Unsatisfied Edgar Wants Rematch Following Draw

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Following his title defense against Gray Maynard at UFC 125, Frankie Edgar was reportedly supposed to take a ride to the hospital in place of attending the post-fight news conference, but that didn't happen.

When the weary champion sat down in front of the media after the event, he was asked if he had foregone the hospital to instead field questions. Edgar cracked a tired half-smile and responded honestly.

“I still might make a trip.”

Edgar’s title defense against Maynard was a five-round split draw that saw both challenger and champion leave pieces of themselves inside the cage for an appreciative MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

In the first frame, however, it looked as though Edgar's second title defense would be his last, as Maynard blasted him with a left hook that left “The Answer” reeling and struggling to survive for the majority of the round.

“The first round wasn’t my round, obviously, but last four I thought I won,” said the champion. “[It came down to] having the team behind me and knowing I had 20 minutes left in the fight. I felt I could bounce back. [Referee Yves Lavigne] was just [telling me to] keep fighting, but I don’t think he was on the verge of stopping it.”

Maynard threw 97 punches in trying to finish the resilient Edgar in the first, and in the second period the challenger was noticeably slower. Edgar, seemingly no worse for the wear, was back on his bicycle and used his footwork and boxing to setup takedown attempts. After slipping a Maynard punch, the smaller Edgar somehow found the strength and wherewithal to hoist the challenger above his head and dump him to the canvas a la Matt Hughes.

“Gray is a phenomenal wrestler, but I believe in my wrestling too,” said Edgar. “I think I have pretty good wrestling myself.”

The remainder of the rounds were close, particularly the third and fifth frames. As the scorecards were read and the fight was announced a draw, Edgar slung his championship belt behind him, overcome by the moment. When asked how he viewed the outcome, however, the champ responded confidently.

“I thought I won the fight, man,” he said. “It's just disappointing. I wanted a decisive win and got a draw. It's not that I don't want the belt or anything. [When I tossed it aside, it was] just the heat of the moment, that’s all.”

One member of the media suggested that, although the draw clearly was not the champion's desired outcome, he might take solace in the fact that he had won over those spectators who still did not believe in him. An indifferent Edgar shrugged as he replied.

“I guess that’s cool, but a decisive win would have been better for me, to be honest,” he said.

Though many fans will likely beg to see a third fight between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, that bout will have to wait, as the UFC announced that Edgar would defend his UFC title next against WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. ESPN later reported that UFC President Dana White has changed his mind, and will now go forward with a third bout between the lightweights for Edgar's next defense.

“I’m not even thinking about [a fight with Pettis] right now, to be honest. He’s a tough kid. We'll see what happens.”

As for Edgar, if given the choice, he'd settle the score with Maynard and avenge the only loss on his record.

“Yeah, I probably would [fight Gray first if I had the choice] so I could have a little more closure. He has a win over me, and now there is a draw. I’d like the opportunity to fight him again.”

This item was updated at 5:50 a.m. ET to add information from an ESPN.com report.