UFC Edgar Vs. Maynard: Vegas Makes The Champ an Underdog Against The Bully

What does Frankie Edgar have to do to get respect from the oddsmakers? In a few months the UFC lightweight champion will defend his title against the number one contender Gray Maynard. Despite being the champ, Sportsbook.com currently has Edgar as a +105 underdog.

All Edgar did in his last two outings in the octagon was upset UFC legend and then champion B.J. Penn. Then in a rematch just a few weeks ago, Edgar flat out dominated Penn in a rematch. By the way, Edgar was a very hefty underdog in both fights.

So, why no love for the champ?

For one, these two fighters are very familiar with each other. Back in April of 2008, Maynard grinded out a three round unanimous decision victory over Edgar.

Secondly, with an 8-0 UFC record, Maynard has the second best winning streak in UFC history, second only to Anderson Silva.

Third, Maynard will have a distinctive strength advantage. Unlike most MMA fighters, Edgar walks around at the weight in which he fights. Maynard is a bulldog who relies on his strength and wrestling skills. Also known as “The Bully”, Maynard will look to spend most of the bout on the mat where he can best control the fight.

Maynard is also coming off an impressive fight last month when he did his thing again Kenny Florian despite fighting as an underdog.

Can Edgar pull another upset?

Let's face it, at +105; Sportsbook.com doesn’t consider Edgar a big dog by any means. And the way he dominated Penn in August, there shouldn't be many doubters of Edgar, but in fact there still are.

Also a skilled wrestler, Edgar is a better well-rounded fighter than Maynard. Edgar's wrestling might not be as good as “The Bully”, but he'll have the advantage when the fighters are on their feet. Against Penn, Edgar was extremely effective both throwing punches as well as kicks.

The champ will also need to utilize his two best skills, his speed and non-stop motor in an attempt to nullify Maynard’s strength advantage. If the fight enters the fourth and fifth rounds, we know Edgar will still be bopping around like a water bug. Will Maynard have the same energy and stamina? Maybe but we don’t know for sure considering he has never fought past the third round.

What to expect?

The champ will try his best to turn this one into a boxing match. He’ll be very active yet cautious in throwing both punches and kicks, then immediately getting out of Maynard’s grasp.

How quickly Maynard can get his hands on Edgar and to the ground will tell the tale. If the challenger can get the fight to the ground easy and often, he’ll definitely have the advantage. However, don’t expect him to end it early as each of his last seven fights has gone the distance, winning by decision.

Who to bet on?

Being an underdog bettor traditionally, I will be waiting to see how these fight odds move. As mentioned before, we are still months away from this bout so there is still plenty of time for the public to pile in. It seems like the public buzz around this fight is that Maynard will win, therefore I think Edgar bettors might be able to get +115 or even a little higher by fight time.

On the flip side, if you think Maynard will win his ninth straight fight, you might want to get your wagers in on -135 early, because they will only go one way as we approach the fight – UP.