UFC 125: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard A Head-To-Toe Breakdown

On New Year's Day, Frankie Edgar will attempt to defend his UFC Lightweight Championship for the second time, while simultaneously trying to avenge the only loss of his career.

Edgar's lone loss came against Gray Maynard at UFC Fight Night 13 in April 2008. Despite the loss, Edgar was chosen over Maynard to fight B.J. Penn for the UFC Lightweight Championship. Edgar went into the fight with Penn as an underdog, but was able to leave the fight as a champion.

Considering his win over Edgar, Maynard felt that he had been more deserving of the title shot. Dana White reasoned that Edgar had made more improvements since the two had fought.

Now, Maynard will get the chance to prove that he should have had the opportunity to fight Penn for the belt back in April 2010.

Let's take a quick look at how these two lightweights match up. 

Striking

Because he is so notorious for his wrestling, Maynard does not receive the credit he deserves for his boxing.

That being said, Edgar is the much quicker fighter, and he does a much better job of mixing in kicks with his punches. Edgar may not have the power to knock out Maynard, but he has the quickness and technique to be able to land more strikes than Maynard.

Advantage: Edgar

Jiu Jitsu

Maynard has not submitted an opponent in any of his eleven professional fights. Edgar has submission victories in three of his 15 bouts.

Clearly, the statistics show that Edgar is the bigger threat to end this fight with a submission

However, the three fighters Edgar has submitted are nowhere near Maynard's caliber. Additionally, Maynard has already survived fights against much more decorated submission artists than Edgar, including Kenny Florian and Nate Diaz.

While Edgar may be more capable of ending this fight with a submission, the low likelihood of this fight ending in submission renders that advantage negligible.

Still, Edgar is much more comfortable on his back than the average wrestler turned mixed martial artist. This is crucial for any fighter who hopes to beat Maynard, who has excellent takedowns and top control. Edgar may have trouble escaping from his back, but his strength rather than technique will be at fault.

Advantage: Edgar

Wrestling

Both Maynard and Edgar come from wrestling backgrounds.

Edgar wrestled for Clarion University and coached at Rutgers University.

Maynard was a three-time All-American at Michigan State University. In addition, Maynard's wrestling was so impressive that he was recruited as a sparring partner by B.J. Penn.

Maynard's wrestling has transitioned to MMA successfully as well. Maynard consistently takes down his opponents and grinds out decisions with his stifling top control. It may not be the most exciting style to watch, but you have to respect Maynard's ability to impose his will against his opponents.

Advantage: Maynard

Power

Heading into the first fight between these two fighters, Edgar's Jiu-Jitsu and striking were still a work in progress.

Therefore, the fight was essentially a wrestler vs. wrestler matchup.

Maynard's top control went on to play a major part in determining the winner of that fight, and his strength advantage was readily visible on the ground.

One look at each of these fighters will give you a pretty clear depiction of who the physically stronger fighter is.

Anyways, can you really not give an advantage in strength to a guy who knocked himself out while slamming his opponent.

Advantage: Maynard

Speed

Edgar's quickness may have been the key factor in him becoming UFC Lightweight Champion. It allowed Edgar to remain elusive for ten rounds against Penn.

Maynard is not an exceptionally slow lightweight by any means, but he is certainly not nearly as quick as Edgar.

What Edgar lacks in strength, he makes up for in quickness.

Advantage: Edgar

Chin

Neither Maynard nor Edgar have ever lost a fight by knockout. The only fighter ever to knock out Maynard was himself.

It's hard to give a clear advantage to either fighter in this category.

Neither fighter has shown any signs of having anything resembling a glass jaw.

Advantage: Push

Heart

You never want to question the heart of a fighter, and with these two fighters, you really couldn't if you did want to.

A fighter's heart shows most when they face adversity.

In the only loss of his career, Edgar fought hard for fifteen minutes against Maynard. When the world was counting him out against Penn, not once but twice, Edgar responded brilliantly.

Maynard has had to continually prove his worth. Because his fighting style is considered boring by many fans, Maynard had to take the long road to a title shot. Maynard never lost focus of his goal, despite several closely contested fights along the way.

Advantage: Push

Prediction

If you were to add up these categories and call the fighter with the most different advantages the winner, then Edgar would remain champion.

However, that is obviously not how fights play out.

Maynard is more likely to dictate where this fight takes place, which will most likely be with Edgar on his back for most of the fight. Edgar lacks the power to finish Maynard, which he might need to do in order to make up for the point he will lose by being taken down.

It won't be a dominant victory, but Maynard will do what Maynard usually does. It will be a close, hard-fought decision.

Winner: Maynard