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.
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