Edgar: Jiu-Jitsu Will Help Against Maynard

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Frankie Edgar believes the biggest difference between the fighter he is now and the one he was when Gray Maynard beat him is his team.

Maynard won a unanimous decision over Edgar in April 2008. When the two rematch Saturday at UFC 125, Edgar will have the help of an almost entirely different camp that includes muay Thai trainer Phil Nurse and Renzo Gracie black belts John Danaher and Ricardo Almeida.

The UFC lightweight champion thinks his jiu-jitsu training in particular could counter Maynard’s wrestling.

“When he took me down the first fight, the first couple of rounds I was able to get up. The third round, he did a good job of holding me down,” Edgar said recently during an interview on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I didn’t really have the jiu-jitsu that I have today. … Now I have jiu-jitsu techniques that I think will aid me in getting back to my feet.”

In fact, Edgar said he has the ability to land a submission from his back. “I do believe my jiu-jitsu has come a long ways,” he said. “I just haven’t really had a chance to showcase it as much.”

While Maynard’s wrestling ability was pivotal in the first encounter, his size advantage also appeared to play a role. Edgar doesn’t write off his loss to being smaller, though.

“I think it definitely played a part, but I don’t think that was the main reason I lost,” Edgar said. “I don’t think I lost because I was the smaller fighter. I think he just fought a better fight that night, and his game plan worked better than mine. But I was actually a little bit smaller that night than I am now. I packed on some weight since that fight, but he’s still going to be bigger. He’s still going to have the size advantage.”

Edgar expects to weigh around 162-163 come fight time. He figures Maynard will be 175 or as high as 180. The discrepancy has advantages and disadvantages, Edgar said.

“I’m going to be eating Christmas morning, I’ll tell you that for sure,” Edgar explained. “I’m not going to be sucking so much weight the week before, but I’m also going to be giving up some substantial size in the fight.”

Although he will be the smaller fighter again, Edgar won’t be the same opponent Maynard outpointed the first time. Since that meeting, Edgar has gone 5-0, including two upset wins over B.J. Penn.

“I just think my confidence level skyrocketed after that first B.J. fight,” Edgar said. “A win over B.J., who was at the time the best lightweight in the world, was great for me, was great for my confidence, was great for just believing in myself. I think it showed second fight.”

Both Penn fights were tough 25-minute wins. Maynard has never gone past 15.

“I’m sure Gray’s preparing for the [five five-minute rounds], but there’s nothing like having the experience doing it like I have my last two fights,” Edgar said. “I’m hoping to take him in deep water and hoping I can wear him out. In four and five rounds, I’m expecting to hopefully take control.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:33:53) with Edgar, who also discussed Maynard’s strengths.