Maynard begins anew in quest for UFC belt
After falling just short in two grueling fights against former champion Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard finds himself essentially starting over in pursuit of his goal of wearing the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight belt.
Maynard nearly finished Edgar in the first round of each of those bouts, but Edgar rallied each time.
“I’ve knocked the UFC world champion down five times and probably been as close to the title as you can get without actually holding it,” Maynard said. “I want to go one punch, one second, better next time. It was very frustrating not being able to get the win despite beating Edgar up, and it took a long time getting over it. But I’m back, and I know I’m able to beat anyone in the division.”
Maynard, who fought to a draw with Edgar in January 2011 before suffering the first loss of his career when Edgar knocked him out in October, will look to get back in the win column tonight when he fights for the first time since moving from Las Vegas to Northern California to get a fresh start.
His opponent in the UFC on FX 4 main event in Atlantic City will be fellow contender Clay Guida.
Neither fighter is likely to get a quick title shot in a crowded lightweight field with a win tonight.
“There’s a big traffic jam in the division now,” Maynard said. “And now that it isn’t me causing it, I think it sucks.”
Maynard, 33, says in addition to his new camp, he has renewed focus on his career because his fiancee is pregnant and he wants to provide stability for his family.
“I don’t just want that belt for myself now but to secure the future for my kid who’s about to come into the world,” he said. “Being a world champion and having big fights secures my kid’s future.”
An impressive win over Guida would be a good start. The five-round fight headlines a main card that airs live on FX (Cable 24) at 6 p.m.
Included on the UFC’s first card in Atlantic City since 2005 is a lightweight bout between Sam Stout and Spencer Fisher and a welterweight fight between Brian Ebersole and TJ Waldburger.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.
