Why hasn't Frank Edgar gotten a title shot?

Maynard is better in every area than Sherk is. We saw what Sherk did to Florian... so exactly what makes you think that Maynard "definitely" isn't beating Florian?:huh

Sherk has actually ducked Maynard for quite a while now. The fight was offered to Sean numerous times and he always declines. No wonder why... Maynard boxes better, hits harder, and is a better wrestler.

I think that Maynard takes Florian down and ground and pounds him for 3 rounds. I don't think that Kenny would pose a serious threat to Maynard on the ground. He certainly is never going to get Gray's back in order to secure a rear naked choke which is what just about all of his submission wins have come by.

Sanchez could be a tougher fight just because I think that he is craftier off of his back... but I think that Diego has fell in love with his striking which isn't that great, and I see Maynard hurting him on their feet and scoring tactical takedowns on him as well. Once again the trouble with this fight is that Gray will be able to decide where it goes. Same with the Florian fight. Gray has the ability to decide to keep it standing, or put it on the ground.

 

Prodigy bj is going to destroy him the same way he destroyed the rest of competion in 155

 

Guys if you think this 2010 verison of Kenny Florian is like the 2006 one that faced Sean Sherk with like 7 career fights then you are nuts.

 

You overrate Maynard, he very likely will get hurt standing with Florian and then finished. Florian is no slouch on the ground either, Maynard will have to look out for elbows and subs, and what happens if Maynard gets hurt and then Kenny gets on top of him? Kenny has improved dramatically since Sherk, I think this is very clear. :deal

 

Thank you :good

 

Im pretty sure Widdow knew Maynard in HS or College or something as Wrestlers so hes biased, VERY BIASED. Gray Maynard's best attribute is his footwork and IMO Florian has better footwork. As far as offense all Maynard really throws are counter right hands. Florian is to good with his kicks, knees, elbows and hands to lose to such a one dimensional fighter in regards to Maynard's standup. Maynard does have a wrestling advantage over Florian but he isnt going to just grind out a decision over Florian agian this ISNT 2006. Like you mentioned Beware he has to worry about elbows, sweep, submissions. Florian is soooo much more versatile I couldnt see Maynard beating him in a decision and he doesnt have the power or the submission ability to stop Florian. I dont get why Kenny is still so underatted at this point.

 

I agree with everything you just posted, also noting the gap in composure and experience between the two fighters. Maynard is still at a stage, might always will be, where he lets Nate Diaz "take him out of his game" by trash talking, or at least that was his excuse for his lack of game plan other than to stand and land a big "knockout punch". He's gonna beat Kenny by just taking him down and grinding him out, yet he never once went for a takedown on Nate??? Why not? Maybe he is afraid to get subbed, that is what I believe and if he fights Kenny or BJ, these guys aren't scary on the ground too?? Also Maynard doesn't want to fight BJ because he "isn't ready", Couture concurs but he is 100% ready for Kenny Florian who has swiftly become the 2nd most dangerous fighter in the division and has all of BJ's strength's but just not as great at any of them.

 

Dramatically? I really don't think so. He has gotten better yes, but nothing really as dramatic as they always make it sound. They say the same thing every time that Tito Ortiz fights too. Nothing that would make me believe that he goes from being dominated by someone like Sherk to (definitely, without a doubt) beating someone who is better in every category than Sherk. Could Kenflo win that fight? Of course he could, he is a really good fighter... but to say that he beats him without a doubt is a bit silly.

We can go with the "what ifs" all day long. However, Maynard has never been hurt on his feet... and realistically he takes Florian down at will and controls him. Other than cuts... Florian isn't exactly known for rocking and hurting opponents on their feet too badly, other than a couple of occasions against fighters who like to block strikes with their face all night long. He does exhibit some nice effective striking though. Nothing too amazing to be honest. Like I said... the problem with that is that Maynard doesn't have to stand and fight him anyways. I haven't seen anything from Florian off of his back to make me believe that it would be dangerous for Gray to have him there either. So what if he gets clipped with a few elbows from the bottom... that isn't exactly fight turning stuff. It isn't like he wouldn't have to worry about what was coming down on him from Maynard either.

You say that I overrated Maynard... I think that you are clearly underestimating him. I think that I put him exactly where he stands by my posts. I like Kenflo, and I think that he's a great guy and a very, very good fighter.

 

You're right THEY do say that, but can't you see an improvement? You're right about Ortiz though

 

I have already stated that he has gotten better. However, I just don't think that it's as dramatic as people make it out to be. Kenflo is definitely a bad ass, but I think that his weakness will always be against someone who can take him down and control him. I don't think that you really understand exactly how good of a wrestler Maynard is. He doesn't display it in every fight because he caters his attack towards his opponents weakness just as every Couture fighter does. However, against Kenflo I can assure you that he wouldn't just swing for the fences like he did against Diaz.

 

So he didn't take Diaz down because he wanted to keep it standing? Not because he lost composure and threw his gameplan out the window? Why was he and Couture so upset afterwards that he fought the way he did then? You don't think it's at all possible because Maynard was worried about going to the ground with him again? If he was, then why would he feel any more comfortable going to the ground with Florian?

And Maynard was winning the fight, I totally agree with you, but it was NOT so decisive where he should have just been complacent to ride out a victory on his feet. Why not try and GnP a little to really hurt Diaz and make an impression on the judges? Either he is just dumb and naive and didn't think he had to, OR he never felt comfortable enough to set up a takedown (Not the answer, I saw the fight) OR he was worried about getting caught in a sub.

I pick the 3rd choice and that tells me something about maynard. It also tells me something about maynard that he has wins over Edgar, Diaz and Huerta and he STILL doesn't want to fight BJ. I think he may be a little unsure of himself and that will show in a fight with a guy like Florian, don't pretend it wont. :deal

 

You are missing the point. I completely believe that Maynard didn't want to take Diaz down because he didn't want to give him a chance to pull off something crazy. The obvious point here is that Maynard DID NOT HAVE TO TAKE DIAZ DOWN. Maynard was clearly winning the fight, and I am very surprised that it was even a split decision. Especially after rocking Nate a few times I think that Maynard felt he could get him out of there. Obviously if Maynard is fighting Florian, he isn't going to have the same gameplan. If Florian proves to be too dangerous on his feet than Maynard can and will take him down to the mat. First of all... I think that Diaz is more dangerous off of his back than Florian. Second... it is a matter of risk. Maynard didn't have to take the risk against Diaz... he may have to take that risk against Florian.

Read above.

It shows something pretty simple. Maynard trains with Couture. It is relatively common knowledge that Couture trains himself and his fighters to fight their opponents to their weaknesses. Couture wasn't acting upset with Maynard for not taking Diaz down. He was slightly upset with Maynard for showboating in the second round because he said that was Diaz' game, not his.

I think that you are trying to read too far into things. Maynard isn't crazy about fighting Penn because Penn is his friend and BJ sort of took Gray under his wing when Gray was first breaking out in MMA.

You are also forgetting one other key element here. This fight is also a learning experience for Maynard. It isn't like he isn't getting better as well.

 

good points. you're right too, he was winning the stand up battle more then the judges cards showed. Fair enough about him being friends with BJ and all too. I'd actually like to see him fight diego or Kenny now, would be interesting. :good

 

It's not like he lost by a little bit though; he got totally outclassed about as bad as you can without getting finished.