Gray Maynard's Blogs
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Podcast: SRN Roundtable - UFC on FX 4, UFC 147
The SRN Roundtable was back, and sporting two weekend cards, with Sherdog's own Jack Encarnacao, Jordan Breen, Sam Genovese, and Bloody Elbow's Nate Wilcox.
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With one card in Atlantic City, the other in Brazil, and main events featuring Gray Maynard, Clay Guida, Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva, there was a lot to fill into two hours.
Jump in, come see our panel's picks, and prepare for a weekend of mixed martial arts action the only suitable way, with The Sherdog Radio Network.
Check out "Beatdown" here. -
Sherdog Pick’Em Trends: UFC on FX 4
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Thanks in no small part to Frankie Edgar, former top lightweight contender Gray Maynard has not tasted victory in the Octagon since 2010. Players in Sherdog.com’s MMA Pick’Em fantasy game believe that things are about to change for “The Bully” in the UFC on FX 4 main event on Friday, as 71 percent have selected him to defeat Clay Guida at Revel Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
Maynard has not competed since UFC 136, when he lost to Edgar via fourth-round knockout in the third meeting between the two rivals. Previously, Edgar and Maynard battled to a draw at UFC 125, while Maynard took a unanimous nod against “The Answer” at UFC Fight Night 13. The 32-year-old Las Vegan remains among the top contenders at 155 pounds thanks in part to victories against the likes of Kenny Florian, Nate Diaz, Jim Miller and Dennis Siver during his career.
Guida fell short in his bid to become the division’s No. 1 contender in November, dropping a spirited three-round decision to Benson Henderson at UFC on Fox 1. Prior to that defeat, “The Carpenter” had won four straight fights, besting Shannon Gugerty, Rafael dos Anjos, Takanori Gomi and Anthony Pettis in succession.
Other Pick’Em Trends for UFC on FX 4:
• An overwhelming 90 percent of participants favor Sam Stout in his rubber match with Spencer Fisher at lightweight. Stout took an exciting victory over Fisher in his Octagon debut in 2006. “The King” exacted his revenge at UFC Fight Night 10, taking a unanimous decision over “Hands of Stone” in yet another action-packed affair;
• A whopping 93 percent of Pick’Em competitors have chosen Brian Ebersole in a welterweight clash against submission specialist T.J. Waldburger. Ebersole has emerged victorious in his first three Octagon appearances, earning wins over Chris Lytle, Dennis Hallman and Claude Patrick. Waldburger, meanwhile, has notched 12 of his 15 professional victories via submission, including his last two in the UFC;
• A solid 71 percent of users like Ross Pearson to make his second effort at featherweight a successful one when he squares off with WEC veteran Cub Swanson. A winner on “The Ultimate Fighter 9,” Pearson won his initial effort at 145 pounds, taking a decision from Junior Assuncao at UFC 141. After a submission loss to Ricardo Lamas in November, Swanson rebounded to capture his first UFC victory in January with a second-round TKO of George Roop;
• In preliminary bouts, players have sided with Hatsu Hioki (92 percent) over Ricardo Lamas, Ramsey Nijem (77 percent) over C.J. Keith, Rick Story (95 percent) over Brock Jardine, Steven Siler (79 percent) over Joey Gambino, Nick Catone (76 percent) over Chris Camozzi, Matt Brown (89 percent) over Luis Ramos, Dan Miller (97 percent) over Ricardo Funch and Dustin Pague (85 percent) over Ken Stone.
Follow the jump for reader comments. Read more -
Top 5 Forum Threads of the Week
By: Jeff Sherwood
The most discussed topics this week in the Sherdog forums included conversations about the Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit fight: who won? Will they rematch?
As a fan, are you familiar with Harold Howard? We also look into a nice comparison between Jon Jones and Junior dos Santos and their success in the UFC.
Is Damage the No. 1 Criteria?
In the aftermath of Diaz vs. Condit here is a very good argument.
Who won: Condit or Diaz?
UFC 143 is still a blazing-hot topic. Do you think Condit won?
Karate in MMA?
30 karate-based fighters in mixed martial arts are analyzed by readers.
Mosre Dominant: Jones or Dos Santos?
Who has been more dominant in the UFC: Jon Jones or or Junior dos Santos?
Catching up with Gray Maynard
Playing catch-up with one of the finest lightweights in the world. What has Gray Maynard been up to?
Follow the jump for reader comments. Read more -
ESPN MMA Hot Button: What is MMA's Greatest Trilogy?
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Every week inside ESPN.com's MMA section, two scribes debate the most pressing issues in the sport in the Hot Button.
This week, Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen and ESPN.com's Josh Gross debate which is MMA's greatest trilogy of all-time.
Does the bellwether trilogy between Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture, so pivotal to the UFC's current success, take the cake because of its importance and legendary figures? Or, does the recently-minted trio of fights between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard take the top honors for the wild action in its final two installments?
Click here to read the latest ESPN MMA Hot Button. Read more -
Beatdown After The Bell: UFC 136
By: Luca Fury
Live radio returned to The Sherdog Radio Network Saturday following the conclusion of UFC 136. For two hours Lutfi Sariahmed and Jon Luther broke down the card that saw Frankie Edgar successfully defend his UFC lightweight title against Gray Maynard.
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The two men also took listener call, emails and tweets.
Check out the shows and our archives by clicking here. -
Radio Roundtable: UFC 136
By: Luca Fury
Jack Encarnacao returned to The Sherdog Radio Network Friday for another roundtable discussion. He was joined by Sherdog.com's Jordan Breen, Lutfi Sariahmed and Sirius Fight Club's Danny Acosta.
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The panel broke down all of the action from tomorrow's UFC 136 card, including the main event between lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and challenger Gray Maynard.
Check out the shows and our archives by clicking here. -
ESPN MMA Hot Button: Which Challenger Can Leave Champ at 136?
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Every week inside ESPN.com's MMA section, two scribes debate the most pressing issues in the sport in the Hot Button.
This week, Sherdog.com Administrative Editor Jordan Breen and ESPN.com's Franklin McNeil debate which title challenger at UFC 136 has the best chance to leave Houston with UFC gold..
Will Gray Maynard replicate his first round from last January against Frankie Edgar and take the lightweight strap? Or will the third time be the charm for Kenny Florian as he challenges Jose Aldo at 145 pounds?
Click here to read the latest ESPN MMA Hot Button. Read more -
R.J. Clifford Joins Press Row
By: Jordan Breen
Every Wednesday, Administrative Editor Jordan Breen welcomes a member of the mixed martial arts media into “Press Row” on the Sherdog.com blog. This week, Breen welcomes writer, radio host and Strikeforce veteran R.J. Clifford to “Press Row.”
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Breen and Clifford, an MMA journalist-stroke-lightweight fighter, discuss the current state of MMA's lightweight division and its implications for the UFC 155-pound title picture. The pair weigh in on Saturday night's third bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, their likely next challenger, and what kind of style matchups might be difficult for either man to overcome at 155 pounds.
Breen and Clifford also discuss whether we'll see considerable parity at the elite levels of the lightweight division, the future of the UFC lightweight title, Gilbert Melendez's potential entry into the Octagon and more.
Grab your credential and get a seat in “Press Row.” -
Melendez: Matchups Against Edgar, Maynard Would Evolve MMA
By: Sherdog.com Staff
Gilbert Melendez (Pictured), on “The Savage Dog Show,” discussing what to expect if he fights Frankie Edgar or Gray Maynard:
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“Some really good displays of MMA, I can guarantee you, when we fight. You’ll see everything -- transitions, grappling, fighting, combos from your feet to takedowns to jiu-jitsu positions to ground-and-pound. I think the sport will evolve in front of everyone’s eyes if you have matchups like me versus Frankie or me versus Gray.” -
UFC 125 Postmortem: No Answers for Edgar
By: Jake Rossen
Frankie Edgar | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Was it “Rocky V” where Sylvester Stallone numbly intoned that life isn’t about hitting, but about how hard you can get hit and keep getting up?
Maybe I’m thinking of “Cobra.” Or “F.I.S.T.” Honestly, when you’ve heard one speech from a guy who can only drink from one side of his mouth, you’ve heard them all. But that one rings true, and it could have easily described Saturday’s performance by Frankie Edgar, who survived one of the worst blitzes in UFC title fight history only to come back and put on a clear and focused performance for the next 20 minutes. It was like watching someone stumble away from a car wreck, take a minute break, and then finish the Sunday Times crossword puzzle.
Edgar should be happy about his comeback, but the announcement of a draw -- justified, in the opinion of many -- turned him sour. He shouldn’t be: his stock skyrocketed with the attrition and wrestling that had improved to the point he was able to take Gray Maynard down repeatedly and stuff incoming shots. (Not possible in their 2008 fight, which Maynard won.) Maynard is probably Edgar’s biggest headache at 155 pounds, and he was able to keep it competitive.
A rematch is inevitable. And while that first round will be remembered, it’ll do far less for Maynard’s confidence than it will for Edgar’s. Read more
