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Monday, May 09, 2011
by Brian Knapp (bknapp@sherdog.com)
Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (Pictured; file photo) and unbeaten challenger Gray Maynard have both withdrawn from their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 130 on May 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas with undisclosed injuries, the promotion announced on Monday. With that, a significant blow was dealt to the UFC?s Memorial Day weekend show.
?Frankie Edgar hurt his back and his rib, and Gray Maynard hurt his knee,? UFC President Dana White said during a media conference call on Monday.
The co-headliner, which pairs former light heavyweight champion Quinton ?Rampage? Jackson with ?The Ultimate Fighter? Season 3 alum Matt Hamill, has been promoted to the main event slot. A heavyweight showdown pitting former titleholder Frank Mir against ?The Ultimate Fighter? Season 10 winner Roy Nelson will now serve as the co-main event.
Jackson last appeared at UFC 123 in November, when he took a controversial split decision from Lyoto Machida at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich. One of the sport?s most colorful characters, the 32-year-old Memphis, Tenn., native has delivered 21 of his 31 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Wins over Brazilian icon Wanderlei Silva, former two-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Dan Henderson, UFC hall of famer Chuck Liddell (twice), 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland and two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist Ricardo Arona anchor Jackson?s stellar resume. He holds a 6-2 mark inside the Octagon.
A semifinalist on Season 3 of ?The Ultimate Fighter? reality series, Hamill will carry a five-fight winning streak into the most significant match of his career. The 34-year-old Loveland, Ohio, native has not competed since he outpointed former mentor and one-time light heavyweight king Tito Ortiz at UFC 121 in October. Hamill has been finished only once -- by former middleweight champion Rich Franklin -- in 12 professional appearances. He was a three-time Div. III national wrestling champion at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Edgar and Maynard engaged in an early frontrunner for ?Fight of the Year? on New Year?s Day, when they fought to a draw at UFC 125. Maynard nearly finished it in the first round with a wicked barrage of power punches, both standing and on the ground. However, Edgar survived, regained his wits, drew even on the scorecards and retained his 155-pound crown.
by Brian Knapp (bknapp@sherdog.com)
Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (Pictured; file photo) and unbeaten challenger Gray Maynard have both withdrawn from their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 130 on May 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas with undisclosed injuries, the promotion announced on Monday. With that, a significant blow was dealt to the UFC?s Memorial Day weekend show.
?Frankie Edgar hurt his back and his rib, and Gray Maynard hurt his knee,? UFC President Dana White said during a media conference call on Monday.
The co-headliner, which pairs former light heavyweight champion Quinton ?Rampage? Jackson with ?The Ultimate Fighter? Season 3 alum Matt Hamill, has been promoted to the main event slot. A heavyweight showdown pitting former titleholder Frank Mir against ?The Ultimate Fighter? Season 10 winner Roy Nelson will now serve as the co-main event.
Jackson last appeared at UFC 123 in November, when he took a controversial split decision from Lyoto Machida at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Mich. One of the sport?s most colorful characters, the 32-year-old Memphis, Tenn., native has delivered 21 of his 31 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Wins over Brazilian icon Wanderlei Silva, former two-division Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Dan Henderson, UFC hall of famer Chuck Liddell (twice), 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland and two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist Ricardo Arona anchor Jackson?s stellar resume. He holds a 6-2 mark inside the Octagon.
A semifinalist on Season 3 of ?The Ultimate Fighter? reality series, Hamill will carry a five-fight winning streak into the most significant match of his career. The 34-year-old Loveland, Ohio, native has not competed since he outpointed former mentor and one-time light heavyweight king Tito Ortiz at UFC 121 in October. Hamill has been finished only once -- by former middleweight champion Rich Franklin -- in 12 professional appearances. He was a three-time Div. III national wrestling champion at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Edgar and Maynard engaged in an early frontrunner for ?Fight of the Year? on New Year?s Day, when they fought to a draw at UFC 125. Maynard nearly finished it in the first round with a wicked barrage of power punches, both standing and on the ground. However, Edgar survived, regained his wits, drew even on the scorecards and retained his 155-pound crown.
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