(Photo courtesy of Combate.TV)
It looks like Gray Maynard will be eating Brazilian kicks and punches for Christmas in the delicacy’s native land.
The former number one UFC lightweight contender will be in Rio de Janeiro for the next few weeks to help UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo prepare for his January 14 UFC 142 bout with Chad Mendes. Aldo invited “The Bully” to Brazil as his style is very similar to Mendes’. Gray arrived on Wednesday and will stick around until after the event in three weeks.
Maynard has become a Ronin of sorts since breaking away from Xtreme Couture following his loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 136 in October, training at several gyms including American Kickboxing Academy where he is rumored to be settling at full time. Maynard maintains, however that he is still testing the training waters and hasn’t decided where he’ll set up shop for his next camp.
Until then, he’ll have to endure the third world country of Brazil where they have no Internet or buses.