg but it's nowhere near enough to be Half-Guard and Maynard is able to pop his leg out and spin around to a kneeling North-South perhaps looking to set up a Head-Scissor / Armlock combination like he attempted on Roger Huerta a few years back. Maynard though doesn't have full control of Edgar's arms and hasn't used a knee to cross-face Edgar and get him to turn which allows Edgar to beautifully spin to Half-Guard, locking up Maynard's head before continuing to a Full Closed Guard and Arm-in Guillotine choke. In the UFC's marketing and countdown for their third fight the significance of this choke attempt has been greatly exaggerated as barely 3 seconds go past before the end of the round and it didn't look deep enough to cause Maynard any worry. This third round could be the one that divided the most opinion in who to score it for. The greater number of Edgar's strikes versus the few Maynard power strikes that bloodied Edgar. Maynard being able to get a takedown but Edgar threatening the arm and ending the round with a choke. Who do you give the round to? Round 4 Running Tap - Maynard starts the round well with some good jabs but pretty quickly Edgar decides he wants to get the fight to the ground. Similar to the Half-Beat slap from before, Edgar uses his right palm to briefly jam Maynard's left before using it drop his level slightly and go for a running single leg with a knee tap on the far leg. Edgar has aligned himself so that there is a straight line between his feet and Maynard's left heel and so combined with the knee tap and drive Maynard struggles to maintain his balance. As Maynard tries to get up Edgar tries for a traditional standing Guillotine choke, rolling his hips in and trying to turn Maynard's head to the side. There's not much Edgar did wrong with this traditional Guillotine it's just that a fighter as experienced and as strong as Maynard isn't going to have much trouble defending if he's fully conscious. I personally think the traditional guillotine has been made redundant by higher percentage versions such as the High Elbow (Marcelo Garcia) version, as well as the Prayer Choke / Front Chancery (Which Cody McKenzie likes to use) version. Maynard is able to control Edgar's wrists and worm his way out and Edgar breaks from the clinch landing a short combo for good measure.  Reverse the Corner - Seconds later Edgar slips a left jab of Maynard and uses it to change levels and shoot for a double leg takedown. Normally turning the corner involves using your head to help direct the fall of the opponent but Edgar perhaps feeling Maynard already adjusting to counter changes directions and sweeps his legs form underneath him more as you would with a knee-tap. The ability to adjust and change mid-takedown and use the opponent's energy against him is high level stuff and really impressive. Lassos and Butterflies - Although taken down Maynard has managed to keep a Butterfly hook / Single Elevator in to help keep Edgar off balanced. Edgar tries to pass and lock up a head but that shin of Maynard is creating space for Maynard to move. Maynard's inside leg has gone to a half-guard position and it's this combined with an outside Butterfly hook that makes for a Half-Butterfly guard. Maynard is able to elevate enough to go for turtle and Edgar latches on with an over-under Lasso grip. Being that high up on the body with no control of the hips makes the control in effective and really it's use comes into play once you have the back and the hooks in to stop you being bucked off. Without your legs in for some kind of ride you can easily slide off to the side and against a good wrestler he can duck out before you can do anything with it. Marcelo Garcia's success tends to come from the speed in which he transitions from a Lasso on Side Turtle to taking the back as well as opponents perhaps not knowing how best to duck out by using their whole body instead of just using their arms to fight it off. Maynard is able to stand up and the two clinch, but Edgar is keeping his shoulder jammed underneath Maynard's chin to prevent him from dropping down and going for a leg attack like a double-leg takedown. Wall'n'Brawl - Maynard and Edgar had been trading takedown attempts since the last animation where both were finding success shrugging them off and stuffing them until just over 2 minutes left in the round.Edgar feints and changes levels looking for a takedown. He gets a more traditional running knee-tap from a body-lock and Maynard loses his balance as he's driven into the fence. It's now Edgar's turn to Seatbelt Maynard though this time Maynard has managed to get a Whizzer in to stop his back being taken. Edgar though is doing a better job of putting pressure on Maynard's hits until he starts firing off 3 punches with his right hand when he sees Maynard's head is open.

Posted in: round, leg, arm, edgar, maynard

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UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar once again proved he's made out of pure iron. Edgar remained the UFC Lightweight Champion after another inspiring performance against the arch nemesis Gray Maynard in the main event of UFC 136 in Houston, Texas. Just like in the first title fight between the two, it was Gray Maynard who dominated in Round 1. Maynard landed a good punching combo, followed by flying knee, high kick and basically every single possible striking move in MMA to get Frankie Edgar bloodied

Posted in: ufc, edgar, maynard, ufc results, arch nemesis

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For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" event, going down at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. UFC 136 will feature the third and final match-up pitting Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard in the trilogy fight to end the logjam at the top of the 155-pound division. In the co-main event of the evening, Jose Aldo will defend his featherweight championship for the second time inside the Octagon against Kenny Florian, who is receiving what could turn out to be a final shot at UFC gold. And don't forget about the return of Chael Sonnen, who will square off against Brian Stann in a middleweight title eliminator bout. It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories. But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered.  In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast. In we go: UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" Fight card and line-up Results and live fight coverage UFC 136 predictions and previews: Predictions from the man himself, Nostradumbass Spike TV Prelims preview and predictions Facebook Prelims preview and predictions Fight preview: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Fight preview: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Fight preview: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Fight preview: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Fight preview: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan UFC 136 press conferences: Pre-fight press conference Press conference staredown pics Press conference video UFC 136 weigh-ins: Weigh-in results Weigh-in photos gallery Weigh-in staredown pics Weigh-in video UFC 136 odds: Complete betting guide to UFC 136 Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan UFC 136 news: Event poster Conference call live blog Open workouts photos gallery Exclusive interview with Brian Stann (Part one) Exclusive interview with Brian Stann (Part two) UFC Fan Expo Diary: Day one Behind the numbers: A complete statistical breakdown of "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" Behind the numbers: A complete statistical breakdown of "Aldo vs. Florian" Dana White confirms winner of Sonnen vs. Stann will receive middleweight title shot UFC 136 editorials: History in the Making: Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard kick off 2011 with a bang History in the Making: Frankie Edgar welcomes Mark Bocek to the Octagon at UFC 73 History in the Making: Jose Aldo and Mark Hominick steal the show at UFC 129 History in the Making: Kenny Florian barrels through the lightweight division Frankie Edgar is tired of thinking about Gray Maynard Angry Gray Maynard will make sure Frankie Edgar is in pain Gray Maynard, Chael Sonnen and Kenny Florian are in "do or die" situations How did Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard score their second fight? Jose Aldo is quicker, stronger and more explosive than Kenny Florian Kenny Florian won't be intimidated by Jose Aldo's reputation Chael Sonnen is the champion and Brian Stann is his number one contender Chael Sonnen has world class takedown that no one seems able to stop Brian Stann has enough power to knock anybody out Chael Sonnen is in a race to the finish line against Brian Stann Look no further than Melvin Guillard for most improved fighter Dana White always thought Melvin Guillard was the biggest waste of talent Why did Melvin Guillard leave Greg Jackson's to go train with Rashad Evans? Stipe Miocic likes to wear tights Joey Beltran is not going to lay down -- or a lay a turd -- for Stipe Miocic UFC 136 videos: Dana White video blog episode one Countdown to UFC 136 Extended event video preview The Great Debate on Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 2 Sport Science: Gray Maynard has a stronger grip than an NFL lineman Frankie Edgar is sick of talking about Gray Maynard Frankie Edgar on his biggest advantage over Gray Maynard Frankie Edgar "Heart of a Champion" Gray Maynard is still angry at going to a draw with Frankie Edgar at UFC 125 Jose Aldo is going to push the pace and finish Kenny Florian Jose Aldo ready for Kenny Florian Jose Aldo went from Favela to the Octagon Jose Aldo will have no problem making weight for Kenny Florian fight Brian Stann vs. a fly Brian Stann only needs five seconds to knock out Chael Sonnen Chael Sonnen has fought 46 men and never been outstruck Chael Sonnen is the most interesting man in the world Chael Sonnen is never confident, secure or ready for a fight Melvin Guillard now hits five or six times harder than he used to Joe Lauzon video blog Jeremy Stephens fight week video blog episode one Jeremy Stephens fight week video blog episode two Jeremy Stephens fight week video blog episode three Jeremy Stephens fight week video blog episode four     That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What has been the biggest story heading into this event? The final resolution to the lightweight championship? The return of Chael Sonnen? Something else? Sound off, Maniacs.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, edgar, maynard

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Frankie Edgar’s nickname is “The Answer,” and Saturday night against Gray Maynard, he hopes to have just that when his war with “The Bully” is over. Edgar and Maynard fought to a draw this past January, leaving no one feeling happy about the result. Now, after having a match postponed due to injuries suffered by both men, they prepare to enter the Octagon to square off in the main event of UFC 136. After being battered and bruised over the opening round, Edgar fought back to nearly finish Maynard. But, when the scorecards were read by Bruce Buffer and a Draw was announced, Edgar knew a rematch would be planned. However, professional rivalry aside, there hasn’t been much in terms of trash talk between the two fighters, instead, they have let their past fights – the draw, and a win by Maynard over Edgar in 2008 – do the talking. “That (trash talk) always get the people going and it sells fights, but for myself, and being the kind of person I am, I’d rather do my work in the cage,” Edgar explained in a conversation with the UFC’s website. “Gray’s a pretty reserved dude, and so am I, and I think our fight will speak for itself.” While many have Edgar as the favorite heading into the fight, it is Maynard that owns the win in the series, something that has been on Edgar’s mind for quite some time. “I think I’m on the right track,” said Edgar on preparing for a successful showing against Maynard. “Nothing changes in between my fights. I just try to become a better fighter than I was the last time. If I know that I’m a better fighter than I was my last time out, I did my job and I improved in all areas. And again, I felt like I accomplished that. I feel like I’m better at Jiu-Jitsu, better at boxing, better at Muay Thai, better at wrestling, and I’m better at putting it all together. It’s showing in the room and showing in my confidence.” “I feel like I am closing the gap,” Edgar said. “So hopefully, I’ll keep closing the gap and I’ll be on top this time around.”

Posted in: fight, i ’m, edgar, maynard, i ’ll

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Gray Maynard has Frankie Edgar's number? Au contraire, say MMAjunkie.com's readers in the results of this week's MMAjunkie.com/"Inside MMA" poll, which were revealed on Friday's new episode of HDNet's weekly MMA news show. Predictions on the outcome of UFC 136's headliner between lightweight champ Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard showed faith in the belt staying put.

Posted in: poll results, edgar, frankie edgar, maynard, champ edgar

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Here is a roundup of links to all of MMAFrenzy.com’s previews and pre-fight coverage for today’s “UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ event in Houston, Texas, which is headlined by the third meeting between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard and also includes featherweight champ Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian and Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann. UFC 136 Weigh-In Results: All Fighters Make Weight for “Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ Countdown to UFC 136 Full Video for “Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ UFC 136 Preview: Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard Meet Again in Main Event UFC 136 Preview: Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian UFC 136 Preview: Sonnen vs. Stann, Guillard vs. Lauzon, and Garcia vs. Phan UFC 136 Preliminary Card Preview: Maia-Santiago, Pettis-Stephens, Facebook Prelims MMAFrenzy Podcast: UFC 136 Preview, Post-UFC on Versus 6, Meet the Writer, and More UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video for “Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ UFC 136 Video: Extended Preview for “Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ on Oct. 8 Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for live UFC 136 results starting at 6pm ET and complete UFC 136 coverage. Pictured: Aldo and Florian

Posted in: ufc, vs, preview, edgar, maynard

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Over the course of 2 fights, 3 years, 8 rounds, and 40 minutes, we have seen Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard go to war. Now, at UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III, we'll see their series conclude (for now at least) with the UFC Lightweight title once again on the line. If there's an overriding lesson to take away from their previous two fights, it's that these are two evenly matched competitors, and that Saturday night's fight could go either way. But if we take a closer look at those first fights, perhaps we an get an even better sense of what to expect in the third outing. In this Judo Chop, we break down the striking of Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, as seen in their first two fights. And later today, we'll have part 2 of this series as K.J. Gould breaks down the grappling. We start off back in 2008 with their first encounter. Both men have evolved and pushed their games forward in the intervening years, but this fight still showcases the basic strategies each brings to their stand-up game. During that 2008 fight, it was Maynard who tended to fare better in the stand-up exchanges. His stand-up was (and, to a large degree, remains) based firmly on basic, solid execution of the fundamentals. It's not a flashy game, but it does everything very well. In particular, Maynard found a lot of success with straight shots up the middle. The right cross would often come right inside and connect squarely on Edgar. Maynard also was able to frequently get inside Edgar's defenses with a lunging uppercut that came under Edgar's arms and landed on the chin. When the two fighters were close, Maynard used textbook hooks to try and connect. Overall, his game was built on landing powerful shots that would stun Edgar, and it worked well. The one area of weakness would be kicks, as Maynard was almost 100% punching in the fight. For Edgar, striking was not based on power but on speed. He used a lot of movement to connect. Edgar used angles to get inside and to land wide, looping hooks from the outside. He would also use movement defensively, moving his head and body well to slip incoming attacks. Edgar added speed to this movement, particularly in his combos where he would quickly string together a series of punches coming from a variety of angles. This work allowed Edgar to connect on Maynard, but seldom with the kind of power that truly leaves an impact in the eyes of judges. Add in a wrestling disadvantage, and Edgar was handed the loss on the scorecards. Fight #2 at UFC 125 continued much of these same patterns, but is worth a closer look to see the exact techniques each man used. Full breakdown of Edgar vs. Maynard 2, with gifs, after the break. When talking about striking in Edgar vs. Maynard 2, there's really only one place you can begin, and that's round 1, and the Gray Maynard barrage that very nearly won him the title. Gray begins the attack by stepping in with a left hook. Edgar is hurt, and Maynard decides to go for the kill, dropping his defenses and throwing everything at the champ. He hits some nice hooks while charging forward, but it's that right uppercut that really hurts Edgar. The champ goes down, and struggles back to his feet, only to be dropped again by an uppercut. There are a number of things to like about Maynard's work here, starting from the top. First, on that initial punch, he takes a strong step in and throws immediately. He begins the sequence off to Edgar's side and not in a great punching position. With his hands down as well, he gives the impression that he's not a threat. But with that step towards Edgar and inside, he is immediately in punching range, and connects before Frankie can respond.  Second, notice how, even as Maynard charges forward, he still plants the feet to throw that last uppercut. He's on the move, chasing down the retreating champion, but before throwing the most powerful punch of the assault, he takes the needed time to square his feet and get the power behind him. The result is Edgar crumpling. Finally, I love how he keeps his left hand on Edgar's neck as Edgar stands up. This gives Maynard a half clinch and lets him maintain control of Edgar's movement. He keeps his right hand free so that he can land more of those heavy uppercuts and drop the champ yet again. Rewatching it just reminds you what a miracle it is Edgar was not finished. Later in the round, Maynard uses similar hooks and uppercuts to once again put Edgar in trouble. Though Edgar gets hurt badly again, he does manage to escape once again thanks to good movement. Here, Maynard tries to use that same clinch and dirty boxing, but Edgar backs out very quickly to avoid the shots. Edgar also is in full retreat mode here, but is doing so with good cage awareness, circling when he can to avoid backing straight into the cage. But he's also dazed and his hands are down, and Maynard does an excellent job taking advantage of that defensive hole to connect. In round 2, we see almost a completely different Frankie Edgar, as the champion recovers, and begins using his own stand-up game to reclaim the advantage. Here is an excellent example of how Edgar uses movement so well. In this clip, he is constantly moving. But he always cuts right and left, never straight back. He also alternates right and left, keeping Maynard guessing and off rhythm. At one point, Maynard attempts to close the distance and drive Edgar back towards the cage - Edgar responds by firing out a quick jab that sends Maynard back. With Maynard moving in response to Frankie, and keeping his left hand a bit low, Frankie quickly steps in with a nice jab-cross combo that connects perfectly. There, it's the movement and accuracy that allows Edgar to connect. As the round continues, Edgar goes back to that right cross, taking advantage of Maynard's low left hand to keep coming over the top and connect the cross. Here are two good examples from the end of the round. Notice how Edgar is now putting more behind that cross. On the first cross, he steps in with his rear leg as he throws in order to give himself more power. On the second, he twists his entire body, bringing the momentum of the punch up all the way from his foot through the body. Excellent technique there from Edgar. In round 3 we see more of Maynard's striking. Here, he uses some nice hooks to connect. We also see how Maynard is able to come straight up the middle, this time with a left jab. This sequence is an example of the idea of Maynard's power vs. Edgar's speed. Maynard connects with the hook while Frankie's head is exposed because Edgar is throwing a combo. Both men connect, but because Maynard is throwing a single shot with greater power, Edgar is the one who is knocked off balance. Edgar recovers quickly, but Maynard keeps the pressure on with that jab. Here, the power shots are paying off again for Maynard, allowing him to trade shots with the smaller Edgar. And finally, below is the ending sequence of the fight. This last minute really encapsulates everything that has come before, as all the techniques we've talked about are on display here: Maynard's single power shots, hooks, and jabs up the middle vs. Edgar's movement, speed, and combos. It's just a beautiful display from both men, and really, this minute of action does a better job than I ever could at explaining just why this weekend's fight is one to watch. Don't forget to come back later today for K.J. Gould's Judo Chop Part 2 discussing Edgar and Maynard's grappling. Gifs via Zombie Prophet of Iron Forges Iron.

Posted in: fight, edgar, maynard, frankie, movement

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We left off yesterday discussing the UFC 136 prelims, and today, we’re back with the main card. The main card features a highly anticipated rematch, along with the possibly the greatest match-up of good and evil in the UFC’s storied history. Let’s get started. Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Guillard is one of the UFC’s most interesting success stories. After coming in at a really young age, and fighting a brash, and often undisciplined style, Guillard has scaled back, reassessed his priorities and turned himself into one of 155’s best prospects. No longer fighting with the same reckless abandon he showed in his early losses (the Rich Clementi one is one that sticks out in my mind,) Guillard has become one of the most technical and methodical strikers in his weight class. The continued discipline working with the likes of Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn have helped him win eight of his last nine and looks like a world beater. He stopped Evan Dunham like it was nothing, and rolled (no pun intended) through Shane Roller. Lauzon awaits, having alternated wins and losses in this last 5, though 2 of those wins were against fighters no longer in the UFC. When he’s on his game, he is absolutely dominant. When he isn’t, he really falters, with his fight against George Sotiropoulos being the perfect example. Lauzon demonstrated little discipline in that fight, and tired himself out until he was tapped out. Lauzon better have done a good cardio regimen coming into this, as Guillard will burst out of the gate as fast as he will. Look for this to be a short fight. Both fighters will be throwing heavy strikes in the opening moments, and should the fight go to the ground, I don’t think either man has what it takes to hold the other down for very long. It wouldn’t surprise me that this fight doesn’t leave the first round, with Guillard’s superior striking and ground defense being what I believe will be the turning point for the match. Prediction – Melvin Guillard def. Joe Lauzon via TKO On a side note, the next fight slots in where Dave Herman vs. Mike Russow was supposed to, however, Herman’s urine sample tested positive for marijuana. To be fair, I can almost believe Herman when he says he wasn’t smoking the stuff. The guy’s a goof (he wore a tuxedo t-shirt out on the town after his UFC 131 victory over John Olav Einemo) but he’s not stupid enough to throw the opportunity away, and he WAS in Vancouver where every third yuppie walks around with a joint out like it’s a cigarette. Canadian Olympian Ross Rebagliatti tested positive for marijuana after his gold medal, a feat eventually setting the research benchmark for the amount of time trace molecules of marijuana stay in one’s system. He said he hadn’t smoked it in years, but had been at a party a couple months before where others were smoking it. Research showed that he was telling the truth, and it stays in your system weeks and months longer than say, alcohol. Anyway, I’m no medical professional, and I’m hardly qualified enough to speak about MMA. Let’s stick to said qualifications. Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan It seems that Garcia’s in the business of his foes trying to avenge their losses, with Phan being the latest. Garcia fights a unique style, in that he pushes forward yelling like he’s a karate white belt, connecting on about 12% of his strikes and looking good enough to win. Garcianomics has been sound enough to beat many in the past, and after Chan Sung Jung avenged his loss, it’s Phan’s turn. Phan is arguably the more seasoned fighter, with fights in basically every major promotion you can think of besides Bellator. Garcia is what he is – A hard nosed, good natured fighter with the fortunate skill of turning a bag of garbage into an artwork. He’s got one of the ugliest fight styles out there, but it works for him, and it works more often than not. Phan is going to have to lay off the karate and challenge Garcia on the ground, where both specialize in BJJ, but Phan holds the speed edge. Otherwise, Garcia holds the size and reach edge on the feet. The thing about standing with Garcia is also that he never seems to tire. Stick Garcia out there with a sparring robot, and it would probably run out of batteries before Garcia’s panting. Hopefully the old adage is true. Phan’s a year older, a year wiser, and a beating at the hands of Mike Brown stronger. He should understand at this point what he’s fully getting into with Garcia. If it stays standing the whole time again, expect Garcia to take this one. If Phan is able to execute a ground attack, however, this fight should be his, along with a successful avenging of his previous loss. Garcia’s an exciting fighter to watch, however. He’ll be back again in no time. Prediction – Nam Phan def. Leonard Garcia via Submission Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann At last we’ve arrived at the battle of good and evil. Standing in one corner, the beloved All-American hero. Strong willed, strong jawed. A man who embodies the everyman spirit, and embodies the spirit of every man. In the other corner, an outspoken politician type with no respect given, and no respect needed in return. Sonnen and Stann is a masterpiece on paper, but a disaster in theory. I don’t see what either fighter has to gain from this fight. At a time when both men are on the cusp of a possible title shot, this match to me gets neither closer, and the loser of this fight’s stock will probably drop heavily. Everybody is waiting for Sonnen to take a right hook to the face and crumple, but will it happen? Sonnen is one of the most intelligent and crafty middleweights in the world. When his head was split open against Nate Marquardt, he found ways to take the fight and ensure it couldn’t be stopped by a doctor. When the world was expecting Anderson Silva to strike him into the ground, he smartly wrestled and bested “The Spider” at his own game until getting caught in the late minutes of the fight. While everybody was expecting him to start slagging on the ever popular Stann, he took the high road and kept trash talking others. Stann, in his usual fashion, has continued saying all the right thing coming into the fight. A humble guy who prefers not to jaw his opponents beforehand, the only trash talking he’s done in the last few months is against Jon Jones, of whom he only said anything to after the light heavyweight champ started making fun of the size of his chin. To be quite honest, I don’t want to spend much more time analyzing this fight because I think it’s been overhyped – it’s been overanalyzed, and it’s not going to go like everybody expects it to. Many people I’ve spoken with are looking for a decisive Stann highlight reel KO followed by a chariot ride into a title shot with Silva. For the sake of marketing, that seems to be the sexy pick as well. However, it’s my belief you’re going to see Sonnen wrestle and shut down Stann’s advances. There are few fighters out there that seem to just get better as they gain momentum – Sonnen’s one of them. He starts off as a very good fighter, and once he ends up with a bit of momentum on his side, he’s world class. This is the right marketing fight for Stann, but the wrong one in theory. Win or lose, Sonnen will probably get Vitor Belfort next. It wouldn’t surprise me that Stann gets the next title shot if he does. Prediction – Chael Sonnen def. Brian Stann via Unanimous Decision Let’s talk the double main event now. As usual, I’m filled with thoughts in title fights, so prepare for lengthy breakdowns. Featherweight Championship Match: Jose Aldo (c) vs. Kenny Florian This is Florian’s last stand. This will be his third title shot, and if he doesn’t do it here, I’m not sure he gets another shot unless the fight is so close, an immediate rematch is necessary. Florian’s one of MMA’s good guys – The only time he’s ever tried to play heel was in Vancouver for UFC 131 (when he showed up to the weigh ins a Bruins jersey in the middle of the Stanley Cup finals between Vancouver and Boston,) and even then, he was shaking hands, laughing and apologizing to fans at the local MMA expo over the next couple days. Aldo is MMA’s humble bad boy, coming from a poor upbringing and surviving a horrific burn accident (the reason for the scar on his face) to become a world champion. The battle lines between good and evil were a bit better drawn in the Stann/Sonnen fight, but a good vs. good battle? What to say? Florian is probably the emotional pick here. He’s been with the UFC for so long, and he’s been entertaining crowds in so many weight classes that you’ll likely never see him go. Once his fighting days are over, he’s got a good career in broadcasting ahead of him. His 145 debut against Diego Nunes only proved to show how dominant of a fighter he can be against the top competition in the division, but Aldo’s a cut above his Nova Uniao teammate. Prior to UFC 129, Aldo was the arguably the biggest enigmatic dynamo in the UFC. After Silva was shown to be human the summer before against Sonnen, Aldo was the new fast paced, flashy and untouchable MMA superman the world was to take note of. A heavy favorite going into the Mark Hominick fight in Toronto, he immortality was knocked down a peg by the Canadian. Hominick even took rounds from the Brazilian while growing a second head by way of a stunning hematoma, and looked for all the world that he could even stop the champion in the dying minutes of the fight. It was not to be that night, and Aldo retained the title, but he gave inspiration to those looking to fight the Brazilian going forward. Florian and Hominick share one common bond – A never ending sense of perseverance. Florian’s never say die attitude has taken him into some of the gutsiest wars since his UFC debut in 2005, and his praises (and disappointments) have been sang the world over. Nobody knows what’s going to happen if he doesn’t win on Saturday – Does he retire? Does he keep going? Does he drop to 135 and try to challenge Dominick Cruz? Does he come back up to 155 to finish his career? There are so many unanswered questions. Aldo, on the other hand, comes into this fight with a little less pressure. It’s his job to not lose the fight, while it’s Florian’s job to win. That is to say, however, that Aldo has never done anything less than be dominant. His is the face of the future of the UFC. At just 25, he is a torchbearer in waiting for the next decade, and this is a win that will continue to push him toward consideration of being able to carry a PPV himself. Aldo is one who embodies the new generation of MMA – A faster paced style of blended disciplines meant to confuse and overwhelm opponents. Rory MacDonald does this, Cruz does this, and Aldo does this. There’s no telling what Aldo’s going to do next, and he comes at you so fast, you have no time to react. Florian has a much more traditional and straight-laced style, and he says he’s going to be one coming out and pushing the pace on Aldo, which seems like a bit of an oxymoron doesn’t it? Florian unfortunately has a reputation of big game choking. I don’t think that’s fair, and I don’t know that it’s fair to say that a loss to Aldo would be continued choke. To me, that sort of cheapens Aldo’s capabilities rather than cheaping Florian’s. Isn’t it possible he just came up against a better fighter? “Ken-Flo” will forever remain one of my favorites, and no matter where he takes his career after this fight, I will happily continue watching. But I just don’t think he has what it takes to dethrone Aldo. Aldo is a division clearing champion. If Hominick and Urijah Faber couldn’t beat him, I’m not sure there are any in the weight class right now that can. You’re going to continue to see classy dominance from Aldo, and perhaps the only fight that might challenge him at this point might be a catchweight with Cruz, or a match with Frank Edgar if he loses and moves down. Prediction: Jose Aldo def. Kenny Florian via Submission Lightweight Championship Match: Frank Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard Poor Edgar. His last 4 fights have all involved the Lightweight title, and he’s probably been the underdog going into each and every one, despite holding the title in 3 of them. “The Answer” is the UFC’s version of Rodney Dangerfield – Someone who just doesn’t get respect. His skills are overlooked, his positive attitude is overlooked, and his capabilities just might be too. But with all due respect, it’s only because his last four matches have been against BJ Penn and Maynard, who gave him his only career blemish to date. Then there’s Maynard, who holds every possible mark on his fight record except a loss. At 10-0-1-1, Maynard has taken the UFC by storm, and he lives up to his nickname. “The Bully,” as he’s so affectionately called, exhibits his wrestling in a complete shut down style, one he’s exhibited perfectly against everybody so far. In fact, the only fighter that’s really had much of an answer (no pun intended,) in defeating him is Edgar. Hopefully the trailers leading up to this fight have excited you enough to want to see this a third time. It’s been so many months it seems since these two drew the last time out. That night, Edgar staged one of the most astounding comebacks in UFC history, one that was good enough to him to win. The only trouble was, Maynard was good enough to win that night too — but neither man did. This third time out in the trilogy may be the final time we see these two lock heads, as the winner of Ben Henderson/Clay Guida will probably get the next shot, while the loser of this fight will probably lock up with the loser of the aforementioned. Both men are capable of mixing it up any which way. I would give the ground and the power edge to Maynard, while I’d give the finesse and overall striking edge to Edgar. Maynard must understand well that another draw won’t do the trick, and there won’t be a third chance. He has to win here because the next title shot isn’t his. Likewise, Edgar has to come in understanding what his consequences are. He’s had probably the toughest first and second defense road in lightweight championship history, and he can’t rest on his laurels for one second this fight, because Maynard is capable of willing the fight in his favor by all means possible. So much has changed in the last 10 months while these two waited to fight again. Guida and Henderson have both made a case for a title shot, Anthony Pettis has to build back up to his, and Donald Cerrone has been clearing everybody else out of title contention. This is Maynard’s time to shine. With all due respect to Edgar, Maynard is the better mechanical fighter. His methodical, T-1000-like style just works. At a time where the flashy speed demons are dominating the lower weight classes of MMA, Maynard is the strong, tactical force waiting with his fly swatter. Don’t discount Edgar, but I think Maynard’s going to come out with a stronger wrestling game than before. Edgar will have enough to push the pace to the very end, but I think Maynard’s going to walk away with the decision here, if it goes that far. Prediction – Gray Maynard def. Frank Edgar via Unanimous Decision That’s UFC 136 as it looks from my vantage point. The show goes live this Saturday night from Houston Texas. Happy Thanksgiving Canada! Enjoy the fights, and see you cageside! PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: ufc, fight, garcia, maynard, aldo

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Rivalries. Perhaps the most compelling element of any sport. Whether it’s the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celitics, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier or Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, true sporting rivalries have a way of triggering a unique sense of passion and enthusiasm among the masses. This Saturday’s main event, which features the third chapter in the Frankie Edgar against Gray Maynard storybook, isn’t in the same league as those rivalries. In fact, in terms of interest, it isn’t in the same league as some of its MMA counterparts. However, when it is all said and done, the lightweight duo could well have ended up producing the highest quality of action out of any rivalry this sport has ever seen. Should the fight get past the ten-minute mark, Edgar and Maynard would have spent more time battling one another than any other pair in UFC history. Lightweight title fight: Frankie Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard Their first fight is one of the most misleading 30-27 scorecards you’re ever likely to encounter. That is not to say that it was erroneous, as Maynard could well have won every round, but the fight was far more competitive than the lopsided nature of that decision would have you believe. Little stock can be put in the events of that bout, especially given the dramatic improvements in each fighter’s overall skill sets since, particularly in their striking.. The deciding factor in their 2008 encounter was Maynard’s size and wrestling, which made a crucial difference late in the fight, as a tired Edgar struggled to cope with his opponent’s size, strength, and most importantly, his double leg takedown. What Edgar did show throughout that contest however, was his often overlooked ability to escape and get back to his feet after being taken down. Anytime a fighter comes up against an opponent whose wrestling could ostensibly pose some problems, having the ability to scramble back up is vital. The most telling aspect of their epic rematch at UFC 125 back in January, was in fact Edgar’s improvement in his wrestling, which was especially glaring given what transpired in their first fight. For the most part, and while neither fighter got particularly out-wrestled, it was Edgar who was getting the better of Maynard in the grappling aspect of the fight. The only round in which “The Bully” was able to muscle his opponent to the ground was the third, where he took Edgar down twice. The first time saw Edgar quickly pop back to his feet, while the second saw “The Answer” lock in a guillotine that coincided with the end of the round. To Maynard’s credit, he too was able to get back to his feet both times he was taken down, but he had far more takedown attempts that were outright stuffed by Edgar. That, in large part is due to the fact that despite the continuous progress in his MMA game as well as his imposing wrestling, Maynard still struggles to be unpredictable by mixing his striking with his takedowns. His shots tend to be somewhat telegraphed, and he relies on overpowering his opponent to the mat. Edgar on the other hand, excels at utilizing his boxing as well as plenty of feints before suddenly switching levels and driving a double leg through his opponent. It was that particular aspect of Edgar’s game that saw him decisively beat BJ Penn in their rematch at UFC 118, as the champion left Penn confused with constant movement, level changes, and sharp takedowns. Edgar’s ability to secure takedowns away from the cage is also noteworthy, and is another testament to the great improvement in his game. That said, where Maynard outshines Edgar in the wrestling department is when it comes to chain wrestling, as his transitions within a single takedown attempt are that of a seasoned wrestler. Maynard is especially good at transitioning from a single leg takedown to a double leg after pushing his opponent against the cage. However, Edgar’s footwork and constant movement will make it very hard for Maynard to get a firm grip on him in order to use those wrestling transitions. Footwork has been a key aspect in Edgar’s rise to the top to the lightweight division. Crucially, even when pressed, Edgar never backpedals in a straight line. Instead, he circles out and resets. That, above anything else, is what often makes him the ring general in his fights. Edgar uses that movement to throw kicks from the outside, close the distance, throw combinations, and get out before his opponent gets to counter. It was that approach that gave Penn plenty of fits in both their encounters. Edgar uses his jab and lead left hook to set the tempo of the fight, and the rest of his offense flows naturally. Moreover, he is extremely effective at using them to set up his right cross. Occasionally, Edgar will use a left hook to the body as a distraction before going over the top with his right hand. The mistake that Edgar did in the opening frame of their January bout was that he was so intent on circling away from his opponent’s power right hand, that he kept running into Maynard’s left hook, which is by far his best punch. The result was almost catastrophic for the champion, as Maynard did everything except separate him from consciousness in that first round. Maynard did a terrific job in close-quarters after having Edgar hurt, as he crushed him with brutal uppercuts that almost put him away. Ironically, the first round worked against Maynard as the fight progressed, as he became a little too trigger-happy, increasingly less composed with his boxing, and kept looking for that fight-ending shot which never came. This time around, he would be wise to stay calm at all times, and use his much-underrated jab and especially, left hook, to dictate proceedings. The five-round nature of the fight makes me lean towards Edgar, who is the more dynamic and better conditioned fighter. Maynard clearly started to fade in the final stages of their second bout, and while that was due to the tremendous effort he put in trying to end Edgar’s night in the first round, his opponent still looked the fresher of the two fighters despite the clobbering he received early on. Expect Edgar’s speed to be the difference between the two, in a competitive fight that will largely resemble the last four rounds of their classic bout in January. Official Prediction: Frankie Edgar to defeat Gray Maynard by Decision PHOTO CREDIT – UFC

Posted in: fight, round, opponent, edgar, maynard

Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain

HOUSTON, October 8 – You can’t kill Frankie Edgar. If there’s a nuclear war, you would want the fighting pride of Toms River on your side. So after he survived another hellacious first round beating at the hands of Gray Maynard in their third bout Saturday night at Toyota Center, you just had an inkling that he would come back. And he did, scoring a fourth round stoppage of Maynard in the UFC 136 main event that allowed the UFC lightweight champion to finally settle the score with the only man to ever defeat him.“Maybe I wanted to make it exciting, who knows,” smiled Edgar, who lost to Maynard in 2008 and drew with him in January of 2011.He did. And he had some help from Maynard, a man who will likely be linked with long after their careers are over.Both fighters bounced around the Octagon throughout Bruce Buffer’s introductions and referee Josh Rosenthal’s pre-fight instructions, clearly waiting for the opening bell and round nine to begin. But there would be no reckless energy burning off, as the two carefully approached each other, Edgar landing a stiff left hook in the early going before being turned back on a takedown attempt. Midway through the round, Maynard rocked Edgar with an uppercut, dodged a takedown, but then got caught with a flush right himself. With 1:40 left, a quick right from Maynard sent Edgar to the mat, and Maynard stalked with bad intentions as the now bloodied Edgar got up and looked to survive. A vicious knee sent Edgar down again, with more crimson coming from his nose, and though he got up quickly again, this time Maynard calmly put together his shots, not gassing himself out like he did when he had Edgar hurt in the first round of their January rematch.Confidently moving around the Octagon, Maynard looked like a man just waiting for the one shot that would allow him to claim the belt. Edgar pressed the action, now forced into the role of aggressor to make up for the previous round, and he was able to land some punches in brief flurries. After doing some good work to get back in the fight, Edgar looked to up his fortunes even more with a takedown in the final two minutes, but Maynard wasn’t having it. The relative lack of activity from “The Bully” may have cost him the round though.Maynard got back to his first round workrate in round three, and with Edgar staying busy as well, it appeared as if the fight was starting fresh again. It was Edgar landing the harder shots throughout the frame, even if they were only coming one at a time, and Maynard started to look flustered by his foe’s constant movement for the first time.Edgar continued to potshot Maynard early in round four, and impressively he wasn’t getting frustrated by not being able to take Maynard down. Maynard saw his first takedown attempt stuffed as well, and with Edgar continuing to throw leg kicks into the mix, he looked to be gaining confidence with each passing moment. And amazingly, it was on another missed takedown attempt that Edgar hit paydirt, rocking Maynard with a right uppercut. As Maynard staggered to the fence, another big right landed, and another, sending the challenger to the mat. A follow-up barrage finished matters, with Rosenthal halting the bout at 3:54 of the round.With the win, Edgar, who retained his title for the third time, improves to 14-1-1; Maynard falls to 11-1-1, 1 NC.

Posted in: takedown, round, edgar, maynard, takedown attempt

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After the main event of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 in Houston, Dana White and the night's big names spoke with the media. UFC president Dana White announced the winners of the post-fight bonuses. Frankie Edgar received Knockout of the Night for his fourth-round TKO finish of Gray Maynard. Joe Lauzon was awarded Submission of the Night for his first-minute tapout of the highly-favored Melvin Guillard. Nam Phan and Leonard Garcia earned Fight of the Night for the second time for their entertaining rematch. Each bonus was $75,000.Lightweight champion Edgar and featherweight champion Jose Aldo both attended after successfully defending their belts, as did their opponents, Maynard and Kenny Florian. Phan appeared alongside his opponent Garcia, with whom he is now 1-1. Main card winners Lauzon and Chael Sonnen rounded out the dais.Video highlights from the fighters in attendance will be linked below as they become available:Frankie Edgar and Gray MaynardJose Aldo and Kenny FlorianChael Sonnen

Posted in: ufc, night, edgar, nam phan, maynard

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HOUSTON - MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today's official "UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III" weigh-ins, where all 22 competitors successfully made weight for the UFC's return to the Lone Star State. Today's festivities took place at Houston's Toyota Center. The same venue hosts Saturday's pay-per-view event. Check out images of all the fighters, including current UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and top challenger Gray Maynard, as well UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo and his opponent, Kenny Florian.

Posted in: ufc, weigh-in photos, edgar, maynard, maynard iii

Read the full article at MMA Junkie

Exclusive UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard weigh-in photo gallery from the Toyota Center in Houston.

Posted in: ufc, photo, weigh-in, maynard, toyota center

Read the full article at MMA Weekly

The rubber match to end all rubber matches will take place tomorrow night (October 8, 2011) and the UFC lightweight title will be on the line between champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard in the main event of UFC 136 in Houston, Texas. Frankie Edgar, despite his small stature, has risen to the cream of the crop in the UFC lightweight division. He took the title from B.J. Penn and then defended it despite being the sizable underdog both times. His performances against Gray Maynard have improved every time he's fought him and he's hoping to finally come away with the victory this last time out. Gray Maynard knows how important this fight is. With how loaded the UFC lightweight division is right now, he understands that a loss to Edgar will set him far enough back that he may never sniff the title again. He beat Edgar before, came moments away from taking the title at UFC 125 and he believes he can do it tomorrow night. Will Edgar finally have "The Answer" for Maynard? Can "The Bully" beat up Edgar and claim the title he's desired for so long? Who will finally come out on top in this trilogy which has jammed up the UFC lightweight division for nearly a year? Frankie Edgar Record: 13-1-1 overall, 8-1-1 in the UFC Key Wins: B.J. Penn 2x (UFC 113, UFC 118), Sean Sherk (UFC 98), Jim Miller (Reality Fighting 14) Key Losses: Gray Maynard (UFC Fight Night 13) How he got here: Frankie Edgar has been a perennial underdog. He never won a state championship, falling just short twice and did the same thing at Clarion University in Pennsylvania. He made the transition to fighting professionally in late 2005 and in just the sixth fight of his career, he was already making his debut in the UFC. He competed as a lightweight because the UFC didn't have a featherweight division yet and won his first three fights impressively against top competition like Tyson Griffin, Mark Bocek and Spencer Fisher. His momentum was halted by the bigger, stronger Gray Maynard in April 2008, but that loss only fueled him to improve.  Just one year later, Edgar put on the best performance of his career against former lightweight champion Sean Sherk, outstriking his bulkier foe and stuffing the elite wrestler's takedowns. After an impressive stoppage of the then-undefeated Matt Veach, Edgar was handed a title shot because Gray Maynard hadn't defeated Nate Diaz decisively enough. Edgar made the most of his opportunity, utilizing his speed and conditioning to outpoint the plodding B.J. Penn at UFC 113 in Abu Dhabi to shock the world and win the UFC lightweight title. He proved his victory wasn't a fluke by dominating Penn in the rematch at UFC 118, blasting the ex-champ with more powerful strikes, adding kicks and even takedowns to his arsenal. His next defense was against Gray Maynard at UFC 125 earlier this year and after surviving a horrible first round in which he was dropped four times, Edgar bounced back in Rocky-esque fashion to win three of the remaining four rounds and force a draw. He will have to square off with Maynard one last time on Saturday night in the rubber match. How he gets it done: Edgar's key to victory is his speed. He's got terrific footwork and tight, technical boxing. He's fast enough to dive into the pocket, land punches and exit at angles to get out of the way of Maynard's power. He can definitely outpoint Maynard in the striking department if he's on his game. "The Bully" doesn't respect Edgar's kicking game either, so hopefully the champ has been working on his kicks to improve them, add more sting to them. He landed them at will against Maynard the last time but they were pretty ineffective due to lack of technique. He can catch Maynard off guard if his technique has improved. The other factor is his takedowns. Maynard has talked about not respecting Edgar's power in the stand-up so if he wades through some punches looking to land the power shots, Edgar needs to be prepared to change levels and blast him with a takedown. If he can put the former Michigan State wrestler on his back a few times, he'll gain his respect. Gray Maynard Record: 10-0-1 (1 No Contest) overall, 8-0-1 (1 No Contest) in the UFC Key Wins: Frankie Edgar (UFC Fight Night 13), Kenny Florian (UFC 118), Jim Miller (UFC 96) Key Losses: none How he got here: Gray Maynard was a successful wrestler at Michigan State, and chanced upon mixed martial arts when he was asked to be a sparring partner for B.J. Penn. He sought out Randy Couture in Las Vegas and the rest is history. Maynard joined the cast of the fifth season of the Ultimate Fighter after just two pro fights and his inexperience caught up with him when he was submitted by Nate Diaz to eliminate him from the competition. He made his debut in the UFC on the show's finale, knocking himself and Rob Emerson out with a slam to earn a No Contest. He took his frustration out on Joe Veras in his next fight, destroying him in just 9 seconds with a TKO. After the Veras fight, "The Bully" won seven straight decisions in the UFC, scoring notable victories over Dennis Siver, Frankie Edgar, Jim Miller, Nate Diaz and lastly Kenny Florian to become the number one contender for the title. In his rematch with Edgar, he had him on the ropes but couldn't put him away and ended up with a split draw. This final trilogy fight will be his last shot at the title for a long time as the UFC lightweight division is absolutely loaded right now. How he gets it done: Maynard doesn't not have a speed advantage against Edgar but he does have a power advantage and a big strength and size advantage. He has to play to his strengths if he wants to become the champion, and that means looking to hurt Edgar again and physically dominate him when he gets the chance.  Edgar's speed makes him pretty elusive so Maynard needs to be prepared to counter after he exits during his "stick and move" attacks. Edgar usually leaves at an angle so the Xtreme Couture fighter needs to be prepared to explode after him with a counter left hook. If he can connect with that left hook on the chin, it's been proven already that he can hurt Edgar, he just needs to put him away this time.  If Maynard and utilize his footwork to maneuver the champ near the fence, he can cut off escape angles and pin him there to either do damage in the clinch or wear him down with takedown attempts. Edgar will be a lot easier to hit when he's standing still or trapped. Lastly, while he can clip Edgar and hurt him, Maynard needs to be careful not to try to load up for the knockout with every strike. That gasses out his arms and it also makes knocking Edgar out that much more difficult. Like Randy Couture told him in between the second and third round, he shouldn't just be trying to knock Edgar out, he should be trying to beat him up. If he can beat him up, that's how he pulls out the decision. Fight "X-Factor:" The X-Factor for this fight is growth in skill for both fighters. Frankie Edgar was completely outclassed the first time he fought Gray Maynard, but his skill level had caught up to Gray or even perhaps surpassed him by the time of the second fight. Both men have had 10 months to work on improving themselves and changing things up for the trilogy fight. Whoever can bring something new that catches his opponent off guard, whether it's a fresh combination from Maynard, maybe an improved leg kick from Edgar, will be able to help themselves gain that tiny edge they need to propel themselves to victory. Bottom Line: The last fight between Edgar and Maynard was still the best fight of 2011 in my opinion. I'm expecting five rounds of back and forth action between two incredibly evenly matched foes. This will be a war of attrition between Frankie Edgar's speed and technique and Gray Maynard's power, size and strength. The odds are razor thin for a reason and fans shouldn't expect anything less than another thriller. Both of these guys want this trilogy to be over with so they can move on, so be prepared for another incredible match. This has "Fight of the Night" written all over it. Who will come out on top at UFC 136? Tell us your predictions in the comments below! Poll Who will be the UFC lightweight champion once the main event of UFC 136 is all said and done tomorrow night? Frankie Edgar Gray Maynard   5 votes | Results

Posted in: ufc, fight, time, edgar, maynard

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MMAWeekly.com was on the scene at the Toyota Center on Friday where UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard hit the scales in the main event of UFC 136.

Posted in: ufc, weigh-in, edgar, maynard, toyota center

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So what would you call that bit of hair on the back of Gray Maynard's head? Is that the remnants of a mullet that didn't fully develop at birth? Is it more like a mullet that was in the process of forming, but then was distracted by something glittery outside and stopped mid-way through? Perhaps it serves as an 'improvised lost item receptacle' for when Gray throws random objects in his hair and forgets about them the next day. I wouldn't tell any of this to Gray Maynard's face -- I would tell it to the back of his head. Check out this .gif by ZombieProphet of the UFC 136 face-off that could possibly go to a fourth bout and still be considered a rubber match.

Posted in: head, maynard, i wouldn, item  receptacle, hair

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The UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" weigh-in event took place today in the great state of Texas and all 22 competitors competing on tomorrow night's (Oct. 8) fight card successfully hit their marks without incident. For complete UFC 136 weigh-in results click here. To see staredown pics from Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian and Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann click here. (Note: The UFC 136 weigh-in video above begins around the 10:00 mark.)

Posted in: ufc, vs, kenny florian, edgar, maynard

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UFC lightweight champion Frankie (The Answer) Edgar and challenger Gray (The Bully) Maynard locked glares again Friday.

Posted in: ufc, champion, edgar, maynard, champion frankie

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Gray Maynard and UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar feel like they've been waiting forever for their rematch.

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They were the central figures in an epic New Year’s Day drama. Nine months later, lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and unbeaten challenger Gray Maynard will toe the line one more time.

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HeavyMMA takes you behind the scenes with Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard in this exclusive photo gallery series.

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The unbeaten lightweight title challenger opens up about the last ten months and how he's more than ready to get back into the Octagon with Frankie Edgar tomorrow night.

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Bloody Elbow is happy to bring you live video and results for the UFC 136 weigh-ins as all fighters on the card step onto the scales looking to make it official. Our live video of the weigh-ins will start at 5 p.m. ET and is after the jump. Main eventing the card is the third fight between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard. Maynard became the only man to beat Edgar back in 2008. The two men rematched this January and battled to a draw in what many consider to be one of the best fights in UFC history. The co-featured bout of the event sees Kenny Florian look to finally win a UFC championship as he faces featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Florian has lost in two attempts to win the lightweight championship and dropped to featherweight to look for another chance at the gold. Also on the PPV main card, Brian Stann faces the returning Chael Sonnen in middleweight action, Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan rematch to settle the score after their exciting first battle and Melvin Guillard looks to establish himself as a title contender against Joe Lauzon. That doesn't even get into the great Facebook and Spike TV undercard action in what could be one of the best cards in UFC history. Live video starts at 5 p.m. ET.

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MMAFrenzy’s pre-fight coverage of UFC 136 continues with our head-to-head preview of Saturday’s main event between lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. This bout will mark the third and possibly final time these two will face each other with Maynard leading the series 1-0-1. The two fighters will be looking to recapture the intensity of their “Fight of the Year” candidate first rematch earlier this year that ended in draw. Keys for the Champion- (CL) Frankie Edgar has one thing that he must do to defeat Gray Maynard and that is use Maynard’s aggression against him. Maynard wants the win, badly, and in their last fight it nearly cost Maynard late as he nearly punched himself out in the first two rounds. Maynard will likely be looking for the KO come Saturday night but he is unlikely to be over-aggressive in an effort to conserve energy for the later rounds. Edgar can exploit this by allowing Maynard to stalk early, but striking first instead of countering. In striking first it never allows Maynard to settle in and can entice him into chasing Edgar, exposing himself to strikes. Maynard is more powerful and the better wrestler, but Edgar has the speed and ususally the more accurate striking. So Edgar needs to use that to his advantage by taking a Dominik Cruz-esque gameplan into the octagon where he darts in and out with strikes while using takedowns as counters to the powerful but slightly slower shots of Maynard. By using the takedowns only as counters to strikes, it also lessens the liklihood that Maynard will be able to quickly recover into shot defense in the form of a sprawl or the more dangerous front-headlock position. Every wrestler hates being in the front-headlock position because quite frankly it is uncomfortable enough without someone being allowed to punch you in the face or knee you. Nobody likes being in that position but it is one that Edgar has likely worked on a lot leading up to this fight. Maynard has a great one and likely realized how much success he had early on with that position. While most people in that position automatically look for chokes outside of wrestling, it is very useful when you want to slow pace down and punish someone for taking a shot on you. It can be defended, but it still will sap your strength the more you have to fight out of one. So hopefully, Edgar will better set up his shots in this rematch and avoid this compromising position. Keys for Maynard- (Bryan Robison) Maynard came ever so close to winning the title rather quickly and easily in January. He knocked the champion Edgar down four times in the first round, with the fight in jeopardy of continuing throughout the round. Unfortunately for Maynard, Edgar was able to keep his senses, and the fight continued. While he did win that round handily with a 10-8 score, he immediately dropped off in the second round. While that energy and precision was seen here and there in the next three rounds, it was never as consistent as it was in the first round. Maynard has to not only maintain that energy, but he has to be smarter on picking his shots. Edgar is wanting to out-point him with his punches and kicks. Maynard is wanting to knock him out. Maynard has to use that to his advantage, and counter him a lot better on his feet. Additionally, Maynard was not able to use his size to his advantage. He is “The Bully”, after all. Takedowns are not going to be as successful against Edgar as they would be against nearly every other lightweight. But situations will still arise when he is on top of Edgar, and he needs to be more controlling and not allow Edgar to be mobile on the ground. Neither fighter utilizes a submission game. Edgar presented quite a few opportunities for Maynard to end the fight in the first round with a submission, but he never took advantage of that. Both fighters are expected to go to a decision whenever they fight, with Edgar going to a decision in 10 of his last 12 matches. Meanwhile, Maynard has gone to a decision in 8 straight matches. Look for the same to occur on Saturday. Maynard will more than likely look to utilize a similar gameplan from the second fight, because he feels it has already won him two bouts against Edgar. Now he knows he has no choice but to defeat him in the third matchup. More UFC 136 Pre-Fight Coverage: MMAFrenzy Podcast: UFC 136 Preview and More UFC 136 Preview: Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian UFC 136 Preview: Sonnen vs. Stann, Guillard vs. Lauzon, and Garcia vs. Phan  UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video for “Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ UFC 136 Preliminary Card Preview: Maia-Santiago, Pettis-Stephens, Facebook Prelims Countdown to UFC 136 Full Video for “Edgar vs. Maynard 3″

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Gray Maynard says talking about his fight with Frankie Edgar and visualizing how it will play out helps with his motivation.

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Webster’s dictionary defines ‘eternal conflict’ as two fighters who are stuck rematching over and over again with no real resolution reached at the end of each fight, and while an entire weight class is left paralyzed by the log jam at the top.  Yeah, that pretty much describes what’s been going on with lightweight champ Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard, who are meeting for a third time on Saturday night in the main event of UFC 136.  When last they fought, Maynard beat on Edgar so hard in the opening round, Edgar’s New Jersey accent inexplicably changed to Cockney English.  But “The Answer” survived, and came back to trounce the challenger; the end result was a draw.  So here we are, doing it again, and Dana White has sworn that this is it, regardless of the outcome the conflict ends here – and if there is no concrete resolution, he’s going to exile the two best 155-pound fighters in the world to a remote cabin in the Rockies and two new guys are going to fight for the belt.  Or something like that.   Anyway, UFC 136 preview.  Check it. -Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard – We know for sure that Maynard can hit hard, and we’re damn sure that Edgar can take a punch.  Plus, there’s a ton of dominant wrestling, submission knowledge and transitional ability for days that both guys possess.  The big question, then, is if Maynard can put his hands on the champ like he did in their last meeting.  Can he?  It’s doubtful, because you have to think Edgar was still a bit fuzzy in Rounds 2 through 5 of their UFC 125 bout, and still Maynard was unable to find his chin again.  So watch for the champ to earn the decision, and remain the champ for a while longer. -Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian – In his last title defense, featherweight contract killer Aldo went the distance with Mark Hominick, and won handily despite allegedly being sick.  In his featherweight debut at UFC 131, Florian had a rough time getting past Diego Nunes, who wasn’t exactly on the fast track to a shot at the belt.  Now, taking into consideration Florian’s size advantage and experience fighting bigger guys, his jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai chops, adding to the equation Aldo’s dynamic and explosive jiu-jitsu and kickboxing, and employing a bit of MMA Math™, the only logical conclusion to come to is this: Florian’s going to get destroyed. -Brian Stann vs. Chael Sonnen – Stann has been looking great lately, blasting dudes like Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago into oblivion with fists full of C4.  Unfortunately for the Great American Hero, his opponent is Sonnen, who before a suspension for failed drug test madness, handled champ Anderson Silva like he was a malnourished prisoner at Guantanamo Bay.  Stann is ending up on his back in this one – early and often – and Sonnen is earning himself another crack at Silva’s belt. -Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan – It used to aggravate me when Garcia would get unwarranted decision after unwarranted decision, and I bet it aggravated TUF 12 veteran Phan when he was on the receiving end of one the instances of the unfairness.  But then the Korean Zombie got justice by tapping Garcia out with a Twister in their rematch, and now I feel the karmic scales are on their way to being balanced.  All it will take is for Phan to out-strike and out-point Garcia in their rematch on Saturday night – and with his sharper striking, he most certainly can do it – and everything will be right with the world. -Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon – In Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”, the main character is transformed into a monstrous bug overnight.  Guillard’s transformation from TUF castoff to “Destroyer of Worlds” wasn’t quite as quick, but it’s been every bit as dramatic.  Thus far in 2011, we’ve watched Guillard crush Shane Roller and Evan Dunham like they were nothing, and the “Young Assassin” doesn’t look like he’s stopping for anyone – which doesn’t bode well for opponent Lauzon.  Lauzon’s fantastic on the ground, and certainly has the tools to hand his a foe a loss, but if he can’t get it to into his realm he’s doomed.

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UFC 136 Edgar vs. Maynard III weigh-in resultsHouston, TXFrankie Edgar () vs. Gray Maynard ()Jose Aldo () vs. Kenny Florian ()Chael Sonnen () vs. Brian Stann ()Leonard Garcia () vs. Nam Phan ()Melvin Guillard () vs. Joe Lauzon ()Demian Maia () vs. Jorge Santiago ()Anthony Pettis () vs. Jeremy Stephens ()Joey Beltran () vs. Stipe Miocic ()Darren Elkins () vs. Tiequan Zhang ()Nick Catone () vs. Aaron Simpson ()Steve Cantwell () vs. Mike Massenzio ()The UFC 136 weigh-ins take place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The first fighter will step on the scale at 5:00 PM EST (2:00 PM PST)Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) vs. Gray Maynard (10-0-1)Jose Aldo (19-1) vs. Kenny Florian (14-5)Chael Sonnen (25-11-1) vs. Brian Stann (11-3)

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HOUSTON - Gray Maynard doesn't have a problem with Frankie Edgar. But Maynard does have a big problem with the outcome of their most recent fight, which resulted in a draw and Edgar keeping his UFC lightweight title. A man of few words, Maynard said Saturday's UFC 136 headliner is his chance to right that wrong.

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Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard are both looking for final resolution to their rivalry at UFC 136.

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Bruce Buffer announced the third judge's score as 47-47. 10 months later, UFC President Dana White said that regardless of the outcome of the UFC 136 main event, a fourth bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard would not be considered. The 155-pound division was cut down the middle twice by The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 1 runner-up Kenny Florian but he came up short when he stepped inside the Octagon opposite Sean Sherk. The announcement of the three judges' scores echoed in "KenFlo's" three taps when B.J. Penn wrapped his arm around the challenger's neck. Two opportunities to become a champion, two times Florian left the Octagon empty-handed. Having spent 22 minutes brutalizing and dominating middleweight champ Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen found himself on the verge of accomplishing what many thought would never happen. A triangle choke led to the end of the bout and a loss while a highly suspect testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) regimen led to a suspension for the Republican wrestler. These three men -- Maynard, Florian, and Sonnen -- all took different routes to get to tomorrow's (Oct. 8) event, but a loss for any of them amounts to the same fate.  Each faces the same ultimatum: win or risk never getting a title shot again. "The Bully" spent over three years toiling away and had to earn eight wins before getting a title shot against a man he had already beaten. This was likely because his dominant, stifling style likely didn't earn him fans in the UFC office. While Maynard's rival Edgar wasn't known as a finishing machine himself, the New Jersey-native still managed to thrill fans when he stepped inside the Octagon. A lot of those fans labeled Maynard a stereotypical wrestler and at worst, a blanket. He became the Jon Fitch of the 155-pound division: no one seemed able to stop him but despite continuing to win, a swelling of fan support never came. Florian --having spent his season on TUF as a middleweight -- quickly dropped to 170-pounds and then finally settled at lightweight. Well-spoken, well-known, and well-trained, he was the perfect candidate to challenge for the long-vacant 155-pound title. The belt hadn't been worn since Jens Pulver left the promotion the first time and a four-man tournament in which the finals ended in a draw effectively killed the division for a couple of years. But another recent drop down to lightweight stood in his way. Sean Sherk -- who was built like a human tank -- had taken Matt Hughes to the limit at 170-pounds and at 15 pounds lighter, it seemed like he would be unstoppable. Florian was able to use one of his patented elbows to slice his opponent open early but "The Muscle Shark" would not be denied. It took "KenFlo" six more wins to get back to a title shot. This time around, it was Penn -- who had finally fulfilled his destiny in becoming the lightweight king we all knew him to be -- who smashed the TUF veteran's dreams of wearing championship gold. Florian would have gotten a third opportunity if he had beaten Maynard at UFC 118.  Sonnen went from a wrestler who couldn't defend a submission to save his life to somehow working his way to a shot at Anderson Silva's middleweight title. He surprisingly beat Yushin Okami and then even more surprisingly bested Nate Marquardt. But perhaps the most shocking of all Sonnen's accomplishments was the over 20-minute beatdown he handed "The Spider" in August of last year. It was in the build up to the UFC 117 main event that polarized Sonnen amongst MMA fans. He was either a racially insensitive hate monger or a modern day carnival barker, saying whatever it took to get you to buy a ticket to his show. In the end, over half a million people did and they were treated to quite a fight. The Team Quest member fought as perfectly as he could have hope to and came within minutes of winning but came up short. Even some of his most ardent critics felt a rematch should be in order. Those who still vilified him were justified in doing so when a shady TRT treatment earned Sonnen a year-long suspension and a heavy fine. Money laundering charges from a real estate scheme was icing on the cake. It seems tomorrow all three men have reached the end of their ropes. A loss for any man would be devastating and would likely ensure their remaining days would be spent as name talent a newcomer could get a win over.  Maynard's style kept him from a title shot for years already. There's no indication it won't again. Florian would be zero for three in title fights and would solidify his reputation as being good but not great. Sonnen would be shrugged off as a loudmouth who had his moment in the sun but needed some medical help and a Silva rib injury to get there. None of these men are getting any younger. "The Bully" celebrated his 32nd birthday this year while Florian and Sonnen are 35 and 34-years old respectively. Time is not on their side. And with a loss tomorrow, time will have run out.

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MMA Nation's Matthew Roth talks to Gray Maynard about UFC 136, the injuries that delayed the rematch and why he'll beat Frankie Edgar.

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The official weigh in event for UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" is set to take place today (Oct. 7, 2011) LIVE from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The first fighter is expected to tip the scale at 5 p.m. ET. MMAmania.com will provide results and live updates of the UFC 136 weigh ins, as well as provide a detailed recap of all the festivities as soon as they conclude. UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" will be headlined by the long-awaited trilogy fight in the rivalry between lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and his own personal "Bully," Gray Maynard. A second championship match-up is set for "Space City," as featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will put his strap on the line against Kenny Florian, who is still in search of that elusive first title win. A middleweight number one contender bout is also on the card with Republican Chael Sonnen going to war against super-soldier Brian Stann for the right to challenge for the 185-pound title. Complete UFC 136 weigh in results after the jump. Main event: 155 lbs.: Frankie Edgar ( ) vs. Gray Maynard ( ) Main card (Pay-per-view): 145 lbs.: Jose Aldo ( ) vs. Kenny Florian ( ) 185 lbs.: Chael Sonnen ( ) vs. Brian Stann ( ) 155 lbs.: Melvin Guillard ( ) vs. Joe Lauzon ( ) 145 lbs.: Nam Phan ( ) vs. Leonard Garcia ( ) "Prelims" (Spike TV): 155 lbs.: Anthony Pettis ( ) vs. Jeremy Stephens ( ) 185 lbs.: Demian Maia ( ) vs. Jorge Santiago ( ) Preliminary card (May not be broadcast): 185 lbs.: Steve Cantwell ( ) vs. Mike Massenzio ( ) 145 lbs.: Darren Elkins ( ) vs. Zhang Tie Quan ( ) 265 lbs.: Joey Beltran ( ) vs. Stipe Miocic ( ) 185 lbs.: Eric Schafer ( ) vs. Aaron Simpson ( ) Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., Oct. 8), which is slated to air at 9 p.m. ET on pay-per-view. The latest quick updates of the live action will begin to flow earlier than that around 7 p.m. ET with the preliminary bouts. It's going to be a fun night of fights so don't miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 136 coverage you can handle.

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Weigh-ins for tomorrow’s “UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ take place today at 5pm ET in Houston, Texas as the card’s 22 fighters hit the scale to make their fights official, including UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and fellow headliner Gray Maynard. UFC 136 also includes featherweight champ Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian and middleweight contenders Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann. MMAFrenzy.com will have UFC 136 weigh-in video and results below at 5pm ET: MAIN CARD Frankie Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard UFC Lightweight Championship Jose Aldo (c) vs. Kenny Florian UFC Featherweight Championship Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV) Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens PRELIMINARY CARD Joey Beltran vs. Stipe Miocic Tiequan Zhang and Darren Elkins Aaron Simpson vs. Eric Schafer Steve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio

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Filed under: UFCHOUSTON -- Frankie Edgar has spent the last year of his fighting life focusing on just one man: Gray Maynard. Being forced to return his attention to the same task over and over hasn't driven him crazy, but even the mild-mannered lightweight champion has had just about enough. "I'm sick of talking about how sick I am of talking about him," Edgar said on Thursday, a wry smile on his face. After Saturday, win or lose, he finally gets to move on. But the fact is, a win over Maynard is important for Edgar's growing legacy. It was a surprise when he won the championship over BJ Penn in April 2010, but whatever doubters remained were silenced when he romped past Penn in a rematch a few months later. But Maynard (10-0-1) has been the one thorn in his side, a powerful puncher with a wrestling pedigree and a willingness to grind out opponents. The pair have fought twice before, with Maynard winning a decision in April 2008, and the duo scrapping to a thrilling draw on January 1. Maynard's success in the respective fights came via different means. In the first bout, Edgar (13-1-1) out-landed him on the feet barely, but Maynard controlled the fight with his wrestling, scoring on eight of 10 takedown tries, according to Compustrike. In the second fight though, Maynard's best moments came standing, rocking Edgar in the first round and nearly finishing. But his success ended there. Edgar effectively shut down his wrestling. After the 10-8 first round, Maynard managed only 1 of 11 takedown tries. Here's what we know about Edgar: he can fight forever. He's shown it over and over. In the last fight with Maynard, for instance, he threw and landed more strikes in round five than any other round of the fight. Because of that endless stamina, he's usually going to throw greater volume than his opponent. In Edgar-Maynard II, he threw 53 more strikes than Maynard despite spotting him a 41-strike advantage in round one. In close rounds with little discernible damage differential, volume wins rounds. Compounding Maynard's problem, Edgar is historically more accurate than him, 42 percent to 34 percent, according to FightMetric research. If Edgar throws more volume and lands more, this fight will end up looking like Edgar-Penn II. Maynard's best way to slow Edgar down is to take him down. When he's fresh, he seems to transition better into his takedowns. As he fatigues though, he loses effectiveness. So pacing will be important to Maynard here. If he takes Edgar down, it would be advantageous for him keep Edgar there for a while. Grind him out. Fighting Edgar in open space will always be difficult due to his speed and footwork. I wouldn't be surprised to see Maynard win the first round or two this time around, but I expect Edgar to stay away from Maynard's heavy artillery. As the fight goes on, Edgar's quickness, movement and accuracy will begin to take over. It will be another close one, but this time, Edgar takes the decision, and the trilogy concludes with both men 1-1-1 against each other. Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian The last time we saw Jose Aldo fight, he looked vulnerable for the first time in a long time, flat on his back for most of round five against Mark Hominick, relying on his early lead and holding on until the final bell for a decision win. Aldo (19-1) says now that his weight cut went awry due to added muscle, and he was also impacted by a fight-week infection that was not divulged prior to the fight. During fight week in Toronto back then, he looked gaunt and depleted. Seeing him around this week, he looks healthy and energetic. His offensive gifts are well known to most fans. He has a brilliant game which mixes power and speed. He flicks out chopping kicks with ease. He has black belt jiu-jitsu and wrestles like he's been doing it his entire life. If there are holes in his game, they aren't very obvious. That's the puzzle Kenny Florian (15-5) is trying to solve. Florian might not be as naturally physically gifted as Aldo (their power, for one, is not comparable), but he's willed himself into a complete fighter. But here's the real problem for Florian: nearly all the things at which he's good, Aldo is better. That's clear from a look at the stats. Aldo lands more strikes per minute than Florian, is more accurate overall, has better striking defense and has landed takedowns at a higher percentage. And when it comes to takedown defense, statistically at least, Aldo has no peer among active UFC fighters. He's stuffed 93 percent of attempts against him, a number that would rank him No. 1 if he had the required five UFC fights to qualify for the leaderboard (eight of his nine fights under the Zuffa banner were in the WEC). I think Florian is smart enough to know he can't fight Aldo in space for five rounds. He will try to either take Aldo down or grind him against the cage to take away some of his explosiveness. But in a 25-minute fight, that's going to be a difficult proposition. I don't think Florian will get blown out by any means; he's too solid a fighter to leave massive openings. But I do think Aldo's attack will find its mark over time. Aldo at his best is a matchup nightmare for any featherweight, and judging from the smile he's been carting around Houston, he's brought his A-game. Aldo via fourth-round TKO. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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We're here because of Gray Maynard. Had UFC president Dana White's ire with MMA judging not been cut with sympathy for Maynard, Frankie Edgar might be taking on Melvin Guillard, or Clay Guida, or any number of lightweights now stacked in queue for a shot at the belt. In our official event preview, MMAjunkie.com's Steven Marrocco explains how a third match between lightweight champ Edgar and eager challenger Gray Maynard came to be.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship returns tonight with a stacked Edgar vs. Maynard III fight card. The event will take place on October 8th at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, headlined by the trilogy bout between Frankie "The Answer" Edgar and Gray "The Bully" Maynard. Also on the card, Jose Aldo Jr. puts his UFC Featherweight title on the line in a fight with Kenny "Ken-Flo" Florian.Don't forget to join us at LowKick.com for Play-by-Play Commentary and Chat with a full panel of LowKick.com writers

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Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, as well as the rest of the UFC 136 fight card cast, weigh in Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center in Houston.

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The main event of UFC 136 on October 8th is Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard for the UFC lightweight championship. From purely a fight perspective, I think this is the most important fight the UFC has to offer. It might not be the flashiest, it might not be receiving the most media attention, it might not be filled with the best trash-talk sound bites, but, bar none, there are no two fighters who deserve to battle each other for a belt in the Octagon more than these two, if for no other reason than the first time they squared off with a title on the line they put on a “Fight of the Night” that could very well be “Fight of the Year”. And at the end of that memorable match, there was no clear winner. On New Year’s Day in Las Vegas at UFC 125, Maynard challenged Edgar for the UFC lightweight championship and the two fought a five round war from bell to bell. It was an emotional fight with highs and lows for both competitors. It was a grueling contest where without a doubt both fighters left everything they had in the cage that night and they were both standing ready for more. When time expired, the final decision was laid in the hands of the judges. The verdict: a draw.“I know it's easy to have that quote, ‘don't leave it up to the judges’, but you're in a championship fight and you're going up against the top in the world, so more than likely it's going to be a close one,” says Maynard. “That's the way the sport is headed. I don't care who you talk to, if they know the sport, with two top athletes it's going to be a close one. I wasn't pissed off at the judges. Whatever, it happens. At that time, I felt like I wanted to do it again. Over and over. I don't care if I had to sign a contract that I had to go up against this guy 100 times to prove to everyone that I can beat this guy 100 times then I would have done that. I still feel that way. I want to fight him. I'm not tired of fighting him. I want to fight him. I want to prove to everyone that I can beat him.”At 32 years old and about to enter the Octagon for the 11th time, Maynard’s determination is unparalleled in preparing to challenge Edgar for the belt for the second time this year. There are dozens of reasons to push “The Bully” to train harder than ever to win this fight: the title, stay undefeated as a pro, it’s what Maynard’s been working for these past four years in the UFC, and on and on. But the beauty of this particular matchup is the untainted simplicity of the competition. Maynard wants to beat Edgar to settle any doubts in any person’s mind that he is better. “I'm not tired of it because there's a question and I hate questions,” asserts Maynard. “There's a question of who can beat who and that's what I want to prove. That's what drives me. I want him. I want to fight him. I want to prove it.”The three-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler from Michigan State University specifically knows he can defeat Edgar because he did it. Back in 2008, well before either were within sniffing distance of the weight class’ gold, Maynard scored a unanimous decision victory over Edgar, which handed the New Jersey native his first and only loss. It was a great matchup then between two burgeoning stars with wrestling backgrounds in a clash of “speed” (Edgar) vs. “power” (Maynard). Three years later, it is an even better matchup because they are undeniably the best in their division and have marched their way to the top since that meeting in 2008. “We both have obviously grown and evolved,” explains Maynard. “When you are going up against the top in the world one after the other you are going to get better. For me, after him I had Rich Clementi, Jim Miller, Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz, Kenny Florian. For him, Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca, and BJ Penn twice. You have to evolve and have to change. For me, I'm not trying to hold onto the fact that I beat him before. I forget about that stuff. You can ask me who I beat and I will tell you to check for yourself because I don't remember. But if you ask me who beat me - I'll tell you when, the date, the time, who it was, his background - I'll tell you everything about it. I just hate to lose. I hate draws. I hate everything but a win.”“The Bully” knows winning. UFC fans have watched Maynard win and win and win, from his nine second knockout of Joe Veres on September 19, 2007 until the dominant decision victory over Kenny Florian at UFC 118 on August 28, 2010. In between, Maynard has faced and defeated notable lightweight after notable lightweight on his way to the much deserved title shot at UFC 125. Before the belt had even been put up for grabs, a number one contender had already been named in WEC lightweight champion Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. After the murky pseudo-conclusion of the bout, it was up in the air whether Edgar’s next challenger would be Pettis or a “rubber match” with Maynard for a decisive ending. From the perspective of “The Bully”, title shots are hard to come by in the UFC and he got one and it ended in a draw. First, the fight’s fate lay with judges; now the rematch’s fate lay with UFC President Dana White.“It was heart-wrenching,” admits Maynard. “I feel like I've earned this. I didn't try to back door it. I didn't drop to my knees. I didn't think this marketing plan will have me at 300,000 Twitter followers and that's going to get me a title shot. I just asked for the best guys every fight until I had the opportunity. I felt like I won that. The judges say it was a draw - ok. But this dude hasn't beat me and he's the champ. I don't understand how I don't get another shot at that. I don't understand how it's a question. Thank God they did. I think it was Dana who called and said it was mine and I think I told him I loved him and cried a little bit because that was awesome. He could have chose whoever he wanted to because that's his job and he chose me and I appreciate that more than anything - it's unreal.”The rematch for the UFC lightweight championship is set, a date is picked, a venue is picked, so everything is going great. What could possibly go wrong? Injuries. Originally, Maynard and Edgar were supposed to square off on the Memorial Day card in Las Vegas at UFC 130. Less than a month out, the fight was called off due to injuries to both fighters. It was a blow emotionally to Maynard with another hiccup in his journey to his first UFC belt, but it was a blessing in disguise for Maynard physically because he will be entering the rematch healthy.“There had been a lot of injuries, but I wasn't going to pull out of it,” tells Maynard. “My knee was screwed up and my back and I got cut over my eye. I got a call saying he had to pull out of the fight because of his back. Obviously, it was crushing to me. I talked to my coaches and they said this is probably the best for me because I was hobbling around and my elbow had problems and I had a cut on my eye. I just jumped right back into camp after January 1st because I was pissed. For me, I just never healed up. I had to have a scope done on my elbow. Obviously, it's a tough sport and injuries happen.”Now, “The Bully” is closing in on the same opponent, the same championship and the same fight he’s been training for this past year. “That draw helped me to keep on track because I want to think about him every day,” states Maynard, who has had 10 months to ruminate on the January bout; meanwhile, the most talent rich division in the UFC has been jockeying for position to be the next in line. “If I start to look past him or there are some other good fights out there, then his head pops up in my mind and I think who gives a s**t about anyone else. I want Edgar. I want to fight him.”There are no secrets about who either Edgar or Maynard is as a fighter after they have dueled in the Octagon for eight rounds, 40 minutes and two close decisions. There is no mystery. They know the other is tough, is ready to fight the full 25, wants to fight on the feet, wants to fight on the floor, and will not give an inch until the referee stops it. Maynard would not want it any other way because taking that hardest road against the best competitors will make success taste even sweeter. “For my career, for who I am, I want to be known that I'm a normal person - I'm a blue collar type, I train hard and I work hard,” affirms Maynard. “I just want people to know that I really do put everything I have into this sport - into my dreams. Whether it is cash, time, I put it ahead of a lot of things - of everything. It isn't a game to me; it's my life and it's who I am. You only have a couple times to achieve your dreams and I want to make the most of it. I feel that I'm the guy who can beat him. I feel like I'm the guy who can beat everyone. I'm not trying to say I'm the best or anything, but I put a plan and camp together and I feel like I have the edge in that aspect. I believe in myself.”On October 8th at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, Maynard and Edgar will battle for the supremacy of the UFC lightweight division. For the third time, these two will entertain UFC fans in the purest way possible: fighting each other in the Octagon. It’s as if Maynard and Edgar are destined to fight each other forever in the most grueling hard fought contests assembled. There’s undoubtedly a historic rivalry between Maynard and Edgar. Not built on bitter words or disrespect; its foundation is in the greatness of their competition in the cage. Regardless, Maynard knows it’s unfinished. Come fight night, hyperbole will not help “The Bully” earn that belt. It will be Maynard’s pragmatism of simply beating the opponent in front of him that will get him another win and the UFC gold. “I try not to look deep into this stuff,” relates Maynard. “I try to have a goal for the day. I try to keep out of that other stuff. But there is a lot of s**t going into this fight if you look at the history. I get asked, ‘this is a trilogy fight and you two have gone back and forth, how does it feel?’ Well, I guess when I'm an old man and I'm having a couple beers it will be cool. But right now, I'm amidst a war.”It was a war in 2008. It was a war on January 1st. And at UFC 136, there’s no reason to think it won’t be another war with the belt on the line. If that doesn’t make it the most important fight to everyone watching, then I don’t what does.

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Earlier today (Thurs., Oct. 6, 2011), UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" event competitors participated in an open workout designed mostly for photo opportunities. And photos we got. UFC 136 will be headlined by the long-awaited trilogy fight in the rivalry between Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and his own personal "Bully," Gray Maynard. A second championship match-up is set for "Space City," as featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will put his strap on the line against Kenny Florian, who is still in search of that elusive first title win. A middleweight number one contender bout is also on the card with Republican Chael Sonnen going to war against super-soldier Brian Stann for the right to challenge for the 185-pound title. More shots after the jump, courtesy of UFC.com.

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On Saturday night (Oct. 8), UFC 136 will invade the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, with a fight card packed full of exciting match-ups. In the main event, Gray Maynard will look to finally "bully" his way to a win over Frankie Edgar and take home the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight belt that he's worked for his entire life. Edgar will look to do the "Jersey Shore" proud by defending his strap, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind who is the better man. Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are sure to have their favorites already picked out, whether it be to make a quick buck or to win a "sig bet." You probably think you know who will be walking away a champion after the dust has settled. You might be basing your opinion on a gut feeling. Maybe you've even gone as far as to dig up some fight footage and make a more educated guess. The fine folks at CompuStrike have put together some of these aforementioned numbers in relation to Saturday night's main event. We're not saying don't trust your gut. Just check out the cold, hard facts before you do. Let's look at where each fighter spends the majority of their time during their respective UFC fights (on average): Frankie Edgar Total Fight Time - Standing: 101:03 | Ground: 80:25Gray Maynard Total Fight Time - Standing: 87:04 | Ground: 42:24 As the numbers reveal, the time differential in which Edgar's fights have been spent standing and on the canvas is much more proportional than that of Maynard's. Maynard is one of an ever-growing number of wrestlers who actually prefer to stand and trade hands. Speaking of which, let's examine how both fighters have fared in their overall striking exchanges. Here are the percentages for "Total Strikes Landed:" Maynard: 53%Edgar: 50% Pretty close. How about diversity of strikes? We got you covered on that statistic as well. Here are the percentage of arm strikes landed: Edgar: 41%Maynard: 39% Again, razor thin.  When looking at the percentage of kicks landed, we see the gap widen a bit, in favor of the challenger. However, it should be noted that Maynard's sampling size is much smaller. (Maynard has only thrown a total of four kicks in his UFC career, according to CompuStrike.) Maynard: 75%Edgar: 59% It's almost certain that this fight will get to the mat at some point. Who has the striking advantage in this scenario? Here is each fighter's percentage of strikes landed while on the ground: Maynard: 83%Edgar: 66% The last time these two tangoed, the takedown played a major role. Here's the success rate for each fighter, in regard to their UFC takedown attempts: Maynard: 27-for-42 -- 64%Edgar: 38-for-69 -- 55% We can see that Edgar has scored more takedowns during his career, but Maynard is more effective from a percentage standpoint. The numbers would appear to tilt in Maynard's favor. But you kinda knew that already, didn't you? He's clearly bigger and stronger. Will it matter? Your turn to geek out, Maniacs. Get out your pocket protectors and protractors and tell who you've got! 

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UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar has been eating, sleeping and thinking about nothing but Gray Maynard for almost a year now and he's sick of it.

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosHOUSTON -- MMA Fighting spoke to Gray Maynard on Thursday about his UFC 136 fight against Frankie Edgar, his new hairstyle, his demeanor going into this third fight and whether he thinks he has Edgar's number.  Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

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Fight fans across the country slept in to make up for the hours they spent in the early morning celebrating the arrival of another new year. They awoke with heavy eyes and a pounding inside their skull. Aspirin and water helped alleviate some of that self-inflicted torture while cold pizza served to soak up the alcohol still left in their system. In Las Vegas, a city built on decadence and excess, at least two men refused to engage in the debauchery that consumed nearly everyone the night before. Their celebration -- at least each hoped -- would come a few hours later after UFC President Dana White wrapped the lightweight title around their waist. Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard fought as well as they could have hoped to but that sought after celebration didn't come for either man. Their main event bout -- one of the most exhilarating in the history of the sport -- ended with no winner. One judge ruled in favor of the champion, the second for the challenger. The third scored the bout an even 47-47. Once the usual dissatisfaction that comes with draws subsided, the thought that raced across everyone watching was, "I can't wait until they fight again." But wait we did. We waited for injuries to heal and for training camps to start and end. In approximately 48 hours (Oct. 8), at UFC 136, the two best lightweights in mixed martial arts (MMA) will return to their battlefield once again to finally settle who truly belongs on the throne atop the 155-pound division. Before they do, let's take a look back at their historic bout from earlier this year. In January, the two fighters stepped inside the Octagon opposite each other for the second time in their careers. In 2008, "The Bully" lived up to his moniker and earned a unanimous decision over Edgar. It was this fight that had many calling for "The Answer" to jump ship to World Extreme Cagefighting's (WEC) featherweight division. Edgar remained at 155-pounds, winning his next three bouts which included a victory over former lightweight champ Sean Sherk. And at UFC 112, he accomplished what many thought was impossible at his weight: he beat B.J. Penn. Four months later, he replicated the result and effectively ended the Hawaiian's career at lightweight. But there was one man who scoffed at "The Answer's" status as undisputed champ. At UFC 118 -- the same event where Edgar proved he was no fluke champion -- Maynard staked his claim at the title when he defeated Kenny Florian in a number one contender's bout. The two met for a second time but the stakes were considerably higher than they were at Fight Night: Florian vs. Lauzon. The first round started like most championships bout do. Edgar and his challenger circled the Octagon, throwing out jabs in an attempt to find their range. One minute in, all hell broke loose. "The Bully" found his mark and dropped the champion. Well, not so much dropped as he made Edgar nearly do a backflip. As the champion got back to his feet -- the Las Vegas crowd probably sounding like they're miles away -- he narrowly avoided getting plastered with an uppercut from Maynard. "The Answer" staggered backwards, trying to create some distance between himself and his opponent but Maynard kept up the attack. A right from the challenger cracked Edgar on the jaw as he shot in for a takedown. It was stuffed and "The Bully" used the position to hammer away at the champion's skull. As they rose to their feet, two uppercuts plowed into the New Jersey-native's chin and dropped him for the second time in as many minutes. To his credit, "The Answer" never stopped working. He never gave the referee the opportunity to step in and call the bout. Even as Maynard landed punch after punch, Edgar continued to work towards getting back to his feet, back to a more neutral position. And this was all in the first 120 seconds. As the two reached the midpoint of the first round, Maynard found himself in almost total control of the bout while Edgar found himself dazed and bleeding from the nose. The pace slowed for a bit but a hook from the challenger caught "The Answer" right on the temple and he yet took another tumble. Back to their feet, a straight saw the champion get dropped to the mat once again. Throughout the entire round, it felt like any one of these punches could be the kill shot even though none followed through on that promise. Either due to a lack of knockout power on Maynard's part or a granite chin on Edgar's, the fight somehow made it to the second round. The next five minutes played out more like a round from either fight Edgar had with Penn. "The Answer" was sticking and moving, not allowing Maynard to find any rhythm in his stand-up while peppering the challenger with lightning quick punches. A cross halfway through the round snapped "The Bully's" head to the side and drew a loud reaction from the crowd. Maynard himself? Not so much. With a little over a minute to go, Edgar was able to duck under some Maynard punches and unleashed a monster of the slam that didn't do a whole lot of damage but looked mighty impressive. The champion continued connecting with combinations and after 10 minutes, "The Bully" was also showing the wear and tear of a championship scrap. It was also at this point that fans knew, after watching the champion get absolutely brutalized in the first only to come back and win the second round, they were watching something special. In between rounds, Maynard's corner offers this advice, "You're trying to knock his ass out! Just beat him up, alright?! Don't try to knock him out, that'll come!" As blunt as it may have seemed, it was excellent advice. "The Bully's" corner does him another solid when they tell their fighter that he lost the round. It lights a fire inside of him. Of the remaining rounds, the third and fifth remain the most contentious. Takedowns seemed to have sealed the deal for the challenger in the third but the fifth remained almost entirely vertical. That said, we'll get to it in a moment. As far as the opening championship round went, it was all Edgar. He opened up with two impressive takedowns and a guillotine choke attempt and never looked back. He fought like a man on a mission to keep a belt almost no one thought he would win in the first place. He shoved off takedown attempts from the bigger Maynard and worked him over with the same impeccable boxing that felled Penn not once, but twice. The fifth and final round oddly played out like what felt like a first round. Both fighters were patient and picked their shots carefully. If not for the cuts and blood on their faces, one might swear they were watching the beginning, not the end, of a title fight. Takedown attempts were stuffed like neither fighter had just spent nearly half an hour fighting and jabs snapped as crisp as they would during the first or second minute. As the final horn sounded, both champion and challenger raised their arms in triumph. Edgar's camp congratulated their fighter on a successful second defense while Maynard's crew hugged who they felt was the new champ. Bruce Buffer read off the first score in favor of the champ. Then he read the second score awarding the bout to the challenger. And then the third... Pucker up and grab your sister, folks. Naturally, each fighter thought they had done enough to win the fight but accepted the decision -- one that would affect and dictate their career for nearly a year -- handed down by the three men assigned to judge the bout, three men neither fighter likely had never met before or ever would. One of Dana White's most oft quoted sound bites is, "Don't leave it in the hands of the judges." It's become somewhat of an MMA meme to describe the judging problem that often negatively affects our beloved sport. But a fighter doing so can determine the amount of his paycheck or even his employment status. In Edgar and Maynard's case at UFC 125, it actually determined nothing. We still don't know who the best 155-pound fighter on the planet is but that should change come Saturday evening. Who will it be, Maniacs?

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Top Lightweight contender Gray "The Bully" Maynard, who will rematch division Champion Frankie Edgar for the 155-pound strap on Saturday, discusses his opponent, as well as his disappointment in fighting to a draw in their previous bout. Maynard insists that anything less than having the title around his waist is unacceptable and says that he'll be looking for a decisive victory this time around.

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submitted by knees [link] [3 comments]

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Frankie Edgar meets Gray Maynard for the third time on Saturday night at UFC 136. He's ready to put Maynard behind him, and in emphatic fashion.

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Highlights from the UFC 136 ‘Edgar vs. Maynard 3′ pre-fight press conference via MMA Fighting.

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UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 live results and play-by-play on Saturday, Oct. 8, in Houston. The main event features Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard.

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UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 quick results on Saturday, Oct. 8, in Houston. The main event features Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard.

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UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 play-by-play of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard on Saturday, Oct. 8, in Houston.

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On Sat., Oct. 8, Gray Maynard will look to settle a score against current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas. Apparently, training for a much anticipated "rubber match" isn't enough to keep Maynard's competitive juices flowing. On Monday night (Oct. 3), "The Bully" appeared on everyone's favorite mixed martial arts (MMA) radio program, Pro MMA Radio, to talk with Larry Pepe about his upcoming fight, the state of the lightweight division and who he'd like to defend his title against if he comes away with the win over Edgar this time. That wasn't all Maynard had to say. During the interview, the topic came up regarding the upcoming title bout between current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and Maynard's former college roommate and wrestling teammate, Rashad Evans. Apparently, Maynard doesn't have a lot of respect for "Bones'" ability to take a punch. Here's what Maynard had to say when asked to make a prediction on who will win the approaching fight between Jones and Evans: "Rashad Evans. For sure! Cuz he's gonna hit him and Jon Jones doesn't like that. I saw him (Jones) fight a guy...it was after the (Stephan) Bonnar fight, I think. I forgot who it was. But, every time he hit Jones, he turned his back and ran. It was really an eye opener. I was like, 'He's got skills but, he doesn't like to get hit.' " Maynard elaborated further, stating hat he believes Evans has the advantage anywhere that the fight could end up going. "You've got a long guy, then you've got a more explosive, powerful guy. I'd say Rashad. You know, he can scramble, he has it all. Jon Jones, you know, he's had 'Rampage,' Bader and a couple different guys. He did a good job, but I don't think he can beat my boy, Rashad."  Hard to say that Maynard isn't biased.  Is he right? Does "Suga" really have the striking and wrestling advantage in the match-up against his future opponent and former training partner? Sound off!

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Gray Maynard breaks down his first title fight against Frankie Edgar, when he felt he was robbed.

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If champ Frankie Edgar (13-1-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC) beats challenger Gray Maynard (10-0-1 MMA, 8-0-1 UFC) at...

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UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard got in each other's face at the pre-UFC 136 news conference.

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If champ Frankie Edgar beats challenger Gray Maynard at Saturday's UFC 136 event, that will give each a win to accompany a frustrating draw in their second bout back at UFC 125. Usually, rubber matches are booked when a series is tied. But UFC president Dana White today said that he'd rather just move on. "(Let's) put it behind us," White said.

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The UFC is taking the debate over Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard viral with their latest video offering... UFC 136 The Debate.

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The irony of Frankie Edgar's second bout with Gray Maynard is that it took place at UFC 125, a card entitled 'Resolution' by ZUFFA. However, nothing was resolved. It was like UFC 125 never happened. Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II ended in a draw. One judge scored it definitively for Gray Maynard, the other slightly gave it to Frankie Edgar and the third obviously had a life-long problem with making and handling responsible decisions in his/her life. Technically, if you're a judge then you must come to a decision -- that's sort of why you're called a judge. You can't just throw your hands up and say 'Oh, I don't know. That was too crazy for me to effectively do my job.' Let's take for example the Casey Anthony trial. What would happen if the judge said, 'Screw it, I'm ruling this trial a draw?' That's a rhetorical question that doesn't have a set answer, but you can try to invent one. Sort of like this video of people debating who actually won the fight between Gray Maynard vs. Frankie Edgar. Personally, I believed Gray ran away with the fight, especially after scoring a 10-8 in the first round -- if not a 10-7 round.

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The UFC has saddled up and moseyed on down to the Lone Star State once again, this time stopping in Houston for an event featuring dual title-fights and a number of match-ups between ranked/respected Mixed Martial Artists. Headlined by lightweight Frank Edgar’s second consecutive title-defense against Gray Maynard with a co-main event between phenomenal 145-pound champion Jose Aldo taking on Kenny Florian, UFC 136 is one of the most-anticipated events of 2011 and it’s only four days away from unfolding at the Toyota Center! However, before the fighters take to the Octagon, a handful of them including the champs and challengers sat down and spoke with media at a press conference related to the festivities. As always, Five Ounces of Pain was tuned in and relayed relevant information back to readers. Frank Edgar: - Doesn’t think Gray has his number or else he would have beaten him in the last fight - Was surprised by how well Maynard pressured him in their last fight and how tough he was throughout the entire bout Gray Maynard: - Feels good and fully prepared / “Everything is done. It’s about time to have fun.” - Wants to bring a title back to Xtreme Couture - Credits Edgar with being a “tough kid” and says even he was “amazed” by his ability to come back Jose Aldo: - His preparation was great for the last fight but the weight cut was harder, says it has been much easier this time Kenny Florian: - Doesn’t feel this is his “last stand” / Loves the challenges provided by MMA, loves going to the gym every day, and wants to compete against the best guys possible - “I feel it is my time.” - As a MMA fan he is looking forward to Edgar vs. Maynard and is happy he’s fighting first so he can hopefully watch things unfold from backstage afterwards Brian Stann: - Has trained wrestling more than anything else over the past two years and knows he doesn’t have to out-wrestle Sonnen on Saturday night / “I even went back to my bout agreement and checked – I can punch in this fight.” - Doesn’t feel Sonnen’s past opponents didn’t train specifically for him rather than focusing on what they were already good at - Believes there is a rhythm to fighting but doesn’t expect Sonnen to show any “ring rust” - Mentions that he met Sonnen after he had his first professional fight and referred to how respectful Chael was Chael Sonnen: - Has accepted he could be a bit rusty after the long layoff and believes “ring rust is a real thing” - “I’m out trying to pick a fight (with Anderson) and I’m not making any qualms about it. I’ve never told Dana I want a title-fight..I want the title.” - The break doesn’t feel too long / “I’ve never been a victim. I’m not going to complain.” - “He’ll bring his skills, I’ll bring mine. We’ll shake hands after the fight and live with the result.” - Admits he had some doubts about coming back / “I’m never secure out there. Every day I try to get a little better at something – a little faster, a little stronger…that’s part of it. What fun would this be if you knew the outcome?” Dana White: - “Nothing sucks worse than a draw.” / Excited about finally being able to move forward in the division - Calls Florian and Aldo both being finishers - “I want Kenny to prove me wrong on this one.” (referring to past assertions Florian chokes in big fights) - Mentions how much the UFC has grown since the last time they were in Houston four years ago, specifically talking about how jacked he is about the deal with FOX - Says Houston has been a great market for them where viewership is concerned - Even if Edgar wins and ties the series 1-1-1 the UFC is still moving forward in the division - Doesn’t remember how he scored the last fight but just remember the bad taste the draw left in his mouth and how passionate Maynard was about getting another shot

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It’s the rubber match.Well, not really, since one of the fights ended in a draw. The main event of UFC 136 on Saturday night is the third installment of the most intriguing UFC lightweight trilogy in recent memory.UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar will defend his title for a second time against top-rated challenger Gray Maynard. What makes the bout so interesting is the fact that Maynard is the lone man to ever defeat Edgar. He just didn’t do it in their last bout—two of the three judges didn’t think so, at least. Maynard dominated their first bout, scoring a clear unanimous decision win. He also completely dominated the first round of the rematch, coming ultra close to scoring a win by knockout. But Edgar found a way to survive the first round, and Maynard had completely depleted his gas tank searching for the knockout, so the rest of the fight, other than possibly the third round, was controlled by Edgar. It was one of the most dramatic reversals of fortune of 2011. Edgar survived what seemed to be a sure defeat and found a way pull out a draw, which meant that he kept the title. Maynard was understandably crushed. He couldn’t understand how a guy who took a savage beating in the first round, seemingly teetering back and forth between consciousness and nighty night time, could find a way to win. But that is why rounds are scored in microcosm. Edgar won more rounds than Maynard, so he retained his title. On Saturday night, the pair will dance once again. Just about anything can happen in a fight like this, but the one thing that seems overwhelmingly unlikely is another draw. This puppy will end with one man’s hand raised. I’m sure of it.What makes the bout even better is both men have to be 100 percent certain that they can win. Maynard has thoroughly dominated Edgar in four of their eight rounds of competition. Edgar has won three in convincing fashion. One round probably could have gone either way.So, what is going to happen this time around? Honestly, this fight is no different than the prior two. The words I wrote in the week leading up to the rematch remain relevant:Edgar is a smallish, ultra-quick lightweight who makes his living with constant movement and short bursts of fistic activity, all the while maintaining great balance so that he can either defend a takedown or take the action to the canvas, if the situation calls for it.  It is a style designed to win on the judges’ cards, not necessarily one that will finish many fights.  To wit, the champ has only ended two of his nine UFC bouts inside the distance.I don’t think anything will change with Edgar’s game plan against Maynard.  The reality is that the champ wants to keep as much separation as possible, while constantly changing angles with strikes.  He knows he cannot outwrestle Maynard.  He knows he won’t win a power contest, either.   He needs to fight in precisely the same way that he did in his title-winning and title-defending efforts.  Maynard should come out with the same game plan that he had in the first fight, which was to score takedowns early in every round, keep Edgar on his back, and grind away for a stoppage or a judges’ decision.  “Should” is the operative word because I’m not convinced that Maynard will come out and fight with a disciplined game plan.  He may get too caught up in the moment and embark on a headhunting campaign with his always improving boxing skills.  “The Bully” has more than enough juice to stop the champ with his fists, but Edgar is the cleaner, more polished striker, so I think he will dominate in the standup arena, for as long as the fight remains there.At the end of the day, this fight is all about the matchup, and the breakdown on paper suggests that the UFC Lightweight Championship will change hands on Saturday night.  Just like Edgar was BJ Penn’s kryptonite, Maynard may indeed be his.I was wrong about the title changing hands, but the rest of the breakdown was spot on, and I don’t think anything has changed in the nine months since their last bout, particularly with Edgar. He knows he can stick and move, scoring with quick, crisp punches. He also knows that he has the deeper gas tank. He wants to drag the fight into the championship rounds where he should be able to rely on that deep gas tank (and good takedowns, by that point in the fight) to prevail on the judges’ cards. Maynard wants nothing to do with the judges. I guarantee it. He will do everything in his power to score a knockout. And that is a huge mistake.If Maynard hasn’t learned from his last bout, he won’t win on Saturday night. Sure, he can easily score a knockout. In fact, I think it is slightly more probable than not that he wins by knockout. But he cannot get overzealous searching for a knockout. Otherwise, he will risk the same fate he suffered on New Year’s Day.Maynard lost the last fight for one reason and one reason alone. He punched himself out in the first round. If he fights with more control, he wins this fight easily.Why? He is the better wrestler. He is the more powerful striker. He is the bigger, stronger man. And he already has a win over Edgar (and he believes he should have two), so he should have a mental edge. The only two relevant areas where he doesn’t surpass Edgar are his footwork while striking and his cardio. Neither of those will be relevant, if Maynard takes the fight to the ground early and pounds him out from there. Neither of those will be relevant, if Maynard lands a flush blow and methodically searches for the knockout. Neither of those will be relevant, if Maynard comes into the fight in great shape and follows a good game plan.Then again, Edgar didn’t have any physical or skill advantages over BJ Penn. Not on paper, at least. And he beat the all-time great twice—easily.  He also happened to beat Maynard easily in their last fight, if one eliminates the first round.QUICK FACTS:Frankie Edgar•    29 years old (turns 30 on October 16)•    5’8, 155 lbs•    13-1-1 overall (8-1-1 UFC)•    2-0-1 in UFC title fights•    8-0-1 in last 10 fights•    4-0-1 in last 5•    80% of UFC fights lasted the distance (6-1-1 in those fights)•    1 UFC win by submission; 1 win by KO•    4 Fight of the Night awards•    Current layoff is 280 days •    Longest layoff of UFC career is 308 days Gray Maynard•    32 years old•    5’8, 155 lbs•    11-0-1, 1 NC overall (8-0-1, 1 NC UFC)•    0-0-1 in UFC title fights•    8-0-1, 1 NC in last 10 fights•    4-0-1 in last 5•    8 consecutive fights have gone the distance (7-0-1 in those fights)•    1 UFC win by KO; 0 wins by submission•    1 Fight of the Night award•    Current layoff of 280 days is the longest of his UFC career

Posted in: ufc, fight, nbsp, edgar, maynard

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I've heard of this. It was the no contest with Rob Emerson, but sadly I've never seen it. Anybody have a link? Cheers submitted by nclram1 [link] [comment]

Posted in: contest, maynard, ?. i, nclram, anybody

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Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveIt's been over a year since UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar first began thinking about Gray Maynard. It was in September of 2010 when Edgar first got the call about defending his belt against Maynard. Since then, the two went through a five-round classic that ended in a draw, an announced rematch, injuries, a cancellation, and finally, preparation for this Saturday's UFC 136. So finally, all systems are go to put the final chapter of the trilogy in motion and in the past, at which case, win or lose, both men can go on to something -- and someone -- else. Mentally exhausted from the constant thoughts of the same threat, it's a moment Edgar is awaiting. "It sucks, but right now is not the time to lose focus," Edgar said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I still got a couple more days to think about him, and then we could put him in the rear view." Maynard has been the thorn in Edgar's side for the two worst moments of his career. In April 2008, "the Bully" bullied Edgar with a series of takedowns en route to a decision win. It remains the only loss in the champion's career. And more recently at UFC 125, Maynard nearly knocked Edgar out in the opening moments of the first round before Edgar bravely came back to salvage a draw. In Edgar's mind, surviving Maynard's hail of strikes has only served to grow his belief in himself and ability to withstand adversity. And his conditioning and performance as the fight went on convinced him he can tighten up a few things and walk away with gold still around his waist. "I'm winning, man," he said. "I'm very confident, especially after that last fight. I think my confidence keeps building from fight to fight. Obviously from BJ [Penn] to the next BJ fight. With Gray I know I had a pretty bad first round, but showing what I showed -- which I didn't realize right away until I went home and saw it -- in character, it gave me a lot of confidence." Edgar candidly acknowledged that Maynard has advantages in size, power and wrestling, but believes he's got the edge in speed, technical striking and jiu-jitsu. He added that he believes his biggest and most important edge comes in his seamless transitions from striking to wrestling to the ground game. After his previous troubles with Maynard, he'd like to end the series decisively and enter the next phase of his career by putting the challenger away. "That's my goal," he said. "I know I get a lot of flack for not [finishing]. I think it has to do with sometimes I am the smaller guy. But I always go into fights looking for it. If I could stun a guy, I'm going to try and finish him. And if I can stun him and get him on the ground, I'm going to try and finish him there." As usual, Edgar will be at a size disadvantage in this one. Less than a week out from the fight, he currently weighs 160 pounds, the fighting weight of many featherweights. Before he won the belt, he was constantly asked about moving down a division and competing with fighters that were more his size. Edgar always shrugged off the suggestion, pointing out his success as a lightweight. But interestingly, he didn't dismiss the possibility of trying to simultaneously hold the lightweight belt and moving to 145 to challenge for that title as well. "That's something that a lot of my teammates talk about and stuff, and my coaches," he said. "Things got to work out the right way, but I think it's definitely an interesting possibility, and an intriguing one." Edgar cautioned that though it could possibly happen, it's not quite as easy a move as some have suggested. "It's nice to have that ace in my pocket to be able to go down there and possibly fight for the belt in another weight class," he said. "But a lot of people think you lose weight, you automatically win. You're going to be the bigger guy, but there's also ... I haven't cut weight in six years, the guys are going to be quicker. So there's a lot of other factors that play into it." Another possibility is facing Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez, who UFC president Dana White said over the weekend is soon to be on his way to the organization. Melendez has frequently spoken about facing Edgar and unifying the belts, and perhaps that is an option, a possibility which Edgar accepted, saying, "it's the competitive nature. He wants to fight the best and to be considered the best." For now, he has a big enough challenge in front of him. Edgar said his creaky back is feeling fine after a pair of epidural shots, and that he would have an MRI after the fight to reevaluate his situation. So the future is full of potential plans and possibilities. It's about getting healthy, dual championships and unifying belts. But first, he must conquer an opponent he has yet to conquer in two tries. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Posted in: fight, belt, edgar, maynard, possibility

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Houston, we have a trilogy. After five grueling rounds and one surprising decision between UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and undefeated number one contender Gray Maynard back on Jan. 1, we still don't have a "Resolution" to the division's blurry title picture. Expect that to change in the main event of UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3," which will go down this Saturday night (Oct. 8) at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. So with two looks in the books, how did the oddsmakers break this one down? Frankie Edgar is a slight favorite at -155 while Gray Maynard plays underdog at +135. After enduring a "Bully" beatdown in the first round of their UFC 125 headliner earlier this year, Edgar somehow rebounded to battle Maynard to an unsatisfying draw. It was a fantastic fight, which was a rematch that looked nothing like their original encounter back in 2008 that Maynard won convincingly with superior wrestling and raw power. He came about as close as anyone could to finding "The Answer" to finishing Edgar, which is why he'll get a third (and hopefully final) shot at dethroning the Toms River native this Fall in "The Lone Star State." "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" was originally scheduled for the UFC 130 main event over the Memorial Day Weekend; however, both fighters suffered injuries severe enough to postpone their 155-pound grudge match. Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson stepped up to defeat former Ultimate Fighter Matt Hamill in their absence. Now that Edgar and Maynard are finally ready to rumble, expect Clay Guida and Ben Henderson, who throw hands at UFC on FOX this November, to be watching with vested interest. And let's not forget about Melvin Guillard. Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard this Saturday night. Too close to bet? Or does the line play in your favor? Let's hear your action for this weekend's pay-per-view in the comments section below.

Posted in: ufc, saturday night, vs, edgar, maynard

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This is easily the most stacked division in MMA. What makes it my favorite is there's no GSP or Silva dominating. There's no undisputed "GOAT" either at the weight class. Champion Edgar Maynard as #1 contender Contenders in UFC: Jim Miller Ben Henderson Anthony Pettis Melvin Guillard Close: Evan Dunham Charles Oliveria George Sotiropoulis Dennis Siver Contenders outside of UFC: Melendez, Eddie Alvarez, Kawajiri, Aoki Contenders currently in different weight classes: BJ Penn Jose Aldo Fights I want to see: Winner of Edgar / Maynard vs. Gilbert Melendez Melendez is booked in December vs. a nobody. Every Strikeforce champion has come over, it's time for Melendez. He's in the prime of his fighting career and he would be an amazing champion since he brings it. Winner of Henderson / Guida vs. Loser of Edgar / Maynard If the winner of Henderson / Guida can win this matchup, I feel they should get the shot after Melendez. Winner of Guillard / Lauzon vs. Winner of Pettis / Stephens Fuck I would love to see Guillard vs. Pettis. This match can determine who's going to be a champion one day. The future: I can see Aoki and Kawajiri making their way to the UFC eventually. I'm not sure how much impact Aoki can make since you can say Melendez really showed the game plan to beat him. I don't see Eddie Alvarez coming anytime soon. Seems like he's getting paid well over at Bellator and is content with being the big fish in a small pond. Jose Aldo will come to lightweight eventually. I'm guessing within 3 fights. If he can get past Chad Mendes and Hioki....he's cleared the division imo. But the main reason why he'll move up is the weight cutting is getting too hard on his body. His body is telling him to pack on more muscle. BJ Penn's kind of the x factor. He can't beat Edgar...but I would love to see him fight Maynard and Melendez. What I'm hoping is that the loser of Edgar vs. Maynard won't become the lightweight "Fitch". They can beat everyone else in the division except the Champion...and we're not exactly going to be shouting for Edgar vs. Maynard 4 anytime soon. submitted by DrNgo [link] [comment]

Posted in: vs, winner, melendez, edgar, maynard

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submitted by tbolts48 [link] [comment]

Posted in: science, sport, tbolt, maynard, sport science

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Gray Maynard isn’t really known as a knockout artist, but he definitely packs a lot of power in his punches. ESPN Sports Science determined that Maynard hits with 1,400+ lbs. of force which is on par with some of the heavyweights they’ve measured. Not only that, Maynard has more grip strength than some NFL lineman twice his size and can ascend a rope using nothing but his upper body at a rate of 3 ft/sec. HT: USA Today

Posted in: knockout artist, maynard, maynard hits, nfl lineman, grip strength

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Gray Maynard is mad as hell and ain’t gonna take it anymore! The former Michigan State University wrestling standout has been training for his upcoming rematch with Frankie Edgar with nothing but hate fueling him. “I am going into this fight angry,” Maynard wrote in his blog for Sportsnet. “Not angry at Edgar – he did what he had to and is tough and a good fighter. Nothing personal with him, other than I need to beat him worse than ever to make sure everyone understands I am the best fighter at 155 pounds.” Edgar (13-1-1) and Maynard (10-0-1) will be facing off for the third time on October 8 at UFC 136. Maynard won the first meeting, while the two fought to a five-round draw for Edgar’s lightweight title back in January. For the Ultimate Fighter alum, taking the title off of Edgar is the only way to gain respect in the sport. Maynard isn’t much for pre-fight talk, preferring to display his abilities and talents inside the Octagon. “I come from college wrestling, and I had that mentality drilled into me where you don’t talk smack, you don’t praise yourself, there no “I” in team, you just work hard, get the results and you will be recognized for what you actually accomplish in the sport,” Maynard wrote. “That works great in college wrestling, but five years into my MMA career, I know now it doesn’t work exactly like that in the UFC.” “The Bully” was upset following the decision by the judges to declare the bout a draw, as he felt like he was quite deserving of the win. After stepping back, however, Maynard realized that he needs to be more aggressive and look to finish Edgar once and for all. “Even now, having beat Edgar one time and doing the most damage and nearly knocking him out in the rematch, he’s the favorite to win this third fight,” Maynard posted. “It is funny, I really don’t know how else to say it other than how I feel: I don’t think I am getting the credit I deserve.” The first meeting between these two went to Maynard via unanimous decision in 2008. Maynard went on to defeat the likes of Jim Miller, Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz, and Kenny Florian, while Edgar has beaten B.J. Penn twice including a defense of the title he took from the popular Hawaiian. PHOTO CREDIT – UFCSimilar Posts: Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard set for UFC 118 Penn vs. Edgar rematch in the works Gray Maynard leapfrogs Anthony Pettis for lightweight title-shot Frankie Edgar to complete trilogy with Gray Maynard this fall at UFC 136 Xtreme Couture submission coach Neil Melanson breaks down Maynard vs. Diaz Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics

Posted in: ufc, i need, work, edgar, maynard

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A "Bully beatdown" is headed to a television screen near you, but it won't be Jason Miller's popular MTV show that you will be watching. That's because Gray Maynard will get one more shot at the UFC lightweight championship when he takes on division champion Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas. Maynard is beyond frustrated after he failed to win gold at UFC 125. And while "The Bully" already owns one win over the champ, defeating him back in 2008, he feels he should be 2-0 against him, as explained in hhis blog at Sportsnet.ca: "I beat Edgar when we fought in 2008 as contenders on the way up, and I beat him even worse on New Year's Day for the belt, only for the judges to give it a draw. I've beat him twice and I still have to prove something against this guy?" After five grueling rounds of back-and-forth action, the judges indeed decided they could not determine a clear winner. While fans might not blame them -- it was a ridiculously close fight, after all -- Maynard certainly feels as though they jobbed him. That said, he's got no plans on taking it out on Edgar when they clash at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas ... at least not verbally. "I still don't like talking crap about other fighters and competitors and I'm not going to do my worst Muhammad Ali impression to get a spotlight on myself. But, yes, it is frustrating I don't get the credit I feel I have earned." Edgar held on to his belt by surviving a first round blitz from Maynard on New Year's day in which he was knocked down three times. The scrappy kid from New Jersey showed great fortitude by mounting one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history to earn a draw and the right to keep his title.  However, if you ask Maynard, the fight was not that close: "I knocked him down three times in the opening round, a lot of referees would have stopped it there and then, but he's a tough guy and he hung in there. I made a couple mistakes in trying to finish him off too much and not being careful not to burn out, but I feel I won three rounds to two, plus I won the first round BIG and it should have been scored 10-7. Edgar knows that after two attempts, he's come nowhere near close to beating me. He also knows I have the power to knock him out. Edgar will be better than ever for this fight, but so will I and my best beats his best every time." Maynard also went on to say that he will do whatever it takes to prove to the division that he's the best lightweight in the world, including beating Edgar worse than he ever has: "I am going into this fight angry. Not angry at Edgar. Nothing personal with him, other than I need to beat him worse than ever to make sure everyone understands I am the best fighter at 155 pounds. Next Saturday, he will be in pain. He will be hurt come October 8th." Anyone think we'll have a new king in the 155-pound division comes Oct. 9? Or will Edgar have "The Answer" to solving the Gray Maynard puzzle and getting past his own personal "Bully" once and for all? Opinions, please.

Posted in: ufc, round, oct, edgar, maynard

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submitted by tbolts48 [link] [comment]

Posted in: ufc, vs, tbolt, edgar, maynard

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The UFC just released an in-depth preview for UFC 136 which will be headlined by a lightweight championship bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. This will be the third meeting between two of the best lightweights in the world, with their last match ending up in a draw. Also on the card is another title fight between featherweight champion Jose Aldo and Kenny Florian, a middleweight bout between Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann, and a very stacked undercard. Check out the complete fight card after the jump. UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3October 8, 2011Main cardFrankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard [UFC Lightweight Championship]Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian [UFC Featherweight Championship]Chael Sonnen vs. Brian StannMelvin Guillard vs. Joe LauzonLeonard Garcia vs. Nam PhanPreliminary card (Spike TV)Demian Maia vs. Jorge SantiagoAnthony Pettis vs. Jeremy StephensPreliminary card (Facebook)Joey Beltran vs. Stipe MiocicZhang Tie Quan vs. Darren ElkinsAaron Simpson vs. Eric SchaferSteve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio

Posted in: ufc, vs, card, edgar, maynard

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For complete UFC 136 coverage and UFC 136 results for Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian, Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann, and more on Oct. 8 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.

Posted in: ufc, vs, brian stann, kenny florian, maynard

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UFC 136 “Edgar vs. Maynard 3″ takes place on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and will air live on pay-per-view at 9pm ET/6pm PT. The official UFC 136 fight card can be found in our fight cards section.

Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, maynard, toyota center

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 UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" is set for the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Sat., Oct. 8, 2011. The pay-per-view (PPV) event will be headlined by the long-awaited trilogy fight in the rivalry between lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and his own personal "Bully," Gray Maynard. A second championship match-up is set for "Space City," as featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo will put his strap on the line against Kenny Florian, who is still in search of that elusive first title win. Everybody ready?

Posted in: edgar, maynard, ., oct, championship match-up, edgar vs

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Top UFC lightweight contender Gray Maynard is entering his upcoming fight with champion Frank Edgar at UFC 136 an “angry,” “obsessed” individual and he’s not afraid of who knows it. Maynard recently wrote about his feelings regarding his second shot at dethroning Edgar where he made it clear his emotions are riding high for the match-up and he’s ready to snatch the respect he deserves by taking ownership of the divisional gold. A Look Back at Edgar vs. Maynard II “I am going into this fight angry,” said Maynard on his blog with SportsNet. “Not angry at Edgar — he did what he had to and is tough and a good fighter. Nothing personal with him, other than I need to beat him worse than ever to make sure everyone understands I am the best fighter at 155 pounds.” Maynard elaborated on the loss, writing, “At first my mindset was, ‘I’ve beat him twice and I still have to prove something against this guy?’ But pretty quickly my mentality changed to where I’d be happy to fight him literally twenty (or) thirty more times just until everyone on the planet gets the message I am a better fighter than Frankie Edgar.” “I beat Edgar when we fought in 2008 as contenders on the way up, and I beat him even worse on New Year’s Day for the belt, only for the judges to give it a draw,” he continued. “Even now, having beat Edgar one time and doing the most damage and nearly knocking him out in the rematch, he’s the favorite to win this third fight,” Maynard passionately concluded on his lack of respect from fans and media. “It is funny, I really don’t know how else to say it other than how I feel: I don’t think I am getting the credit I deserve. Look at my record; I got my title shot by beating five or six of the top guys in the division — really top guys and better guys than Edgar beat before he got the title shot ahead of me.” “The Bully” will get his chance to finally lay official claim to the lightweight title in less than two weeks and, clearly, it can’t come soon enough for the 32-year old. Maynard is 10-0-1 in his career with past victories over Kenny Florian, Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz, Jim Miller, and of course Edgar as well – the lone loss of the title-holder’s career. PHOTO CREDIT – UFC Tweet

Posted in: fight, title shot, guy, edgar, maynard

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Gray Maynard wants to let out all his pent-up frustration and show the world he’s better than Frankie Edgar.

Posted in: show, frankie edgar, blogger maynard, maynard, frankie

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