Gray Maynard

TRAINING: Sparring / Some type of conditioning

When and why did you start training for fighting? I really started training for MMA fighting when I joined Randy Couture’s training camp in January 2006. Randy and I had a mutual friend who got my foot in the door to train with them. From the first practice I knew that this was the camp that would help me reach my goals in MMA. Ever since then I have had the best coaches and team that I could have ever asked for.

What ranks and titles have you held? Wrestling – 2x State Champion, High School National Champion, 3x Div. 1 NCAA All American

Do you have any heroes? Randy Couture, Tom Brands, and Randy Aleman.  They all have the work ethic and attitude towards all aspects of life that has helped given direction and focus on the goals I have set for myself.

What is your favorite technique? I don’t really have one technique.  I just try to outwork my opponents day in and day out, and then come to the fight confident that I should win because of my work ethic.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? If I want to be the best in the world, the UFC is where I need to prove it.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Michigan State University

What was your job before you started fighting? I did Real Estate for Randy Aleman until he knew I wanted to do MMA.  He then told me I needed to focus on training and becoming the best – he’s been supportive of me since I was a kid.

On his former profession as a realtor: “I did that for awhile. I was a realtor and we did more land acquisition stuff. And probably after my career is over, that’s always a way to try to make cash. I was pulling in some alright cash and a lot of people asked, ‘Why are you giving this up to fight?’ They didn’t understand that either you got competition in your blood or you don’t. I don’t want to be on a bar stool down the road saying, ‘I could have done this, I could have been that.’ So I said, (expletive), I’ll try it out.”

Regarding his experience on The Ultimate Fighter: “To me it was like jail. You can’t get away; that’s the worst part about it. You can’t take a break. You can’t have telephone calls … it’s an equation for drama, and that’s what a TV show is about.

I didn’t know what I was signing up for, but it was a foot in the door to the UFC and that’s all I cared about. I wasn’t going on there to say, ‘Look at me I’m on a show!’ or to do crazy stuff. It was a chance to get into the UFC and where I’m at. I thought it was weird how people (other fighters) acted when a TV camera came around. They would act normal and when the TV camera comes around they start acting like a goofball. People love that and want to hear you talk s— and do all this crazy stuff, but that only lasts for so long and when it’s done, they want to make fun of you. All of these reality TV stars are going to be absolute jokes in a couple years. What’s that dude’s name? … Vanilla Ice. He did some cool stuff and now he’s a joke to everybody. If you want to act like an idiot, people are going to enjoy it at the time and say “Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that dude is so crazy!” And then as time passes, you’re going to be known as a joke. You’re going to be a laughingstock. For me, that’s not what my career is about. I want to be known for being a champ.”

On allegations that he and Frankie Edgar lack the superstar star charisma that fans crave and gravitate toward: “People don’t really know us. What are you trying to have? Watch a fight. Why don’t you like fights? Are you watching this sport for personalities, or are you watching it to watch fights? I’m here to fight. As a personality, me and him haven’t had a chance to get out there yet. The media is so powerful and they can make you look however they want. If you’re on TV enough people will jump on board.”

Serious fighter, serious traveler: I always travel with my Dr. Dre head phones – those are good because it cancels out all noise. I take an ‘IMask’ and a neck pillow. You could carry a gamer but it gets to be a lot of stuff, so a laptop is always good. Old boxing videos, I like to watch (Miguel) Cotto and a lot of other guys box. I might bring a book to read a little bit; it puts me out (to sleep).

An avid studier of the sweet science: I like Marco Antonio Barrera a lot, (the late, great) Salvador Sanchez, Sugar Ray Leonard, Diego Corrales, he was always entertaining to watch. Jose Luis Castillo-Diego Corrales will get you hyped up, so if I want to get pumped up I’ll watch them fight. But then you’ve got slower scraps where the technique is just unbelievable.

Boxing styles that have influenced him: Body shots I learned watching (Antonio) Margarito. I love Miguel Cotto, he’s always fun to watch. I love Ricky Hatton and the upjab that he used. Floyd Mayweather (Jr.) is just unbelievable with his composure and nobody can take him off his game. He has it all. There are so many guys you can learn from and add to your game. (A side note: Maynard admits to spending more time studying boxing videos than MMA fights).

Who owns the best wrestling

Result	Fighters	Event	Str	TD	Sub	Pass	Method	Replay
	Frankie Edgar	UFC® 136: EDGAR vs. MAYNARD III Oct 8, 2011	61	0	0	0	R4KO/TKO	Ways To Watch
	Gray Maynard		42	0	0	0
Draw	Frankie Edgar	UFC® 125: RESOLUTION Jan 1, 2011	95	3	2	0	R5Decision – Split	Ways To Watch
	Gray Maynard		71	3	1	1
Win	Kenny Florian	UFC® 118: EDGAR vs PENN 2 Aug 28, 2010	14	0	0	0	R3Decision – Unanimous	Watch Ways To Watch UFC® Vault™ menu
	Gray Maynard		15	5	0	1
Win	Gray Maynard	UFC® Fight Night™: MAYNARD vs DIAZ Jan 11, 2010	41	0	0	0	R3Decision – Split	Ways To Watch
	Nate Diaz		70	0	0	0
Win	Gray Maynard	UFC® Fight Night™: DIAZ vs GUILLARD Sep 16, 2009	23	3

Fighter Gallery

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