Main card Lightweight Championship bout Frankie Edgar (c) vs Gray Maynard I always would pick Frank Edgar over opponents, but against Gray Maynard I think the last fight Gray just gassed himself out. I don’t expect that again. I’ve got Gray in this one. Featherweight Championship bout: José Aldo (c) vs Kenny Florian I want
Main card
Lightweight Championship bout Frankie Edgar (c) vs Gray Maynard
I always would pick Frank Edgar over opponents, but against Gray Maynard I think the last fight Gray just gassed himself out. I don’t expect that again. I’ve got Gray in this one.
Featherweight Championship bout: José Aldo (c) vs Kenny Florian
I want to pick Kenny Florian, but I can’t. Aldo faster, more technique, more dangerous.
Middleweight bout Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann
Chael Sonnen. Expect takedown and grind down.
Lightweight bout Joe Lauzon vs Melvin Guillard
In the past Lauzon would be an easy pick here. However, Melvin Guillard has improved so much in the submission and submission defense. I think Guillard is going to be too much for Lauzon.
Featherweight bout Leonard Garcia vs Nam Phan
Nam Phan. A little more technique here might be the key to victory.
Preliminary card (Spike TV)
Middleweight bout: Demian Maia vs Jorge Santiago
I like the improvements Demian Maia has made to his standup game and the agressive stance he has taken. If it goes to the ground Maia is better there, but Santiago is no slouch. Standup probably goes to Santiago, but hes definitely more wild.
Lightweight bout Anthony Pettis vs Jeremy Stephens
Such a good fight. Both have great striking with Stephens being the bigger power puncher of the two. However, Jeremy is more wild. If it goes to the ground, Pettis, has a good advantage. On the feet I think its even, slight edge to Pettis, due to reach.
Preliminary card (Facebook)
Heavyweight bout Joey Beltran vs Stipe Miocic
I can take the Mexicutioner in the dark here.
Featherweight bout: Zhang Tie Quan vs Darren Elkins
Pass
Middleweight bout Aaron Simpson vs Eric Schafer
Interesting match. Two zombies that don’t stop coming forward despite taking damage. Schafer is not as good as doing damage as Simpson is. If it stays up I say Simpson.
Middleweight bout Steve Cantwell vs Mike Massenzio
Steve Cantwell. I don’t know what skills Massenzio has to beat Cantwell.
UFC 136 will feature the long-awaited third bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Edgar and Maynard battled to a five-round draw on January 1, a decision that allowed Edgar to retain his UFC lightweight title and Maynard to remain unbeaten…
UFC 136 will feature the long-awaited third bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. Edgar and Maynard battled to a five-round draw on January 1, a decision that allowed Edgar to retain his UFC lightweight title and Maynard to remain unbeaten.
The main event from UFC 125 will go down as one of the best fights of 2011 and to think that Edgar and Maynard have the chance to go after it again in Houston, TX, should bring a smile to the face of even the most jaded, been there, seen every UFC pay-per-view since UFC 1 fan.
In the opening stanza at UFC 125 Maynard put the champion to the ground on more than one occasion and absolutely battered him for almost the entire five-minute round. In the second round Edgar let Maynard, the only fighter to ever defeat him, know that he would not go gently into the Vegas night as he came back, punctuating his comeback with a powerful slam takedown near the end of the round.
The last three rounds were fairly evenly matched and alas, when the scores were read, the result was the dreaded draw, something both fighters will surely look to avoid when they face each other at the Toyota Center.
A second UFC title fight will be the co-main event of the evening. Jose Aldo, a fighter that is widely recognized as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world will put his UFC featherweight title on the line against Kenny Florian. Florian, who has come up empty in two previous title defenses will be looking to see if the adage “the third time’s a charm,” will hold true for him.
Not only will fans get two title fights on October 8, but they will get to witness what may very well be a middleweight title fight eliminator, as top-ranked Chael Sonnen faces off against the surging Brian Stann.
Bleacher Report MMA will be your source for news, analysis and opinions on all the fights on the upcoming fight card.
Check back often as the fight card nears for all the UFC 136 information you need.
This Saturday UFC 136 will take place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.The main event will feature lightweight champion Frankie Edgar taking on Gray Maynard in their third match up. Their last fight at UFC 125 was a thriller that ended in a draw….
This Saturday UFC 136 will take place at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
The main event will feature lightweight champion Frankie Edgar taking on Gray Maynard in their third match up. Their last fight at UFC 125 was a thriller that ended in a draw.
Both men were disappointed that the fight came to that, but they look to settle the score for good this Saturday.
The co-main event will feature featherweight champion Jose Aldo taking on former lightweight contender Kenny Florian. Florian made another drop in weight in hopes of being more competitive, but Aldo may be the toughest test of his career.
The card is loaded with great fights from top to bottom.
Just a friendly reminder the the UFC 136 countdown show will air tonight at 11 pm ET.
One thing that’s clear is that Gray Maynard is coming into this bout pissed off that he hasn’t lost to Frankie Edgar in two fights, yet “The Answer” has the strap. “The Bully” is confident that this is his fight and says he’s not leaving without the belt. Hopefully for his sake he wins the fight, since it’s going to be pretty awkward to watch him snatch the belt out of Dana White’s hands and run back to the dressing room with it. If he does happen to lose, maybe they can get him one of those replica belts Jon Jones refuses to sign.
Regardless of who wins and the pre-conceived notion that Maynard is a boring fighter, if the last fight is any indication, this fight is going to be a war (Sorry Tim Kennedy. That’s just how we feel. Pinch our cheeks if you want.).
Anyway, if you’re one of those people who can’t wait until Christmas to check out your presents, you can watch part one of the show after the jump.
(“Just stay down, Frankie.”)
Just a friendly reminder the the UFC 136 countdown show will air tonight at 11 pm ET.
One thing that’s clear is that Gray Maynard is coming into this bout pissed off that he hasn’t lost to Frankie Edgar in two fights, yet “The Answer” has the strap. “The Bully” is confident that this is his fight and says he’s not leaving without the belt. Hopefully for his sake he wins the fight, since it’s going to be pretty awkward to watch him snatch the belt out of Dana White’s hands and run back to the dressing room with it. If he does happen to lose, maybe they can get him one of those replica belts Jon Jones refuses to sign.
Regardless of who wins and the pre-conceived notion that Maynard is a boring fighter, if the last fight is any indication, this fight is going to be a war (Sorry Tim Kennedy. That’s just how we feel. Pinch our cheeks if you want.).
Anyway, if you’re one of those people who can’t wait until Christmas to check out your presents, you can watch part one of the show below.
This Saturday, the UFC is putting on yet another double-header card that is stacked with great fighters from top to bottom.But this is not just another night of fights. This card brings some interesting perspective to the UFC divisions, and after the n…
This Saturday, the UFC is putting on yet another double-header card that is stacked with great fighters from top to bottom.
But this is not just another night of fights. This card brings some interesting perspective to the UFC divisions, and after the night is over, the UFC rankings and standings will have changed.
With every fight card, there is always a shift in rankings, since one fighter moves closer to a title while the other doesn’t. UFC 136 is composed of many very significant fights that will seriously affect the course of their respective divisions.
To start with the obvious, there are two titles on the line. The UFC Lightweight Championship and the UFC Featherweight Championship will be up for grabs on the same night. Gray Maynard, once again, will be coming to definitively win over Frankie Edgar, and Kenny Florian will attempt to steal the belt away from Jose Aldo.
Frankie Edgar is the phenom that exploded onto the championship circuit with his two victories over former champion BJ Penn. The only man to have given him significant trouble was Gray Maynard. This is the third time they will meet and will be the final decision of who is the better fighter in the LW division.
If Maynard wins, it brings a whole new dynamic to the division to have Frankie back in the hunt. It also brings about an 11-0 record for the challenger. If Edgar retains the title, he hands Gray his first loss of his career and begins moving into the upper echelon of the best in the world.
Now with Melendez coming over in the near future, an LW superfight may be in the works. With Melendez against Maynard, however, the hype isn’t as great.
Jose Aldo has been put at around the No. 3 or 4 slots on the “pound-for-pound” lists for some time. He has defended his WEC in the past, and now the UFC belt once. He will try to add another win to his championship run. The fight makes for a better statement for Jose Aldo on the P4P lists if he rises victorious.
The co-main event is much more significant for Kenny Florian, however. Kenny has notoriously been considered a “gatekeeper” in his fights at lightweight and most certainly doesn’t want to become one in his new weight class.
With many other fighters at featherweight who are looking for their shot, a loss in yet another championship fight would be very difficult for Florian and his career.
If Florian wins, however, he pulls a huge upset and drops the young Brazilian from the top of the lists.
Arguably just as anticipated as any other fight on this card (maybe even more), Chael Sonnen will be facing off against Brian Stann. This is the return of Sonnen since his loss to champion Anderson Silva in August of 2010.
One of the most called for rematches of all time is between Silva and Sonnen. Due to their last fight, many feel Sonnen is the best 185 lbs. shot at dethroning the P4P king, but his welcome-back party is hosted by one dangerous Marine.
Brian Stann is in a very interesting situation, since if he wins against Sonnen, he himself becomes the forefront of title contention talks. If he loses, he will have to wait a while for the shot again. If Sonnen loses, he immediately loses his chance at his rematch against Silva. Many fans are cheering for Sonnen, not against Stann, because they want to see the rematch.
If Sonnen wins, the media will instantly call for Silva vs. Sonnen II.
On the rest of the card, you have great fighters like Melvin Guillard. Guillard is a fighter that has dominantly been making a statement for a title shot for some time now and is very deserving of it. If he wins against Joe Lauzon on Saturday, he undeniably makes his point.
With a future addition of Melendez and other LWs already in the division, he may sit on the backburner a little while longer, though. If he loses, he most certainly will be in that spot.
Nam Phan is on thin ice with this fight as well. He has lost two in a row so far, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that Phan will likely be gone by Monday if he loses. His opponent, Leonard Garcia, will be looking to show he definitively is the better of the two and avoid taking a second loss in a row.
With the undercards, Demian Maia will be fighting to retain his relevance in the Middleweight division, and Jorge Santiago will be looking to bounce back from his loss to Brian Stann. Both need a win to stay in good terms with their division.
Lastly, Anthony Pettis will be looking to re-establish his hype on Saturday. His loss to Clay Guida brought upon some tarnish to the shiny fame he had from his “Showtime” kick on Ben Henderson. His hype came quickly, prematurely to some, but wants to show that he isn’t a one-hit wonder. He will be looking to stop Jeremy Stephens’ two-fight winning streak and remake his image in the UFC.
After the night is over, the different divisions featured on the card will have changed drastically. Each fighter mentioned is in a position where a win is not just another win, but a crucial part of their career paths. There will certainly be a great deal of media following UFC 136 and has the potential to give the MMA universe two new champions and the biggest Middleweight rematch of all time.
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting ExclusiveIt’s been over a year since UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar first began thinking about Gray Maynard. It was in September of 2010 when Edgar first got the call about defending his belt against Maynard. Sinc…
It’s been over a year since UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar first began thinking about Gray Maynard. It was in September of 2010 when Edgar first got the call about defending his belt against Maynard. Since then, the two went through a five-round classic that ended in a draw, an announced rematch, injuries, a cancellation, and finally, preparation for this Saturday’s UFC 136.
So finally, all systems are go to put the final chapter of the trilogy in motion and in the past, at which case, win or lose, both men can go on to something — and someone — else.
Mentally exhausted from the constant thoughts of the same threat, it’s a moment Edgar is awaiting.
“It sucks, but right now is not the time to lose focus,” Edgar said on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I still got a couple more days to think about him, and then we could put him in the rear view.”
Maynard has been the thorn in Edgar’s side for the two worst moments of his career. In April 2008, “the Bully” bullied Edgar with a series of takedowns en route to a decision win. It remains the only loss in the champion’s career. And more recently at UFC 125, Maynard nearly knocked Edgar out in the opening moments of the first round before Edgar bravely came back to salvage a draw.
In Edgar’s mind, surviving Maynard’s hail of strikes has only served to grow his belief in himself and ability to withstand adversity. And his conditioning and performance as the fight went on convinced him he can tighten up a few things and walk away with gold still around his waist.
“I’m winning, man,” he said. “I’m very confident, especially after that last fight. I think my confidence keeps building from fight to fight. Obviously from BJ [Penn] to the next BJ fight. With Gray I know I had a pretty bad first round, but showing what I showed — which I didn’t realize right away until I went home and saw it — in character, it gave me a lot of confidence.”
Edgar candidly acknowledged that Maynard has advantages in size, power and wrestling, but believes he’s got the edge in speed, technical striking and jiu-jitsu. He added that he believes his biggest and most important edge comes in his seamless transitions from striking to wrestling to the ground game.
After his previous troubles with Maynard, he’d like to end the series decisively and enter the next phase of his career by putting the challenger away.
“That’s my goal,” he said. “I know I get a lot of flack for not [finishing]. I think it has to do with sometimes I am the smaller guy. But I always go into fights looking for it. If I could stun a guy, I’m going to try and finish him. And if I can stun him and get him on the ground, I’m going to try and finish him there.”
As usual, Edgar will be at a size disadvantage in this one. Less than a week out from the fight, he currently weighs 160 pounds, the fighting weight of many featherweights.
Before he won the belt, he was constantly asked about moving down a division and competing with fighters that were more his size. Edgar always shrugged off the suggestion, pointing out his success as a lightweight. But interestingly, he didn’t dismiss the possibility of trying to simultaneously hold the lightweight belt and moving to 145 to challenge for that title as well.
“That’s something that a lot of my teammates talk about and stuff, and my coaches,” he said. “Things got to work out the right way, but I think it’s definitely an interesting possibility, and an intriguing one.”
Edgar cautioned that though it could possibly happen, it’s not quite as easy a move as some have suggested.
“It’s nice to have that ace in my pocket to be able to go down there and possibly fight for the belt in another weight class,” he said. “But a lot of people think you lose weight, you automatically win. You’re going to be the bigger guy, but there’s also … I haven’t cut weight in six years, the guys are going to be quicker. So there’s a lot of other factors that play into it.”
Another possibility is facing Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez, who UFC president Dana White said over the weekend is soon to be on his way to the organization. Melendez has frequently spoken about facing Edgar and unifying the belts, and perhaps that is an option, a possibility which Edgar accepted, saying, “it’s the competitive nature. He wants to fight the best and to be considered the best.”
For now, he has a big enough challenge in front of him. Edgar said his creaky back is feeling fine after a pair of epidural shots, and that he would have an MRI after the fight to reevaluate his situation.
So the future is full of potential plans and possibilities. It’s about getting healthy, dual championships and unifying belts. But first, he must conquer an opponent he has yet to conquer in two tries.
It’s been over a year since