UFC 136 Press Conference: Frankie Edgar will look to finish Gray Maynard in Texas

UFC President Dana White, alongside many of the event's biggest stars, were in attendance today at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas for a special UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference. The stacked card will be headlined by a set of title bouts, one of which pits Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar against Gray Maynard for a third time, while the other will feature Featherweight champ Jose Aldo defending his belt against Kenny Florian. Also scheduled is a Middleweight showdown between top contenders Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann and a Lightweight clash between Melvin Guillard and Joe Lauzon.

UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Press Conference Highlights:

Frankie Edgar

• I am sure we're both highly motivated coming off the draw. We both want this bad and we're going to bring it on October 8th.

• We've been in there two times already. There is not too many secrets left this time around.  Of course I want a finish and that is what I will be going for.

• (Bringing the title back to New Jersey) is everything. I've got such great support at home and for me to bring that title home its not just for me its for them too. I feel like they're right there in the cage with me.

Gray Maynard

• It has been on my day everyday and every night and I just can't wait for October 8th. It's going to be fun and I am going to come away with the belt.

• We've danced a couple times I guess. In round one, it took it out of both of us, so we fought the rest of the rounds at half.  In the third fight I think we will both be 100-percent.  It will be up to (Edgar) if it goes five rounds or ends early, but either way I am leaving with the belt.

Jose Aldo

• I am definitely working on that in camp right now to come back stronger than ever.  A lot of people questioned that fifth round (against Mark Hominick), whether I was still in the fight. I guarantee you that I was still in the fight and I will come back even stronger this time.

• (On proving he is pound for pound champ) Anderson Silva is Anderson Silva and Jose Aldo is Jose Aldo.  All I can do is train hard and win fights.

I learned (to kick so effectively) from Pedro Rizzo. Watching him fight for many years and also training under him.

Kenny Florian

• (The weight cut) was a lot harder last time out, just because I was coming off an injury and unable to work out for two months.  So obviously I gained some weight.  But this time I am at a far lower weight. With that said, I still felt like I did well last time out (against Diego Nunes).

• I really enjoy doing commentray and being invloved in the sport in anyway I can.  But, training and fighting is most important and it always comes first.

• I am always focused on what is ahead, and that was fighting a top Featherweight in Diego Nunes. If you beat a top guy, you prove yourself as a top guy and that's all I was focused on.  Of course, all guys are here to fight for the title and I am glad I have that opportunity.

Dana White

• Chael talks about everybody. If we tried to line him up with everyone he talks about it would be pretty tough. It will be interesting to see if what he has to say about Brian Stann, a war hero.  But, he'll be back in there with a Brazilian soon enough if he wins that fight and Silva wins his as well.

• There are so many good guys at 155-pounds, we are trying to figure out who goes next.  I like Melvin and how he is taking this serious and training hard.  I always thought he was the biggest waste of talent and I am glad to see him turn it around.  If he beats Lauzon, I am excited to see who we put him in there with next.

• I love Twitter.  People are always saying "The guy has the best seat in the house and he's on his phone." It allows me to fix things for fans on the fly. (Ticket issues, cable outages, etc.)

• My job is to put on fights that people want to see.  For example, Mayweather refuses to fight Pacquiao. If people want to see a fight, I do what I can to make it happen, whether I agree or not.  For example, most of you guys probably don't know this Russian guy, Fedor Emelianenko, but fans thought he was the best in the world and wanted to see him - I went after him.

Further Reading: Gray Maynard learned from draw with Frankie Edgar, not planning to make the same mistakes at UFC 136

Photo: Frank Edgar,left, fights Tyson Griffin at the Ultimate Fighting Champion Championship UFC 67 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas on Feb. 3, 2007. Credit: Francis Specker