Gray Maynard: "I Haven't Done Enough to Deserve a Title Shot"

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 10, 2009 1:18 PM EDT

When it was first announced that Diego Sanchez will get a crack at BJ Penn's lightweight strap, quite a few people complained, saying guys like Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard deserve it more. Gray Maynard talked to CagePotato, and when asked about deserving a title shot, he says he's not quite there yet:

Do you think you’ve done enough to deserve consideration for a title shot?

In my head, no, I haven’t. The key is, you’ve got to have people who are eager to pay to check you out. After the TV show, it was a slow development for me. I had to keep learning in the gym. I could strike a little, but not much. Jiu-jitsu, I was okay. So I had to improve on all that. If I keep doing that, I think people will start to say, ‘Hey, this guy is good. I want to see him again.’ It’s coming, but I’m not there yet.

He also talked about his UFC Fight Night opponent, Roger Huerta:

I’m expecting him to be 100%. I’m prepared for him to be tough. You could talk yourself into thinking that he’s not going to be prepared or motivated, but that’s the wrong attitude to have. I’m prepared for a tough scrap.

When I watch his technique, he comes straight and doesn’t use too many angles. He makes up for all that with heart, though. He really does. He just keeps going, and that’s always a tough fight.

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Comments

While I am not a fan of Maynard, I do respect that he realizes that he is just not ready for a Title shot yet. The guy has acknowledged that he is a pretty plain and bland guy, so he definitely needs to have exciting fights and a string of victories in order to get a Title shot. The fight that really made me not like Maynard is his “fight” with Rich Clementi, and while it seems that he is trying to stand more and improve his game, he needs a lot more work.

by chrisbboy82 on Sep 10, 2009 2:04 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, too many decision wins. Get a nice KO in there, and he’ll be in contention.

by MMAInFeRioRiTy on Sep 10, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

Well he did KO himself once.

Arguing on the internet is like being in the special olympics, even when you win you are still retarded.

by dnevil001 on Sep 10, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

He did also hold the record for the 2nd quickest KO in UFC history at 9 seconds.

by MMAussie on Sep 10, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

2-3 more wins and he’ll get his shot. I think he needs to fight a “name” guy though, someone with a lot of recognition.

The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino

by Patrick Tenney on Sep 10, 2009 2:45 PM EDT reply actions

Huerta.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 10, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

A name as far as top competition, I honestly don’t buy Huerta as one of the big guys in LW because he’s just inactive so damn much.

by Patrick Tenney on Sep 10, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

he isn't one of the top guys,

but he is the ‘Name’ guy with lots of recognition you’ve wanted…

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 10, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

True, I would prefer someone like Sherk, Stevenson, Florian, etc though.

Huerta will put on an entertaining fight at least, how the fight goes will dictate who Maynard gets next for sure.

by Patrick Tenney on Sep 10, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Or Frankie Edgar

oh…wait

by Captain7 on Sep 10, 2009 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I would love to see him fight Florian, he would dominate him with his wrestling.

by xbuckeyex05 on Sep 10, 2009 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Not even

He beats Huerta, then IMO he’s right in line for a #1 contender match. Maybe against the winner of the Guida/ Florian scrap, or maybe even against the Sherk/ Tibau winner.

Fact is, WW is pretty much tied up, so unless they give BJ a fight @ WW (given he defends the belt against Diego), Maynard (especially if/ when he beats Huerta) is the best candidate for a title shot.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Sep 10, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I could see them doing BJ/Hughes 3 in Hawaii at 170 while the division generates a better contender. it all depends what happens here. If Huerta finishes Maynard, all this talk of him leaving will go away and they’ll sign him to a big deal and a title shot.

by Michael Rome on Sep 10, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah...

but I just don’t think Huerta has much of a chance in this fight. Gray is a consummate athlete, who utilizes impeccable gameplanning and execution, along with insane strength & athleticism. Not to say that Roger isn’t a good athlete, but I just tend to think that he’s better at pretty much every facet of the game, aside from Jiu Jitsu (which probably cancels out IMO).

Huerta’s striking (while powerful) isn’t the most effective tool in the world, and I generally tend to think that Maynard’s hands are better, as is his wrestling, which I think will play the deciding factor in this fight. Guida was able to take Roger down almost at will, and i’d say that Gray’s wrestling is 10x better than Clay’s.

The only X- factors I see in this fight are Huerta’s transitions (which are quite good) and his heart, but Gray isn’t exactly spineless. And I know this may sound biased because I trained at XTC, but this really is the most objective, rational view I can formulate

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Sep 10, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions

sherk's injured.

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 10, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yah

forgot about that shit.

Honestly tho, Maynards probably next in line

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Sep 11, 2009 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

if he wins convincingly against Huerta..

If he keeps getting decisions, he might end up like Okami..

weoweoweo .deviantart .com -- @antontabuena

by Anton Tabuena on Sep 11, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Dude

don’t even get me started on Yushin. If someone who I actually know like Maynard gets the Okami treatment… then I will just stop buying any PPV’s that the UFC ever has, and spite them by watching all the fights online.

Obviously not a huge blow to Zuffa, but I certainly can’t stand by while they give guys like Thales Leites (with virtually no legit wins over top comp) a title shot over Okami, or if they pass up Maynard because he wins by decision. I don’t care what anyone says, a decision victory is valid and should be weighted just as heavily as any other kind of win.

This isn’t the WWE, and the outcome/ method of victory isn’t predetermined, and that’s what makes MMA interesting IMO. If anyone has a problem w/ that, then I recommend a different sport

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Sep 11, 2009 3:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Been meaning to ask,, Have you ever trained at Xtreme Couture?

by bigweeze on Sep 11, 2009 9:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Yah

for like 3 months this summer. And i’d go for 3 hours at a time, generally 2-3 times a week, so I’d see guys like Gray, Tyson, Kampmann, etc etc all training/ sparring/ lifting/ whatev.

Part of me thinks that’s why I paid out the ass to go there…

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Sep 11, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Ohio wrestler from St. Ed’s! And for anyone who knows that program, that says it all right there.

by MMAWrestling on Sep 11, 2009 12:40 AM EDT reply actions

i would disagree with maynard

i think he has fitched himself into a title contention fight. even if he takes huerta 3 rounds, he will do it in a dominating fashion. he has pretty much dominated his opponents, especially his last fight. i think he is looking for more of a payday to hype up a big coming out title fight for him. i think in his head he knows he is good, but he wants more fans and more recognition, and i dont blame him. get paid homey!

ufc fan boy all the way

by georgehouse on Sep 11, 2009 2:32 AM EDT reply actions