UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III is primed to be another terrific UFC event, highlighted by Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard in a lightweight championship bout.
This marks the second straight time that Edgar will defend his title against Maynard. They last fought in January at UFC 125 and the bout ended in a draw.
Both fighters will be hoping things end differently this time, as each fighter has the opportunity to prove themselves as the top lightweight fighter in the world.
The other marquee bout features Kenny Florian and Jose Aldo. The current champion, Aldo, will put his featherweight title on the line against Kenny Florian, who was twice defeated in previous attempts at the lightweight crown.
Where: Toyota Center (Houston, Texas)
When: October 8th at 6:45 p.m. EST
Watch: Facebook under-card at 6:45 p.m. EST, preliminary fights at 8 p.m. EST on Spike TV, Main Card fights at 9 p.m. EST on PPV, online PPV ($44.99) at UFC.tv, Youtube, mobile android market
Fight Card:
Main Card
Lightweight Championship bout: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
Featherweight Championship bout: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian
Middleweight bout: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann
Lightweight bout: Joe Lauzon vs. Melvin Guillard
Featherweight bout: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan
Preliminary Card (Spike TV)
Middleweight bout: Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago
Lightweight bout: Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens
Preliminary Card (Facebook)
Heavyweight bout: Joey Beltran vs. Stipe Miocic
Featherweight bout: Zhang Tie Quan vs. Darren Elkins
Middleweight bout: Aaron Simpson vs. Eric Schafer
Middleweight bout: Steve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio
Frankie Edgar’s Keys to Victory:
Edgar can’t allow himself to get down early again. In his last bout against Maynard, he found himself struggling through the first round. He was knocked down several times and can’t afford to have that happen again.
He was able to claw back and salvage a draw, but if he wants to win, he needs to come out strong.
Edgar needs to be more sound defensively in this bout. He has yet to defeat Maynard in their two previous bouts and will need to stay moving around the ring. He must have better hand placement if he is going to have a chance.
Gray Maynard’s Keys to Victory:
Maynard has a larger frame and is a bit stronger than Edgar. He needs to use his size and strength to his advantage in this bout.
He was able to do that when he struck early in their last bout, but he let Edgar crawl back into the fight.
Getting off to another fast start is important for Maynard, who will want to knock Edgar down early and often in this bout.
What They’re Saying:
In a conversation with USA Today, Edgar spoke about how his preparation has changed for this fight:
You just get better at it. This is my fourth title fight and I’m learning from my last one. I do think it gets more intense. Every training camp, it seems like it’s getting more intense and a little bit harder.
But it’s also a little bit smarter too. You’re trying not to beat up your body too much in the same way, without giving up too much hard work.
Main Card Fight to Watch That’s Not the Main Event: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian
Aldo is the clear favorite to win this fight, but Florian is a persistent fighter. He just doesn’t want to go away.
He knocked off Diego Nunes in just his second featherweight bout back (UFC 131) and now has the chance to contend for a title in this bout.
This will certainly be an interesting fight, particularly in how long this bout lasts as both fighters are known to end fights early. Florian has only gone to a decision five times in twenty career bouts, while Aldo has ended seven of his last nine bouts in a knockout.
Preliminary Fight to Watch: Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens
If you like kickboxing battles, you will like this fight.
Both fighters love to fight on their feet; both are known for their kickboxing style. While Pettis is a more technical fighter, Stephens has experience on his side and will lay everything on the line in this fight.
If things start poorly for Pettis, he may try to get Stephens on the ground, as that is where the latter suffers.
Main Event Prediction:
Edgar isn’t getting any younger and needs to knock off Maynard to prove that he is the best lightweight fighter in the world.
Another draw won’t stop the doubters, as Maynard knocked off Edgar in their first bout. Edgar clearly has the most to prove with this fight. He will come in ready to go.
He will leave everything on the line; his drive and motivation will be just enough to get him a victory.
Edgar wins by split decision.
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