Gray Maynard Moving to Featherweight

Former UFC Lightweight title challenger, Gray Maynard has had a rough few years following his TKO loss to former UFC Lightweight Champion and #2 ranked featherweight, Frankie Edgar, in their third clash.  Since that fight he has been unable to produce a win streak in the lightweight division.  He won a split decision win against Clay Guida, but has taken four straight losses since that win.  Previously, Maynard was on an eight fight win streak before he and Edgar fought to a draw before they fought a third time.

Recently, Maynard has stated that he has been walking around smaller than normal, due to more running and cardio in place of weight training.  He now would like to try his hand at the UFC's featherweight division.  Maynard believes he will have no trouble making the weight despite rumors in the past of him having trouble making weight in the past.  Maynard denies the rumors and has stated that he never had issues making weight in the past.

Maynard will be doing what many fighters have done when they have had trouble in their original weight class.  It has worked for a few other fighters in the past.  BJ Penn moved up to Welterweight after a failed attempt at the UFC Lightweight Championship against Jens Pulver.  He would go on to defeat Matt Hughes to win the title.  He would later move back down to his natural weight class and gain the Lightweight title.  Sean Sherk began his UFC career in the welterweight division, but would find championship success in the UFC's Lightweight Division. Clay Guida moved down to Featherweight and done pretty well for himself there.  Maynard's former nemesis, Frankie Edgar moved to featherweight after being unable to recover his UFC title from Ben Henderson.  Edgar is currently on a five fight win streak and it could be debated that he is the next in line at a title shot against Conor McGregor.

Many other fighters have renewed their careers in different weight classes, such as Demetrius Johnson, Denis Siver, Dominick Cruz and Uriah Faber.  A move to 145 lbs, just might be what Maynard needs to get back in the winners' circle.

Holly Holm vs. Cyborg?

In a recent media scrum with UFC Bantamweight Champion, Holly Holm, we as an MMA community have learned that the newly crowned champion is willing to take on one of Ronda Rousey's arch-rival Chris Cyborg.  The two are cast mates in the film "Fight Valley", but it is now possible that the two could be opponents in the cage.

Former UFC Champion, Ronda Rousey has stated many times that she would be willing to fight Cyborg as long as she was willing to drop down to 135lbs for their fight.  Cyborg, who is the Invicta 145lb champion, has stated that she doesn't believe that she could medically make 135lbs.  Now with that Ronda Rousey is no longer the champion, we will probably never see the two of them fight.  The fight has always been presented as a "super fight" that would be a crowd pleaser.  As an MMA fan, I can honestly say that I was never truly interested in seeing Cyborg take on Rousey.  In my opinion, I felt that it would be a one-sided win for Cyborg.  I don't like seeing one-sided fights, so the idea never really appealed to me.

On the other hand, Holly Holm has stated that she isn't opposed to the idea of meeting Cyborg in a super fight and would be okay facing the Invicta champ in a higher weight class.  For me this is music to my ears.  Both women are superior strikers to most of the other women in similar weight classes and I think the fight would be more exciting.  I believe that Holly Holm's high level of striking would give Cyborg more of a challenge than Ronda Rousey's mediocre striking abilities.  I would watch this fight if it were to happen whether it was a $100 PPV or just a small fight in front of 100 people recorded on a crappy cell phone.  I would watch this fight no matter what.  I wouldn't pay to watch Cyborg dismantle Rousey on the feet.  This is truly a fight that the fans would deserve, despite the fact that Holm and Cyborg aren't bigger draws with the casual mainstream fight fans, but the die hard, long-time MMA fans would explode with excitement at the news of such a fight.  I really hope that we can witness this fight.  Below is the video of the media scrum, provided by Marc Raimondi of MMAfighting.com:

Which fight would you rather see?--Tough Spar MMA

Rousey vs. Cyborg

Holly Holm vs. Cyborg

Poll Maker

Who would win in a super fight between Cris Cyborg and Holly Holm?--Tough Spar MMA

Cris Cyborg

Holly Holm

Poll Maker

UFC 195 Preview

The UFC has released two fights for us via YouTube to get us hyped for the upcoming UFC 195 showdown in Las Vegas.  The main event features a showdown between two fan favorite fighters.  Carlos Condit challenges Robbie Lawler for his UFC Welterweight Championship on January 2, 2016.

The challenger, Carlos Condit, is not a stranger to championship gold, as he is a former Interim UFC Welterweight Champion and former WEC Welterweight Champion.  Condit defended his WEC title in three battles before jumping over to the UFC to face greater competition.  He would eventually work his way to an interim title shot and eventual clash with then champion, Georges St. Pierre.

Robbie Lawler is a UFC veteran that most early fans of the sport remember for his wild, yet effective striking and knockout power from the early years of the UFC.  Lawler would eventually part ways with the UFC in 2004.  He would go on to fight for Elite XC as well as Strikeforce (at 185lbs) before returning to the UFC in 2013.  Lawler got a chance to fight for the vacant UFC Welterweight title in 2014 against Johnny Hendricks after Georges St. Pierre stepped away from competition.  Lawler would lose the bout to Hendricks, but eventually get a rematch with Hendricks and earn the victory the second time around.

Both men have evolved tremendously over the years, but one could argue that Lawler has had the greatest evolution in MMA that we have ever seen.  Both men are warriors and don't back down from a fight.  Both men a well rounded and possess the ability to finish a fight.  MMA fans, we are in for a treat!  Not to mention - Andre Arlovski vs. Stipe Miocic.  Enjoy the fights!

Here is the Countdown video for the Main Event:

Here is the Countdown video for the Co-main event:

Who wins at UFC 195?--Tough Spar MMA

Robbie Lawler - Decision

Robbie Lawler - KO

Robbie Lawler - Submission

Carlos Condit - Decision

Carlos Condit - KO

Carlos Condit - Submission

Poll Maker

Silva vs.Bisping On UFC Fight Pass

UFC President Dana White has announced that former UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson "the Spider "Silva, will be making his UFC return against Michael "the Count" Bisping in London.  The fight will take place on February 27 and air exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.  This fight will be the first fight for Silva since his five round clash with Nick Diaz at UFC 183 in January.  This should be an excited fight that is years in the making.

Who wins in the Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping bout?

Anderson Silva

Michael Bisping

Poll Maker

Is the Bisping/Silva fight a big enough draw to get you to subscribe to UFC Fight Pass?

Yes

No

I already have Fight Pass and will be watching it.

I have Fight Pass already, but will not be watching it.

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