Frankie Edgar caught the mixed martial arts world's attention with his stunning win over B.J. Penn last April to claim the UFC lightweight title. Edgar then earned a bit more respect with another win over Penn in the rematch.
Yet Edgar is still an underdog in his title defense against unbeaten Gray Maynard at UFC 125 on Saturday night in Las Vegas. That's the life of an unlikely champion, and Edgar can't complain.
"I'm seeing respect more and more, but that's not what it's about," Edgar said. "If I keep winning fights, the respect will come eventually. ... B.J. has been around for such a long time. He's been the dominant force at lightweight, so it's the process it takes for guys to welcome somebody new."
The undersized, supercharged Edgar (13-1) realizes he still doesn't resemble a UFC champion. The 5-foot-6 New Jersey wrestler is smaller than almost every big name in his weight class, yet he has beaten every opponent with speed and submissions instead of dramatic striking skills.
Every opponent except Maynard (11-0), the Las Vegas-based fighter who beat him decisively in their first meeting in April 2008.
"I'm just approaching it as my next fight," Edgar said. "It's my next title defense. The fact that he beat me and I get a chance to maybe get that one back, it does make it a little bit better."
Edgar will be out to avenge his only MMA loss at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, while the 31-year-old Maynard will attempt to claim his first world title. Both fighters are eager to head into 2011 atop a division that's a whole lot tougher now with the WEC's lightweight fighters joining the UFC ranks.
The UFC's traditional New Year's Day card in its hometown lost some of its bite with two cancellations. A few weeks after heavyweight Shane Carwin's fight with Roy Nelson was scrapped due to Carwin's back surgery, WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo was forced to drop out of his first UFC fight with a neck injury.
UFC 125's top remaining non-title bout is an intriguing middleweight meeting between former Navy linebacker and Marine Capt. Brian Stann and antihero Chris Leben, who famously won two fights in 15 days last summer.
Both Maynard and Edgar have minimized the importance of their first meeting in Colorado. Despite breaking his hand late in the first round, Maynard won all three rounds on each judge's scorecard in an unanimous decision, repeatedly taking down his smaller opponent
Edgar rebounded to win his next three fights before getting a title shot against Penn in Abu Dhabi. Some felt Maynard was unfairly passed over for the shot at Penn, but not Maynard.
"Not at all. This is the perfect time, and I'm prepared," Maynard said. "It's their choice to choose whoever, and it was fine at the time, and now I have my time to shine."
Maynard, who attended Bonanza and Durango high schools while growing up partly in Las Vegas, got into MMA at Randy Couture's gym after a college wrestling career. The prolific tweeter and gym rat puts little emphasis on the first fight with Edgar, preferring to focus on his own evolving game.
"It was 2 1/2 years ago," said Maynard, still 2 inches taller than Edgar. "Any time you're going up against the top in the world, you evolve and change. I'm prepared for a new fight, and it will be good. I'm pumped for it."
Edgar entered the UFC with little fanfare, failing to land a spot on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show before fighting his way up the league's cards. The title belt has changed the life of the Rutgers assistant wrestling coach, who has become a crowd favorite for his humble roots and demeanor.
Edgar recently spoke to the New York Jets about perseverance and commitment before their game against Houston, with quarterback Mark Sanchez citing Edgar's words as inspiration.
"I grew up in my town," Edgar said. "I've lived here forever, but I definitely get recognized more and more. I feel like every fight I'm coming home and people are recognizing me more."
That celebrity could change if Maynard imposes his physical will again. Maynard spent 12 weeks in training camp building the stamina for his first five-round MMA fight, but neither fighter strays more than a few pounds from the lightweight limit in his everyday life, so conditioning and weight-cutting are unlikely to be issues.
"I've just grown as a fighter," Edgar said. "Mentally, physically, I possess different skills. I boxed and got better. My jiujitsu got better. I just have much more experience now. ... I think the pressure gets more and more as I go on. But it's all about dealing with it and making sure it doesn't affect you, and so far it hasn't."
