Tag: Frankie Edgar

UFC 136: Results, News, Reaction for Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard

Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard are set to face off inside the Octagon on Saturday, October 8 in the main event of UFC 136. The fight will be the third between the two lightweights.Maynard holds the edge over Edgar as he defeated Edgar via unanimous dec…

Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard are set to face off inside the Octagon on Saturday, October 8 in the main event of UFC 136. The fight will be the third between the two lightweights.

Maynard holds the edge over Edgar as he defeated Edgar via unanimous decision in their first meeting. The second bout between the two was on January 1 of this year and that fight saw Edgar retain his UFC title after the two fought to a draw.

That fight, which took place at UFC 125, is in the running for Fight of the Year honors. The champion took a beating in the first round of that bout, but he survived, apparently on instincts alone since he claimed after the fight that he could not remember the first round. Edgar came back in later rounds, earning enough points to secure the draw after the lopsided first round. 

The co-main event of the evening will feature a second UFC title fight as Jose Aldo puts his featherweight title on the line against Kenny Florian. For Florian, this will be his third shot at a UFC title, he fell short in his first two attempts, dropping fights to B.J. Penn and Sean Sherk.

Aldo is recognized as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC and will be looking to extend his unbeaten streak to 13 straight fights when he meets Florian inside the Toyota Center.

Also on the card will be Chael Sonnen. Sonnen will return to the Octagon after a prolonged absence and he won’t get a warm up fight on Saturday, as he faces the heavy-handed Brian Stann in a highly anticipated middleweight bout.

The complete fight card is below:

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

Joey Beltran  vs. Stipe Miocic

Darren Elkins  vs. Tiequan Zhang

Eric Schafer  vs. Aaron Simpson

Steve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio

Check back often as Bleacher Report will have pre-fight, in-fight and post-fight coverage of UFC 136 right here.

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Fighter vs. Writer: UFC 136 Picks with ‘King’ Mo Lawal

Filed under: UFCLast time on Fighter vs. Writer, Michael Bisping picked with his heart rather than his head at UFC 135, and it cost him the victory against yours truly.

With UFC 136 nearly upon us, I challenged former Strikeforce light heavyweight cha…

Filed under:

Mo LawalLast time on Fighter vs. Writer, Michael Bisping picked with his heart rather than his head at UFC 135, and it cost him the victory against yours truly.

With UFC 136 nearly upon us, I challenged former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion and noted agent provocateur of Twitter, “King” Mo Lawal. There are few fighters more knowledgeable about the fight game (or more confident in their own knowledge of the fight game) than Lawal, so I have my work cut out for me.

As usual, we’ll start at the top of the card and work our way down. Mr. Lawal, you have the honors…


Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard

Lawal: Maynard via decision. “I love both fighters. Frankie’s a soldier, and so is Gray. Gray’s Team Thirsty. But I think Gray can pull off the decision, get a few takedowns early on and then coast. But if Frankie starts fast, he could be in trouble.”
Fowlkes: Edgar via decision. He surprised me last time with how well he dealt with Maynard’s wrestling skills, and that was after getting dropped and nearly finished. I think he sticks and moves his way to a win, and we can all finally move on our lives.

Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian

Lawal: Florian via decision. “This whole card is fighters I like, but man, I think Kenny’s going to pull it off. The southpaw stance, the elusiveness, inside leg kicks, and takedowns. I think he pull it off that way.”
Fowlkes: Aldo via decision. I just don’t see Florian being able to wrestle his way to a win before Aldo tenderizes his thighs with those kicks. The champ is too fast and has too many weapons at his disposal. Another weight class where Florian is better than everybody but the very best.

Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann

Lawal: Sonnen via decision. “I like Brian Stann, but I got to go with the wrestler on this one. Chael’s my boy. …His double-leg is tricky. No one’s figured out how to stop it. They all try and guillotine him and it never works. They get taken down. I don’t know how Brian Stann’s going to be able to stop that.”
Fowlkes: Stann via decision. I agree that the takedown will be hard to stop, but if Stann can manage it I think this becomes his fight to lose. Sonnen’s been off for over a year, and Stann’s had a lot of time to hang out in the gym and plan on how to shut down the double-leg.

Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan

Lawal: Nobody. “I think this fight’s going to be a disappointment. Not a disappointment, but there’s going to be more game-planing, and it’ll be more technical than people think. It’s a toss-up. It’s going to come down to who made the adjustments.” Even when pressed, Lawal refused to make a pick. You know what that means. Now he can only get the win on this one if it ends in a draw or, as has actually happened before, doesn’t take place at all.
Fowlkes: Phan via decision. I expect Garcia to show up telling himself he’s not just going to brawl, but then I expect him to get hit once and forget all about that. If Phan can avoid getting sucked into a street fight, like I think he can, he outpoints Garcia clearly enough this time that even the worst judges can’t miss it.

Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon

Lawal: Guillard via TKO. “Stoppage. First round. I think he’s much better, much more dynamic, and he’s more mature now. He’s a different fighter.”
Fowlkes: Guillard via TKO. I don’t know if it’ll come in the first round, but it will come. I don’t see Lauzon being able to get him on the mat, at least not for very long, and Guillard is too fast and too powerful on the feet.

Mo Lawal picks: Maynard, Florian, Sonnen, Nobody, Guillard
Ben Fowlkes picks: Edgar, Aldo, Stann, Phan, Guillard

 

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UFC 136 Edgar vs. Maynard: Everyman’s Fight

Googling Edgar vs. Maynard yields thousands of news articles from across the globe. Every conceivable detail of the fighters and their careers is expounded upon.Their previous two bouts are dissected under a microscope. Pundits and fighters give their …

Googling Edgar vs. Maynard yields thousands of news articles from across the globe. Every conceivable detail of the fighters and their careers is expounded upon.

Their previous two bouts are dissected under a microscope. Pundits and fighters give their opinions about who will win this third fight and why. Videotaped interviews with Maynard and Edgar abound on MMA Internet sites.  The UFC produced a one-hour Countdown show on Spike TV and the fighters sat down for a pre-fight presser.

The two dedicated competitors earned this widespread attention because of the grit they displayed in their previous draw. The anticipation to finally obtain resolution is compelling, but the reason for the interest in this bout goes deeper.

In the absence of braggadocio and fight hyping—a la Rampage and Chael Sonnen—Frankie and Gray come across as down-to-earth athletes trying to achieve greatness. It’s an everyman’s struggle we relate to on a visceral level. It’s the battle against fear you had as a kid, crossing the schoolyard in front of the neighborhood bully. Maynard’s nickname fits the script perfectly.

This fight represents a clash of wills more captivating than most MMA championship matchups. These are not huge terrifying fighters with a swath of KOs in their past. These are not invincible superheroes. These are not flamboyant, colorful or loud attention seekers. 

We are enraptured by this fight because Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar are “real” people doing what we all quietly wish to do—fight the good fight and win. We can see ourselves in the humble Edgar: unassuming and vulnerable. His nickname, “The Answer” leads us to ask, what is the question?

We can also relate to the hard-nosed Maynard: single-minded and resolute, a simple man of few words striving to overcome the one obstacle in his journey to the top.

Edgar is often referred to as a small lightweight who could easily compete at 145 or even 135 pounds against men of equal stature. Instead, he chooses to slay dragons at 155 pounds like the legendary BJ Penn, who he beat twice.

Maynard will walk into the cage at UFC 136 somewhere near 170 pounds. In taking on larger opponents, Edgar dons the cloak of David against Goliath, and bears the burden of Atlas carrying the world on his back. He symbolizes the quest of everyman to take on the giant obstacles in life.

I’m glad there is a Frankie Edgar out there to show the way, to set an example that hard work and dedication can yield the impossible. He is a man unafraid to tilt at windmills, to fight the seemingly unwinnable battles, and a man who will lay it all on the line for what he believes.

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Edgar vs. Maynard, the Trilogy: Which Man Will Walk out on Top After UFC 136?

Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar are a rare “match made in heaven” when it comes to MMA. Both men are primarily wrestlers, but have developed solid striking and grappling to add to their arsenals. At UFC 125 in January, these men put on what will mo…

Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar are a rare “match made in heaven” when it comes to MMA. Both men are primarily wrestlers, but have developed solid striking and grappling to add to their arsenals. 

At UFC 125 in January, these men put on what will most likely become fight of the year for 2011. 

Round 1 of that fight was one of the worst overall beatdowns in which an opponent wasn’t finished in MMA history. What made that first down special was the fact that Frankie came back and ended up winning the second round. 

The fight ended in a draw, and raised questions about Anthony Pettis getting a UFC title shot. Later that night Dana White announced that there would indeed be a rematch, and that has led to where we are today. 

Injuries arose, so the fight was postponed, and now both men are healthy and ready to go. 

This fight has the potential to be just as exciting as the last fight, but with both men playing it smart and doing whatever it takes to not make a mistake. 

Maynard proved last fight that his wrestling translated to MMA has improved. Edgar also proved that he may have the biggest heart in the sport today. From this fight, there are many “what ifs” that have occurred. 

What if Maynard would’ve paced himself, and didn’t almost gas after the first round?

That is the main question, and lucky for the fans and Maynard, we all may see Gray pace himself and become the new UFC Lightweight Champion of the World. 

On paper, Frankie Edgar is the favorite. Maynard dominated the first fight with his wrestling from start to finish. The second, Gray won only two of the five rounds, but the first round was by a score of 10-8. 

Who truly has the advantage? 

Taking away belts and putting each other side by side, a lot of people say that Edgar will reign supreme, but is that true?

The speed advantage goes to Edgar. While overall Maynard may be the better wrestler, the speed of Edgar truly balances that out. 

When it comes to size and power, it is all Gray Maynard. That being said, once again, the speed of Frankie Edgar really makes things difficult. The last fight proved that if Maynard connects, that it can be bad for Edgar. 

Mentally, Edgar takes it here. In the last fight, 90 percent of fighters would’ve given up, but Edgar did not let that get to him, and he prevailed. 

When it comes down to the gas tank, Edgar is clearly the favorite. While he is the smaller of the two, he is terribly fast and has excellent footwork. He never slows down from start to finish, and this could be the difference in the fight. 

Overall this is a very even match up. Edgar wins this fight if he dictates the pace from the beginning and takes the center of the octagon. Maynard takes this fight if he plays a smart gameplan, picks his shots and doesn’t throw out his gameplan early in the fight. 

Expect many fireworks from these two lightweight warriors, and be sure to see live up to date action and news at Bleacher Report MMA. 

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UFC 136: Chael Sonnen and The Best Quotes Leading Up to the Fights

UFC 136 is less than a day away, and it’s anticipated to go down as one of the best cards of the year.What makes the card so great is the matchups it features and the fighters who will be going head-to-head. The event will be headlined by UFC lightweig…

UFC 136 is less than a day away, and it’s anticipated to go down as one of the best cards of the year.

What makes the card so great is the matchups it features and the fighters who will be going head-to-head. The event will be headlined by UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar taking on Gray Maynard for the third time. It will be a rematch of their draw from earlier this year.

In the co-main event, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo defends his title against former lightweight title challenger Kenny Florian.

Also on the card, Chael Sonnen looks to get another shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, but he must get through Brian Stann first.

In the build up to the fight, Sonnen has been more outspoken on Silva than he has on his opponent, who is a former U.S. Marine and former WEC light heavyweight champion.

These are the best quotes leading up to tomorrow’s fights.

Begin Slideshow

Friday Afternoon Link Dump

(Video courtesy of YouTube/UFC)

– Does Frankie Edgar have any ‘Answer’ for the raging “Bully’? (Complex)

– Kate Upton in bikinis at the circus (WithLeather)

– Christian talk show rant about Pokemon and Minecraft (DoubleViking)

– Chael Sonnen is the new Ultimate Warrior (Clutch.MTV)

– 7 movie preachers worse than Fred Phelps (ScreenJunkies)

– ‘King Mo’ asks for ‘Rampage’ via Twitter (CageWriter)

Machida on Jones: “Nobody is invincible” (Tatame)

– 25 fighters who need to call it quits (BleacherReport)

– How to catch a cougar (MadeMan)

– UFC calendar to grow to 34 events in 2012 (MMAFighting)

– Homemade bomb or ugly phallic art project? (HolyTaco)

– Bizarre video: Rangers fan celebrates win by sexily popping balloons (Guyism)

– the five biggest surprises through the NFL’s first quarter (TheScoresReport)

– Worst…UFC…cake…EVER! (TheFightNerd)

– Travolta-produced Gotti movie put on hold (FilmDrunk)


(Video courtesy of YouTube/UFC)

– Does Frankie Edgar have any ‘Answer’ for the raging “Bully’? (Complex)

– Kate Upton in bikinis at the circus (WithLeather)

– Christian talk show rant about Pokemon and Minecraft (DoubleViking)

– Chael Sonnen is the new Ultimate Warrior (Clutch.MTV)

– 7 movie preachers worse than Fred Phelps (ScreenJunkies)

– ‘King Mo’ asks for ‘Rampage’ via Twitter (CageWriter)

Machida on Jones: “Nobody is invincible” (Tatame)

– 25 fighters who need to call it quits (BleacherReport)

– How to catch a cougar (MadeMan)

– UFC calendar to grow to 34 events in 2012 (MMAFighting)

– Homemade bomb or ugly phallic art project? (HolyTaco)

– Bizarre video: Rangers fan celebrates win by sexily popping balloons (Guyism)

– the five biggest surprises through the NFL’s first quarter (TheScoresReport)

– Worst…UFC…cake…EVER! (TheFightNerd)

– Travolta-produced Gotti movie put on hold (FilmDrunk)