UFC president Dana White said there is a possibility that fans could see a rubber match between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, according to FightersOnly.com.While the idea is still unlikely at the moment, White said he expects to see both competitors …
UFC president Dana White said there is a possibility that fans could see a rubber match between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, according to FightersOnly.com.
While the idea is still unlikely at the moment, White said he expects to see both competitors prepared to fight when the time comes.
“When Frankie and Gray get healthy we will make that fight as soon as possible,” White told FightersOnly.com.
“Hopefully they are both healed in eight weeks and we can do it.”
Both Edgar and Maynard are currently out of action nursing their injuries. Maynard recently had surgery on his knee—which was plaguing him for a couple of months—and is expected to resume training soon.
But Edgar’s injury is more severe and could require more time to recuperate. The UFC lightweight champion is recovering from a nagging back injury. In fact, Edgar hoped to fight through the injury, but he was forced to pull out of his title bout at UFC 130.
Edgar and Maynard have met on two previous occasions. The more recent encounter saw both men fight to a draw and an immediate rematch was tentatively scheduled for UFC 130.
With this announcement from White, anticipation for a third bout between the two lightweights could not be any higher.
Filed under: UFCIn a way, Gray Maynard has some cause to be thankful that UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar pulled out of their scheduled title fight at UFC 130 this weekend.
Though Maynard told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour …
In a way, Gray Maynard has some cause to be thankful that UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar pulled out of their scheduled title fight at UFC 130 this weekend.
Though Maynard told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour that he would have been healthy enough to show up on fight night if Edgar hadn’t withdrawn with an injury first, the delay did give him the opportunity to address some lingering injury issues of his own.
“[It was] just some old stuff that I’ve been kind of going through for the last couple camps,” Maynard said. “I was like, well, this is for a title so I got to push through it. …Then Edgar pulled out and it was an opportunity to heal up, and I took that opportunity.”
For Maynard, that meant having arthroscopic surgery on his knee and giving his body some time to recover after several tough training camps had taken their toll. It also means most likely putting off his next shot at UFC gold until late summer or early fall, though Maynard said he would have toughed it out and fought this weekend if Edgar was still game.
“I would have had to,” he said. “It’s kind of like, if you’re going for the belt, you don’t pull out of a fight.”
You especially don’t pull out of a fight that was already nearly snatched away from you once. After fighting to a draw with Edgar at UFC 125 in January, Maynard was dismayed to hear UFC president Dana White announce that Edgar would move on with other title defenses, leaving Maynard behind despite the inconclusive result.
“I’m in this sport for one reason, and that’s to be at the top,” Maynard said. “The cash, all that stuff, it’s cool, but that’s not why I’m doing it. I’m not in it for that. I’m going to be the best. I want to be the best. I heard that, and you just don’t know what will happen. Will I have a chance again? If I do, it’ll take a long time. How am I going to change up things? You’ve just got all these emotions, and it’s hard to deal with. All your dreams and your goals, it could be gone.”
At least, that’s what he thought until White called to tell Maynard he’d had a change of heart.
“He called me and I was in my hotel room. I was just, you know, I didn’t know what I was going to do. And he called me and he said, ‘It’s f–king yours, kid.’ I think I almost cried, probably. I think I told him I loved him and it went quiet for a minute. Then he was like, ‘Well alright, get to work.'”
And while Maynard said he wasn’t aware of any offer to fight Anthony Pettis after Edgar’s injury withdrawal, he did elaborate on some of the headline-grabbing comments he made about the last reigning WEC lightweight champ.
In a previous interview Maynard had questioned Pettis’ credentials, suggesting that he hadn’t faced enough high-level competition to deserve a shot at a top UFC contender. Though it surprised some to hear the usually reserved Maynard speak so strongly about a fellow fighter, Maynard hardly seemed to realize that it was noteworthy at all.
“I don’t keep up with the news that much, and I remember I was doing probably like three or four interviews. Every interviewer, obviously trying to get things going, was like, ‘Well Anthony, he says that you don’t deserve the title.’ I thought, well, if we’re giving opinions here, then here’s my opinion. … I think Anthony’s a tough kid. He’s young. As for who he’s gone up against, a couple tough guys, but nobody proven, I guess.”
But don’t expect Maynard to make a habit of trash-talking other fighters or, for that matter, trying to get himself noticed on the internet. Even though the UFC is now offering financial incentives for fighters who master Twitter, Maynard remains a mostly passive user for the same reasons that he’s typically soft-spoken in interviews.
“You got everybody trying so hard to get out there, and I don’t know if it’s my attitude, but I don’t really give a f–k. …I’m just me, and that’s not me. These guys are acting like, I don’t know, you’re a gimmick. Do you want to be that or is it you? I don’t know. It’s a gimmick, I think, and it’s not me.”
As for the people – and there are plenty of them – who tell him he should adopt a more vibrant or controversial persona to hype fights? Well, let’s just say they’re probably wasting their breath on Maynard.
“98 percent of the people I talk to are like, ‘Man, you got to build this fight up. You got to do this.’ If the guy’s an a–hole then I’ll tell him he’s an a–hole. But if he’s not, then there’s nothing to talk about.”
UFC lightweight Gray Maynard’s chances of capturing the UFC lightweight title appear to be anything but realistic, as the Xtreme Couture fighter is reportedly undergoing knee surgery, according to Heavy.com.The time frame for Maynard is unknown, but he…
UFC lightweight Gray Maynard’s chances of capturing the UFC lightweight title appear to be anything but realistic, as the Xtreme Couture fighter is reportedly undergoing knee surgery, according to Heavy.com.
The time frame for Maynard is unknown, but he says that he is in great spirits.
“I just had a minor scope on my knee, but everything is going great,” Maynard confirmed to Heavy.com.
Heavy.com also reports that Maynard was suffering from lingering knee issues that were troubling him for months.
Maynard said he had planned to fight through the injury, but after learning his opponent, Frankie Edgar had to withdraw due to a back injury, Maynard decided to pull out as well.
As a result, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Matt Hamill have been slotted in the main event spot. It is expected both Edgar and Maynard will return and meet in a rematch this fall.
Predicting what could possibly happen at a UFC event is a slippery undertaking as there are so many different things that can make or shape the story that is the UFC these days. Whether it be injury replacements, or main event fighters who don’t c…
Predicting what could possibly happen at a UFC event is a slippery undertaking as there are so many different things that can make or shape the story that is the UFC these days.
Whether it be injury replacements, or main event fighters who don’t care UFC 130 is on tap and you can be sure people will be tuning in.
Here are “5 Predictions You Can Take To The Bank” for UFC 130 coming up on May 28.
It was only nearly one month ago that the UFC held the largest event in the company’s history: UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre in Canada where over 55,000 fans were in attendance.Off of the back of such a stellar performance, one would suspect that the UF…
It was only nearly one month ago that the UFC held the largest event in the company’s history: UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre in Canada where over 55,000 fans were in attendance.
Off of the back of such a stellar performance, one would suspect that the UFC would be attempting to strike while the iron is hot and somehow make use the brand’s ever-growing popularity.
However, when one browses over the UFC 130 fight card—and specifically the main event—it can be seen that this is not the case. But, to be fair to the UFC, they did have a lightweight title fight between champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard booked for the event, but it was canceled due to injuries on both sides.
Instead of seeking a better main event, the co-main event of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Matt “The Hammer” Hamill was simply bumped up the card and everything else was left as is, making the event lackluster overall.
What else could the UFC have done? In truth, with the way events are planned, it can be very difficult to replace a main event of that caliber on such short notice. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that UFC 130 is a step down from UFC 129.
But is this a bad thing?
The answer may well be a surprising “No.”
First, to the casual fan, Rampage Jackson is still a large draw due to his legendary highlight reels on YouTube. The 130 fight card is thus worth it to them because it is a name that they recognize.
Second, following UFC 129 with a sub-par event gives Zuffa—the company that owns the UFC—a chance to gauge the strength of the brand. The 130 card is indisputably average; thus if it achieves an above-average buy rate the brand is stronger than any of the fights on the card.
It is for these reasons—the support of the casual fan, as well as the litmus test of the brand’s strength—that UFC 130 will be marked a success in history books, the canceled main event notwithstanding.
Clay Guida is currently preparing for the biggest fight of his career.Clay has been with the UFC for a long time now and is currently riding a three fight win streak.As a result of his recent success, Guida has earned himself a shot at former WEC light…
Clay Guida is currently preparing for the biggest fight of his career.
Clay has been with the UFC for a long time now and is currently riding a three fight win streak.
As a result of his recent success, Guida has earned himself a shot at former WEC lightweight champ Anthony Pettis.
Pettis is a more technically skilled fighter than Guida so, if Clay wants to pull off a win here, he’s going to have to fight this fight his way.
Luckily, making other fighters fight his fight is something that Guida is very good at doing.
Clay fights at a relentless pace, sticks on his opponents and wears them down. The reason he’s able to utilize this strategy so effectively is Clay has a seemingly endless gas tank.
Cardio is an important thing for any fighter. Frequently we fighters defeating more technically skilled opponents because they are able to outwork them.
With that in mind, let’s take a look the top 10 fighters in the UFC with limitless cardio…
according to FightersOnly.com.
In a way,