Back To Work with Gray Maynard

Gray tells Rival Fights he wants Edgar
By Marc Sierra
www.rivalfights.com

Gray Maynard (4-0-1) scored a decisive decision over Dennis Siver last Wednesday at UFC® Fight Night ™ 12 in a tough and competitive lightweight division (155lbs). I caught up with Gray as he was leaving training on a Saturday night during what is normally an off day for an individual who fought three days prior. Maynard was helping a teammate prepare for his upcoming fight displaying that work ethic that has earned Maynard his “Bully” nickname. Since his fight wasn’t televised that night, I asked Gray to catch us up on how the fight went down. I also learned Gray’s intentions for the future, fighting with the flu, and the less glamorous side of fight night.
Marc Sierra (Rival Fights): So, first of all, congratulations. It looked like it was a tough win. What was the fight like? A lot of us weren’t able to see it live, but we wanted to see if you could give us a description of how the fight went. I know I saw a couple of post fight interviews where you said he was a tough kid. Can you elaborate a little bit on that and (explain) what kind of problems he posed for you?
Gray Maynard: He’s actually a guy that, I think he’s about 11-4, and came from Germany. I guess he’s been around a lot. He’s probably had a couple of more (fights), of course. He kind of knew what he was doing, of course. He was kind of tough to punch when I was on top. He was good at kind of just, you know…if I would (try) and punch and stuff like that he would either try to dodge it (or block it). He was pretty good. We came out; we swung for a little bit. I dropped him; I don’t know when it was but (I think) it was at the beginning of round one. We kept going (and) I actually got on top, did a little ground and pound; (I) had his back at the end of that round.
(In) round two, we came out (and) traded a little bit. He was kind of throwing some crazy kicks, and I was just trying to be careful. Trying to be careful to not get hit. I was a little slower in rounds two and three. I just actually got over the flu about a day ago. So I was kind of going through that. In round two, he actually took me down. I tried to compose myself for a little bit. I think I sweeped him, there was a scramble about half way through the round, I sweeped him and came out on top. I kind of pounded him out. I dropped a couple of elbows and he got a couple of cuts under his eye.
(In) round three, we were trading and I ended up getting behind him, I took him down. I had mount and stuff. He’s just a tough kid, man.
MSRF: Did you always feel in control of the fight?
GM: Yeah, I did. He was just a tough guy to beat bad, of course. He didn’t really (come forward), he kind of kept away. I know on bottom, he was good kind at tying it up, I couldn’t really get off. I got a couple good elbows (in); I got (in) a couple good punches and stuff like that. It was a pretty good scrap, it was fun.
MSRF: Sounds like it! So what’s next on the agenda for Gray?
GM: Aww, geeze, I don’t know! We’ll see.
MSRF: Have they talked to you about any possible upcoming fights?
GM: Nope, they haven’t yet.
MSRF: Are you looking for a possible rematch with Emerson or is that something that you’ve put past you?
GM: (I’m) not looking (for one)! I mean, there’s a lot of guys, there’s some good guys and I’d rather try and get a guy who kind of has a name.
MSRF: You got anybody in mind?
GM: I know (Frank) Edgar, he’s pretty tough. That would be good. There’s a lot of tough guys, man. It’s just kind of like, whoever it is, that’s ok. That’s what I want, to go against top guys.
MSRF: To be the best, you got to beat the best, right?
GM: Exactly
MSRF: Did you get to stick around and watch the fights? Did you catch any of the rest of them?
GM: Yeah, I actually checked ‘em out on TV upstairs.
MSRF: There were a lot of good fights. That 155lb weight class is going to be a tough one to navigate your way through.
GM: Yeah, it’s gonna be good, man, I’m pumped up about it.
MSRF: Well, like I said, I kind of just wanted to get an update on the fight from you. If you have any sponsors, you wanted to mention we want to give you a chance to do that.
GM: There was Volkswagen, Affliction was my sponsor, Rambo was my sponsor, Cliff King, and Cage Fighter they were also my sponsor
MSRF: Did you get a chance to talk to “Sly”?
GM: No, I didn’t get a chance! I was upstairs waiting to take my, umm…There was a test I had to take. I couldn’t pee (laughs). I was just stuck upstairs waiting to go pee. (Laughs)
MSRF: (Laughing) the less glamorous side of fighting?
GM: Yeah (laughing), the drug test
MSRF: That’s cool, so how soon now after you get through with something like this do you start right back at it? Like getting back in the gym and start back with your training?
GM: I actually was back in the gym yesterday (Jan 25th) helping. I know Tyson’s (Griffen, 10-1) getting ready for his fight coming up February 2nd. So I was back in the gym helping him out. We sparred and stuff like that.
MSRF: Is that something that’s kind of expected of you as a member of the gym; that once your fights done you get back there and help somebody for their next fight or is that something you kind of take on personally, or is that something everybody does.
GM: You know, it’s just kind of up to you. He would do it for me. If he wasn’t going I probably wouldn’t be back in the gym until about a week after, so next Wednesday (Jan 30th), but that’s just the way it goes and we’re a team, so that’s just how it is.
MSRF: That’s one of the things I admire about you, you seem to have a good work ethic and hopefully that’s going to transcend into your record and hopefully, you’ll get that big name shot that you’re looking for.
GM: Yeah, that’d be great!
MSRF: You got a good game, and we’re looking forward to watching you rise.
GM: Hey, I appreciate it, man
No matter whom Gray Maynard fights next one thing is for certain, he will train hard, he will fight hard, and he will do his best. Sometimes that’s all you can do. Get back to work and do it all over again.

Article Source: http://MMAWriters.com

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