Main Card:
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard ruled a draw
Brian Stann def. Chris Leben via 1st round TKO
Thiago Silva def. Brandon Vera via unanimous decision
Dong Hyun Kim def. Nate Diaz via unanimous decision
Clay Guida def. Takanori Gomi via 2nd round submission (guillotine choke)
Undercard:
Jeremy Stephens def. Marcus Davis via 3rd round KO
Dustin Poirier def. Josh Grispi via unanimous decision
Brad Tavares def. Phil Baroni via 1st round TKO
Diego Nunes def. Mike Brown via split decision
Daniel Roberts def. Greg Soto via 1st round submission (kimura)
Jacob Volkmann def. Antonio McKee via split decision
Sometimes, the right call is the hardest one to make. This show was built with a solid undercard with what were expect to be exciting, action packed fights, because the main event was expected to be lack luster...haha. To the surprise of many, many people, Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard was the most exciting fight of the night, and would have been a very solid candidate for fight of the year if this were 2010. There was drama in the cage tonight.
The first round of the main event saw Frankie Edgar hurt BADLY, dropped multiple times and bleeding, but he defended as best he could and escaped. The round was 10-8 Maynard. Then, Frankie came out in the second, third, and fourth rounds, using his speed, kickboxing, and wrestling to outpoint Maynard. Not only did he outpoint Maynard during those rounds, he cut up both of Maynard's eyes.
Although Edgar never hurt Maynard nearly as bad as he himself was in the first round, he showed the heart of a champion, and showed that his improved game had in fact become enough to handle Maynard's wrestling. Then the fifth and final round came. Both men's corner's had expressed urgency, letting their fighter know that the fight hang in the balance with this final five minutes. The men matched each other blow for blow, neither able to secure a takedown. When the bell rang, both men raised their arms in victory...but the decision was not certain.
Although the decision is hard to swallow, we saw this instant classic deemed a draw by the judges. I myself, had the fight scored 47-47...but thought that if a judge at cageside had to make a choice, he'd pick a winner for the final round, but alas...one judge scored the fight for Maynard, one scored the fight for Edgar, and the final judge saw it as a draw. Drama in the cage ladies and gentlemen.
Dana White says that Maynard will NOT be granted an immediate rematch, in favor of Anthony Pettis unifying the WEC title with the UFC title...Mr. White, I implore you to let Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard have their rematch ASAP. This was an amazing fight, and these men have earned it. I understand that having an extra title floating around is problematic, but this fight is amazing to me...this saga started with a lackluster, quite boring win by Maynard, and now is remembered as an epic battle between two of the best lightweights on the planet. Pettis is hot right now, but neither man lost tonight...these guys deserve their chance to finish this.
Update:
Dave Meltzer is confirming that Edgar/Maynard III is on. Wow, quick turn around on that decision.