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Gray Maynard Is "Obsessed" in Beating UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar

On October 8 in Houston, Texas, Gray “The Bully” Maynard is prepared to unleash nine months of pent-up frustration on the current UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar.Speaking with Sportsnet.ca in Canada, Maynard spoke candidly about his past two ma…

On October 8 in Houston, Texas, Gray “The Bully” Maynard is prepared to unleash nine months of pent-up frustration on the current UFC lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar.

Speaking with Sportsnet.ca in Canada, Maynard spoke candidly about his past two matchups with Edgar.

“I’m not too embarrassed to say I’ve become obsessed with taking the UFC lightweight title from Frankie Edgar,” Maynard stated. “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.”

A realist, Maynard does not hold any animosity towards the current champion. “I am going into this fight angry. Not angry at Edgar—he did what he had to and is tough and a good fighter.,” Maynard said.

Wanting to prove to the world that he is the best lightweight fighter, Maynard told Sportsnet that this trilogy matchup with Edgar is “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.”

Reflecting on their previous matchup in January, Maynard was pragmatic in the dissection of his performance.

“In January, 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,” stated “The Bully.”

Not one to dish dirt on fellow fighters, Maynard spoke candidly regarding the politics associated with the fighting industry.

“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,” Gray stated.

Maynard has defeated five of the top lightweights in the world prior to receiving his title shot with Edgar. A solid competitor, “The Bully” is all about wins and competing against the very best.

“I never complained when I had to fight top guy after top guy,” Maynard said. “That’s what competition is all about and what I’m all about. I don’t ask or want no gimmie fights. I didn’t complain about fighting five southpaws in a row, even though actually that did suck quite a lot. And I am not complaining now. This is just what I’m thinking ahead of this fight and I’m just being real and honest. And, honestly, I am ready for a war at UFC 136.”

Driven and focused, Maynard will stop at nothing to secure what he believes is his championship belt.

“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. Next Saturday, he will be in pain. He will be hurt come October 8th,” Maynard concluded.

UFC 136 will be Maynard’s chance at redemption against Edgar. You can follow Gray Maynard’s tweets up til fight day @GrayMaynard.

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UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson Analysis, Insights and Predictions

UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson debuts a bantamweight matchup between current champion Dominick Cruz against the No. 1 contender in Demetrious Johnson from the Verizon Center in Washington D.C. on October 1.Other main card action includes a heavyweight matc…

Other main card action includes a heavyweight matchup between the talented kick-boxer Pat “HD” Barry and Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.

Welterweight action ensues with the return of Anthony “Rumble” Johnson as he clashes against the man who derailed Rick Story’s contender spot for the welterweight championship, Charlie Brenneman.

Rounding out the main card action is a lightweight duel between “Handsome” Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig.

Please follow along as I analyze and predict all the night’s action.

Enjoy the fights.

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UFC 135 Results: Matt Hughes Needs to Walk Away Before He Gets a "Chuck Liddell"

The future of the former UFC welterweight champion and hall-of-fame fighter Matt Hughes was in question prior to his Round 1 knockout defeat at the hands of Josh Koscheck at the Pepsi Center this past Saturday.These questions as to whether or not Hughe…

These questions as to whether or not Hughes should retire were answered when the former champion succumbed to his second straight knockout loss, only the ninth defeat of his career.

At one point, Hughes was the greatest welterweight walking the planet, winning the coveted championship on two separate occasions.

The combination of age and the talent of the next generation have placed Hughes in a career crossroads.

Athletes in combat sports have a tendency of hanging up the gloves past their prime.

George Foreman attempted a comeback in boxing while in his 40s. And most recently, hall-of-fame fighter and former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell insisted on fighting beyond his prime potentially tarnishing his reputation in the process.

With an overall MMA record of 46-9, Hughes has achieved career milestones while competing in the UFC.

Beginning his professional journey in 1998, Hughes’s inaugural matchup within the UFC was in 2000.

Winning his first welterweight championship in 2001 with a vicious slam of Carlos Newton while in a triangle choke, Hughes went on to defend his initial title on five separate occasions until 2004 where he lost via rear-naked choke to the young phenom, B.J. Penn.

Once again claiming the welterweight belt with an arm-bar victory over then champion Georges St-Pierre later that year, Hughes held onto the championship until 2006.

Never again claiming championship gold, Hughes owns the record for consecutive welterweight title defenses with seven.

A true competitor grounded in his wrestling pedigree with a tremendous work ethic and discipline both inside and outside of the Octagon, Hughes’s toughness and talent has awarded the hall-of-famer with 18 wins within the UFC, most of any fighter.

Hughes can be very proud of these tremendous accolades and his entire body of work as a mixed martial artist.

The former champion can hold his head high knowing that he was, at one time, the greatest welterweight competitor within all of mixed martial arts.

Wanting to be remembered for his success inside the Octagon, retirement at this time will ensure his legacy.

Follow the decision of other hall-of-fame athletes including Barry Sanders and Michael Jordan who retired when they were on top. The memories of these two athletes as champions will remain in our hearts and minds for a lifetime.

Matt Hughes, if you are reading this, I humbly and kindly ask you to hang up the 4-ounce gloves and be remembered as the hall-of-fame fighter that you are and not as a shell of your former self.

I welcome your comments.

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UFC 135 Results: Ranking Jon Jones’ Victories in the Octagon

Jon “Bones” Jones continues his reign of dominance within the division after successfully defending his UFC light heavyweight championship against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson on Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver.With a 14-1 overall record and 8-1 wi…

With a 14-1 overall record and 8-1 within the UFC, Jones’ only loss was by disqualification to Matt Hamill back in 2009.

Relatively untested in his victories inside the famed Octagon, Jones has eclipsed mythological status inside the cage.

A tremendous talent with blessed abilities, the development of the champion since his arrival in the UFC in 2008 has been incredible.

Capable of securing victories on his feet or on the ground, “Bones” is a very balanced fighter with power, length, offensive creativity and an overall skill set that warrants his current reign as champion.

Defeating tremendous adversaries, please follow along as I power rank Jones’ top five victories inside the Octagon.

I welcome your comments.

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UFC 135: Insights, Analysis and Predictions of the Entire Card

UFC 135 comes to you live from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on September 24.In main event action, current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon “Bones” Jones will defend his title for the first time against former champion, Quinton “Rampage” Jac…

UFC 135 comes to you live from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on September 24.

In main event action, current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon “Bones” Jones will defend his title for the first time against former champion, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.

If the main event bout does not excite you, then a clash between welterweight hall-of-famer Matt Hughes and former No. 1 contender Josh Koscheck should send electricity through your veins.

Further action includes a heavyweight slug-fest between Travis Browne and the Brit, Rob Broughton.

Additionally, Nate Diaz will look to regain momentum in the lightweight division as he challenges the veteran, Takanori Gomi.

Rounding out the main card action will be an additional heavyweight match up between Ben Rothwell and the kick-boxing giant from New Zealand, Mark Hunt.

Please follow along as I dissect and predict the winners for the entire night’s card.

Enjoy the fights.

I welcome your comments.

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UFC 139: Mauricio Shogun Rua vs. Dan Henderson: Breaking Down the Fight

Dan “Hendo” Henderson brings his Strikeforce light heavyweight championship and explosive right hand back to the UFC when he faces the resurgent Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on November 19 at UFC 139.At the young age of 41 years old, “Hendo” is coming off his…

At the young age of 41 years old, “Hendo” is coming off his biggest victory to date with a Round One knockout of the immortal Fedor Emelianenko in July.

Riding a current three-fight win streak with six victories in his last seven matchups, Henderson has a tremendous amount of momentum coming into this bout with Shogun.

After losing his UFC light heavyweight championship to Jon Jones in March, Rua destroyed fan-favorite Forrest Griffin at UFC 134 in front of his home country of Brazil.

Quieting the skeptics, including this writer, regarding his recent rash of knee injuries, Shogun’s abilities inside the Octagon, like Henderson, seem to be at an all-time high.

Both fighters are well-known and their skill-sets have been dissected thoroughly over the years.

Rua’s talents are grounded in his kick-boxing prowess and aggressiveness inside the cage. Outside of an injury, Shogun has always been relentless and vicious during his matchups.

Incorporating a variety of leg kicks and damage with vicious knees from the clinch, Shogun has defeated some of the greatest mixed martial artists in the world.

Equally aggressive, Henderson is known for his ability to take a solid punch and is more known for his lethal right hand which has knocked out 13 opponents during his hall-of-fame career.

Not one to throw leg kicks or mix in a variety of knees, Henderson clinches his opponents to wear them down by utilizing his dirty boxing techniques that he and Randy Couture have made so famous over the years.

A world-class grappler, “Hendo” can also change levels and take the fight to the ground where he delivers brutal ground-and-pound inside his opponent’s guard.

Taking Shogun to the ground may be a mistake for Henderson considering that Rua is a black belt in jiu-jitsu training out of the illustrious Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil.

On paper, the winner of this matchup will be the fighter who can impose their will.

Simplification aside, Shogun’s keys to victory will be to maximize his distance during the stand-up affair and deliver damaging strikes while minimizing any punishment by Henderson’s counters.

Attacking with all weapons from a wide variety of striking angles will provide Rua the opportunity to pick apart Henderson who is more of a pocket striker who limits his movement inside the Octagon.

Conversely, “Hendo” is definitely more of a stalker inside the cage. He waits for the moment to explode with that dynamite right hand and deliver a knockout punch.

If Shogun stands and trades in the center of the Octagon with Henderson without keeping a distance from that lethal right hand, Rua’s fate will be equal to that of Emelianenko.

Additionally, driving Shogun up against the cage fence and wearing the Brazilian down with tight punches and strikes from the inside will serve Henderson well in slowing down Rua during the stand-up exchanges.

Hands down, this battle between Shogun and Henderson will be an electrically charged striking exchange between two competitors at the top of their respective games.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for further analysis and predictions regarding this main event matchup on November 19.

This fight can’t come soon enough!

I welcome your comments.

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