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FIGHTER SPOTLIGHT: UFC lightweight number one contender Gray Maynard
Dec 29, 2010 - 12:30:54 PM FIGHTER SPOTLIGHT: UFC lightweight number one contender Gray Maynard

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By: Dan Wyatt, MMATorch Contributor

Name: Gray "The Bully" Maynard

Promotion: UFC

Division: 155

Height: 5'8"

Reach: 70"

Record: 10-0 1 NC

Specializes: Wrestling

Career Summary: Gray Maynard is the self-described most accomplished wrestler in the 155 pound weight class, and he's probably right. Maynard has outwrestled any opponent put in front of him, including Kenny Florian, Nate Diaz, Jim Miller, and current champ Frankie Edgar.

After a dominant career wrestling for Michigan State, Maynard had hopes to wrestle in the Olympics, but unfortunately he wasn't able to make the American team. He had plans on retiring before he was contacted by B.J. Penn to come and be a sparring partner for him. After gaining exposure to the sport he decided to try his hand at it, and won his first two fights before gaining a spot on The Ultimate Fighter season five. He was the first pick of his former training partner, B.J. Penn, and quickly established himself as a great competitor. He lost in the semifinals to Nate Diaz, but performed well enough to get a spot on the finale.

Maynard took on Rob Emerson in the finale. He badly injured his ribs in the first round, and to many people's surprise Emerson came out to fight the in the second. Maynard continued to keep the pressure on and pushed Emerson against the cage. He then lifted him up and slammed him to the ground. As he hit the ground, his head slammed into the mat and he knocked himself out; at the same time, Emerson tapped out due to his rib injury. Since Emerson tapped out and Maynard was out cold, the referee was forced to call it a no contest in one of the strangest endings to a fight in MMA history.

After an interesting UFC debut, Maynard looked to rebound with a convincing win over UFC newcomer Joe Veres. It took only nine seconds to prove himself, as he knocked out his opponent with one punch in one of the fastest knockouts in UFC history.

Maynard then beat Dennis Siver before taking on Frankie Edgar. Edgar at this point was still a rising talent and wasn't yet known as an elite fighter. Maynard was able to take him down and control the fight, winning by unanimous decision.

Maynard continued to win in impressive fashion, including beating the man who beat him on The Ultimate Fighter, Nate Diaz. After his old foe Frankie Edgar became the new Lightweight Champion, the question immediately asked was "how long before Maynard gets his shot?" The answer was "not long." Maynard was put into a number one contender fight with perennial contender Kenny Florian. Many people had Florian on his way to a third title shot, but Maynard squashed that, taking down the Jiu Jitsu ace and making him fight off his back all three rounds on his way to a unanimous decision win.

He is now set to fight Frankie Edgar again, this time for the UFC Lightweight Championship. Maynard is the only man to ever beat Edgar, and will look to utilize his wrestling and put the fight where he is most comfortable, on the mat.

Strengths: Maynard is an amazing wrestler, he has the ability to take anybody down in the lightweight division and can create problems no matter the skill set of his opponent. He has shown that not only can he take his opponent down, but he can keep them on their back with excellent top control while also defending submissions.

Weaknesses: While he owns one of the quickest knockouts in UFC history, he has shown an inability to finish fights. Of his ten wins, eight have been by decision, the other two coming by knockout. Finishing fights is more than just for exciting fights, it secures a win. A good example is Chael Sonnen when he fought Anderson Silva. Sonnen was content to outwrestle his opponent and dominated Silva for four and a half rounds, but in the fifth Silva was able to lock in the fight ending triangle choke and win the fight. That showed that even though you can dominate an opponent for almost the entire fight you can still lose if you give the opponent more time to come back.

Where he stands in the division: Maynard has secured himself as the second ranked lightweight in the UFC, behind only Frankie Edgar.

What the future holds: If Maynard is able to capture the title, he will then go on to unify the UFC and WEC belts in a match with Anthony Pettis. However, if he loses he could be matched up with the up and coming Evan Dunham as he looks to take on a jump in talent, or perhaps previous opponent Jim Miller who is also tearing through opponents in the UFC.

How close he is to a title shot: Maynard has finally achieved a title shot after proving himself time and time again. He will take on a man he has already beaten in Frankie Edgar and look to finally put the belt around his waist.

On deck next: I'll be taking a look at current champion Frankie Edgar as he tries to defend his belt against the only man to beat him, Gray Maynard.

Dan Wyatt is a communications major in college looking at a career in sports radio and sports writing. Outside of sports you can find him doing stand up comedy or acting in the upcoming independent film, Company of the Damned.