UFC 125: Can Gray Maynard Beat Frankie Edgar Again and Claim UFC Gold?

New Year’s Day is going to have one electrifying night! UFC 125: Resolutions will be emanating from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, headlined by the rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. This time, the UFC lightweight crown is on the line.

Edgar originally won his title in a controversial unanimous decision over then-lightweight kingpin B.J. Penn in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. The nonbelievers were out in full force. These detractors were silenced, mostly, when Frankie Edgar consistently beat Penn to the punch and took Penn down on multiple occasions, taking a clear and decisive decision over “The Prodigy” at UFC 118 in August, solidifying his championship.

It is easy to understand why “The Answer” was an underdog in both fights. Edgar is smaller than Penn (he is smaller than everybody). Penn is a legend in mixed martial arts, possessing a Jiu-Jitsu game better than just about everyone in the business, boxing skills that rival some of the best professionals around, and, when motivated, has an untamable ferocity. With all this, Frankie Edgar handily beat up the former champ.

So, why is the current UFC lightweight champion finding himself the underdog for a third consecutive bout (twice as the title holder)? His name is Gray Maynard.

Maynard is undefeated in his professional mixed martial arts career. Maynard earned his shot by “bullying” then-perennial No. 2 lightweight, Kenny Florian. Maynard used crisp counter punching and took down “Ken-Flo” throughout the fight, applying grueling pressure and using good ground-and-pound to secure an easy decision in Boston at UFC 118.

It was this type of brute force and technical wrestling, mixed with good hands and standup defense, that allowed “The Bully” to manhandle Frankie Edgar, en route to a unanimous three-rounds-to-none decision victory, more than two years ago.

The question becomes, why should this fight be any different? Edgar is still the smaller fighter, possibly negating his own phenomenal wrestling skills. Maynard still has crisp hands and good power. Why should this fight favor the champion?

Frankie Edgar is not the same fighter he was two yeas ago. Edgar is clearly stronger than he was in the first contest with Maynard (watch the slam in Edgar vs. Penn II). Edgar’s pace is relentless and the tank does not seem to empty. The champ also has Kru Phil Nurse in his corner.

Because of Kru Nurse, Edgar’s striking has become so much more dynamic, utilizing one move to setup another to setup the takedown to better position to get the hell out of there to land some more to…do we get the picture? Getting to roll around with Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida does not hurt, either.

Maynard is no different a fighter then when he first met up with Edgar. So, can Maynard repeat the performance? Can Maynard live up to the moniker once more and “bully” Frankie Edgar? Or, will the champ have “The Answer” for Gray Maynard? The odds makers do not seem to think so. Personally, I’m glad I’m not one of those odds makers.