Gray Maynard looking for another shot at Frankie Edgar
Posted on November 29, 2011, 06:31 PM by Trent Reinsmith
UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar’s next title defense will come at UFC 144. Edgar will meet former WEC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the main event of that fight card, which will take place in February 26, 2012 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Henderson has been on a tear since losing his WEC title to Anthony Pettis on December 16, 2010. Henderson has had three UFC fights since that loss with each win more impressive than the last. On his way to his shot against Edgar he has dispatched Mark Bocek, Jim Miller and most recently Clay Guida, with all three of the wins coming via unanimous decision.
Edgar’s most recent title defense was an October 8, 2011 knockout victory over Gray Maynard. The win avenged the only loss of Edgar’s career, as he had fallen to Maynard back in 2008.
Edgar and Maynard have fought three times over the course of their careers, with each fighter winning one fight and another fight resulting in a draw. With that 1-1-1 record hanging over his head, Maynard will be rooting for Edgar to defeat Henderson in Japan, but for purely selfish reasons, “Hopefully he holds on to the belt, because there’s got to be a part four, I think, to make it a true trilogy. Now he has one and I do two, so that’s a draw. So, we gotta do it again. Hopefully, he holds on the belt and I can work back up there.” – for more see Tatame.com
Further Reading: Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson set to headline UFC's return to Japan
Photo: Gray Maynard, left, fights Jim Miller during UFC 96 at the Nationwide Arena on March 7, 2009 in Columbus, OH. Francis Specker
Comments
Like I said in a previous post. Gray just got KO'd by Frankie. And when that happens it's back of the line for you. It's not like they fought to a draw again (thank god!). Nobody is looking forward to a 4th bout between them for now.
I think he should fight 2 or 3 top guys (Guida maybe?) before he can make this statement again.
he should get it since hes 1-1-1 with frankie!!!And he was the only man to beat him!!!!!
If you would have actually read the article, you would have noticed the part where Maynard essentially agrees with what you're saying: "Hopefully, he holds on the belt and I can work back up there.”
"Hopefully...I can work back up there." Since you don't like reading, I shortened it for you. He's not asking for an immediate title shot.
It was 3 bloody years ago man, no I don't want to see Edgar fight Maynard for at least another 3 fights.
I KNEW you were retarded, this seals it.
He did hurt him a few times before getting KOed. I think he just wasn't expecting Edgar to generate that much power.
It wasn't a power punch that rocked Maynard it was a short uppercut / jab shot that caught him in the sweet spot on his jaw. After that he landed some power shots but the punch that started the KO was more placement than power.
I think that Edgar has more than proven himself against the likes of a Gray Maynard. Let him defend his belt against someone else for a change. They were good fights, but I'm interested in seeing Edgar against some fresh meat in his weight class.
i dont know why anyone would dislike this article. he states he wants to work his way back up too his title shot just as he should. and after all, he has beat frankie once, and nealy finished him on another two occasions. its 1-1-1, and he definitly deserves a fourth if he works his way back there
Tough kid....Tough kid
A fight that happened 3 years ago doesn't even really matter anymore in my opinion, I also think its really sad for Edgar that people want him to fight the same guys over and over again. I want him to fight 3 different opponents that he has never faced before before fighting Maynard again.
So in 3 years their two latest collisions won't matter anymore?
GSP should drop down and take that belt and then solidify himself as the third ever person to hold belts in two divisions.
Or Edgar goes down to 145 and be the only one in the UFC to hold 2 belts at the same time just like how Hendo did in Pride
Not quite sure how having four fights would make it "a true trilogy".
Much as Grey wants another crack at Frankie, I think he gets another title shot much sooner if someone else takes the belt.
The UFC will never have one guy holding belts in two classes. A fighter can only fight so often, so it would probably cut in half the number title matches.
If I was Joe Silva I would make these fights.
Maynard vs Sherk(early 2012), if Gray wins:
Maynard vs winner Miller/Guillard.
Guida vs Diaz (if he beats Cerrone)
Winners of those 2 fights for #1 contender.
If Cerrone beats Diaz:
Guida vs Tibau
Cerrone vs winner Lauzon/Pettis
If Cerrone beats J-Lau/Show.
Maynard vs winner Guida/Tibau
Cerrone for belt.
If Cerrone loses:
Maynard vs J-Lau/Show for #1 contender.
Guida/Tibau vs loser Bendo/Edgar
You gotta have Melendez somewhere in your match-ups. That would be interesting to him Melendez-Maynard: If Melendez wins he gets a title shot, but if he loses, the problem is that Maynard would deserve a title shot but that would suck to see him again in the title picture that soon, considering that this is an extremely stacked division.
Maynard vs Melendez
A lightweight tournament would be nice. But there are too many lightweights! Maynard, Melendez (eventually), Guillard, Miller, Lauzon, Pettis, Guida, Diaz, Cerrone, Siver, the loser of Edgar/Bendo and even Sherk.
Get in line Maynard, and it's a looooong line. LW division is STACKED.