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By: Laramey Leet, MMATorch Contributor
The following are key excerpts from the UFC 118 post-fight press conference for a number of the night's winning fighters, including UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and new #1 contender Gray Maynard.
FRANKIE EDGAR
• "I felt way faster and moved really well. I felt I was able to step in more on my punches more. I was doing most of it on the fly there not too much of a game plan."
• "I really hope that I get some of you guys off my back with this fight. I kept my composure and was able to come out with a solid win. I could feel that I broke his will mid way through the fight, and I just continued to push forward and even tried to move faster and keep on going hard."
• "I was fighting with a huge chip on my shoulder; I have a lot of people that think that I do not belong here. I really wanted to put a stamp on this fight and there not be any questions. Nobody can say anything now. My confidence was beside me the whole time and I knew what I could do against him. I am excited to fight Gray and get a chance to avenge my loss."
JOE LAUZON
• "I had a lot of fans and friends here just for me and the crowd was great. I could hear everybody going crazy after I got the sub and it was awesome."
• "Gabe brought me regular cake instead of ice cream cake at the weigh ins and I was not happy."
• "I stunned him good with an elbow and the rest fell in great. I was surprised at how quick it went but I was glad that it went that way."
GRAY MAYNARD
• "I think Frankie did a great job, he is the champ now, and he did a great job. He has changed since the last time that we have fought."
• "Kenny is really good at moving a lot and backing up, I know that I cannot chase him or he would hurt me. So I was making sure that he chased me and took him off his game."
DEMIAN MAIA
• "I cannot guarantee that I am going to win or lose but I can guarantee that I am going to go out there and give it my all. With Mario having Anderson Silva in his corner it made me want to win even more and so I did."
NATE DIAZ
• "I would really like to go up against one of the top three contenders in either lightweight or welterweight, I would really like to fight for a belt one day."
• "I would like to fight with Gray before he gets a shot at the title." -(Dana White chimed in here saying, "That's not gonna happen!")
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