UFC Fight Night 20: Maynard Wins, But He Damn Sure Ain’t Ready For BJ Penn
Published by Jim Genia on January 12th, 2010 in Current Events

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Undefeated. Collegiate wrestler. Protégé of Randy Couture. Possessor of ever-improving boxing. Gray Maynard is all of these things, and when he squared off against Ultimate Fighter Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20 in Fairfax, Virginia, these traits enabled him to edge out a split decision victory over an opponent who beat him via submission during the taping of TUF 5 (TUF bouts count only as exhibitions). Yes, Maynard was victorious, proving once more that he’s a seriously tough up-and-comer in the UFC’s talent-rich lightweight division.

Also, he damn sure ain’t ready to face champ BJ Penn.

Right now, the burning question on everyone’s minds is who should get a crack at Penn’s belt next. That’s right, Penn, the man who crushed Sean Sherk, destroyed Joe Stevenson, smoked Kenny Florian, and toyed with Diego Sanchez until he grew bored and ended it with a single kick. Right now, the only two names discussed are Frankie Edgar and Maynard. Are they worthy? Can they possibly dethrone the Hawaiian mixed martial arts king? Does either fighter truly pose a threat? By virtue of their ass-kicking status in the division, Edgar and Maynard are as worthy as we can hope for, and of course anything can happen in an MMA bout, up to and including Edgar out-boxing the champ and landing a surprising yet decisive left hand. But as to whether or not they truly pose a threat… after his performance against Diaz, Maynard gets the label of “not so much”.

Superior in wrestling and clearly the heavier puncher, Maynard came out and met the lanky Diaz head-on, throwing hard and with authority and avoiding going to the ground. Sadly, whatever stick-and-move ideas he had, they faded quickly when Diaz began leaning away, pawing at his face and spewing trash-talk. It was soon a give-and-take of wild fists, kicks and lots and lots of moving forward and moving back. Sure, Maynard came away with the decision when all was said and done, but it was far from the kind of performance we’d expect from someone soon to face the champ – especially when that champ is Penn. Maybe Maynard will be ready after a couple more wins, but he’s not ready now. Edgar, you’re up next!

UFC Fight Night 20 saw three TUF winners take to the cage, and Diaz wasn’t the only one of them to taste defeat. Efrain Escudero, the emerging star from TUF 8, came out strong against Evan Dunham, knocking him down and ground-and-pounding him in the opening round with the kind of fury that ends fights and makes fans. But Dunham proved to be one heck of a tough cat, and in Rounds 2 and 3 paid Escudero back in kind. The end came two minutes into the final frame, when, after a scramble, Dunham seized Escudero’s arm and extended it for the tap out.

Amir Sadollah, the winner of TUF 7, faired much better when he took on IFL veteran Brad Blackburn. Rocking his foe in the first and third and keeping up the pressure throughout, Sadollah’s Muay Thai had Blackburn on and off Queer Street again and again, and the Virginia-native’s positional dominance whenever it went to the ground only sealed the deal. He took the unanimous decision when time expired.

TUF 8 veteran Tom Lawlor came exceedingly close to finishing opponent Aaron Simpson in the first round after he tagged Simpson repeatedly in the dome, and though he slowed considerably in Round 2 and by Round 3 was exhausted, he seemed to have done enough to garner the decision. The judges inexplicably disagreed (sorry, but Simpson got his ass kicked), and awarded Arizona wrestler the split decision.