It turned out Gray Maynard was trying out last night during his Ultimate Fight Night 20 win over Nate Diaz. Maynard won a close decision but the fight was sloppy at times and "The Bully’s" took a beating. He needed to wow the powers that be to earn a title shot against UFC lightweight champ B.J. Penn.
During his New York media blitz to announce Flash Entertainment/Abu Dhabi’s 10 percent purchase of the UFC, UFC president Dana White explained why he tabbed Frank Edgar as Penn’s next challenger.
"We gotta put people in there who have a better shot at beating B.J. Penn. And Gray Maynard didn’t sell me on that last night," said White.
Maynard used his size and wrestling to dominate Edgar back at UFN 13, but clearly the little guy has moved back ahead of the unbeaten Maynard in the pecking order.
"Frankie Edgar has looked great in his last few fights and he’s been dominating good opponents."
Edgar will meet Penn at UFC 112 Apr. 10 in Abu Dhabi. Maynard and his coaches Randy Couture and Gil Martinez didn’t exactly scream and yell for a title shot last night during the UFN 20 postfight press conference. They even suggested Maynard might need more seasoning (VIDEO).
White and UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta also expanded on the news of the transaction with Abu Dhabi.