• UFC 136

Maynard 'amazed' Edgar clung on for January draw

ESPN staff
October 7, 2011
UFC 136 pre-fight press conference

Gray Maynard may have a psychological hurdle to overcome on Saturday night after he admitted he was "amazed" Frankie Edgar came back from the dead in their last fight.

Maynard and Edgar square off for a third time in their careers at UFC 136 this weekend, with Maynard currently leading 1-0 after the second bout was called a draw. Victory for the Bully would earn him the lightweight belt.

Edgar showed remarkable staying power in that January draw, recovering from a first-round beating when he appeared to be out of the fight on three occasions. For Maynard, he could not have been closer to achieving his dream, and he confessed Edgar's resilience was staggering.

"He's a tough kid, he came back off that [beating]... even I was amazed," said the Xtreme Couture fighter.

"I feel good, I feel prepared. I'm not like, 'I don't know if I did this right or if I did that right'. It's all done."

For Edgar, Saturday night is about erasing the naysayers who claim Maynard has his number. The champion is yet to walk with the aura of a man who owns his division, but victory this weekend could change that.

"I knew Gray was a tough fighter. He's got a lot of abilities, a lot of skills, and he definitely came with the heat," said Edgar. "He really put the pressure on me in that first round.

"I don't think he has my number, the last fight showed that. If he'd won last time, I'd say he had my number, but I've just got to win and that will put it to rest."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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