UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Finally Finds Success Against Gray Maynard

The third time was indeed the charm for Frankie Edgar, who put past frustrations behind him to defeat Gray Maynard at UFC 136 and defend, not simply retain, his Lightweight Championship belt.

It took three and a half years, but Edgar finally avenged the only loss of his career in mixed martial arts, which he suffered against Maynard in April of 2008. Their first rematch, at UFC 125: Resolution on New Year's Day, didn't resolve much of anything, as "The Answer" and "The Bully" fought to a draw.

Saturday's fight looked at the outset to be much like the last edition, with Maynard mauling Edgar with a furious, first-round flurry that left the title-holder tattered and torn. Bloodied but unbowed, Edgar boxed his way through Rounds 2 and 3 to climb back into the fight and was well on his way to pulling ahead on points in the fourth.

Then, with the force of a champion, Edgar clocked Maynard with a huge right hand that left his nemesis weak on his feet and headed toward the cage. Edgar wasted little time kicking his killer instinct into overdrive, throwing another right hand at Maynard's chin to send him to the mat, at which point Edgar pounced on his opponent with some serious ground-and-pound to force referee Josh Rosenthal to call the fight at the 3:54 mark of the fourth round.

And so, Edgar stood tall in the Octagon, with a brand new notch on his championship belt and mangled mug to signify that he'd finally scaled Mt. Maynard.

As for the future of this rivalry, this may not be the last time UFC fans are treated to Edgar-Maynard in the Octagon. Their head-to-head record now stands at one win apiece and, though Edgar's win evened the score, it hardly settled things between these two.

That's not to say Maynard will necessarily be next in line. Chances are, Edgar wouldn't mind taking on a new challenger after getting bruised and battered by Maynard in each of his last two bouts.

Just don't think Gray will simply fade to black now that he's taken that all-important lump against the best lightweight in the world.