MMATraining.com Interviews Gray ‘The Bully’ Maynard
Featured article by MMATraining.com's Kage Phan
One of the best technical wrestlers to step foot inside the Octagon, Xtreme Couture’s Gray Maynard will look to keep his impressive perfect record alive when he walks into the cage October 25th at UFC 90 to face Rich Clementi. Clementi is coming off 6 straight wins and Maynard will look to put an end to that and move up the crowded UFC lightweight ladder. We caught up with Maynard at Xtreme Couture to discuss Clementi, his own training at XC and who he feels are the top 3 Pound for Pound fighters in the world today.
How is your training for Rich Clementi coming along and what types of problems does he pose?
Training is going great. We always have top level training camps at Xtreme Couture because of the athletes and coaches who are at the gym. Rich Clementi is a problem for anyone at 155 lbs; his experience and knowledge of the sport make him a dangerous opponent. That challenge always makes these fights intriguing to me, I want to get out of my comfort zone and fight the best guys I can.
Tell us what training at Xtreme Couture has done for your career.
Xtreme Couture is a melting pot of MMA athletes and coaches. What makes Xtreme Couture so different is the eagerness to share all that knowledge along with grueling workouts and a competitive room.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years within the sport?
I see myself competing against the best athletes at my weight. If it includes a belt thats great, but my main focus is to challenge myself with every fight so when Im done with this sport I can honestly believe I took the harder path and fought the best in the world.
How important is wrestling in terms of a transition into MMA?
I think wrestling is a sport that teaches mental toughness most of all. But its also sport that uses every muscle and reflex you have, which makes it easier to learn and transition to other sports because you know how to control your whole body and how it moves and reacts.
If you could give any advice to a young and upcoming fighter what would it be?
Learn the sports individually, don’t be in a rush. Really try to excel at each sport, that is what will build the winning attitude that will take you farther than any technique. Combat sports are 90% mental and 10% technique.
What would be your dream fight? Any era regardless of weight classes.
Right now we have two of the most dominant fighters in the history of the sport, Anderson Silva and Fedor. Those would be a great challenge and an honor to be able to compete against them. I think thats why I look up to Randy Couture the most, he wants to compete against the best.
Top 3 Pound for Pound
Anderson Silva, Fedor, and Randy Couture.
11 Responses to “MMATraining.com Interviews Gray ‘The Bully’ Maynard”
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October 10th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
All the guys who know Randy say he is one of the top Pound for Pound.
I guess if you say Pound for Pound for Randy because he is 220 and can beat guys who are 250 +, then maybe they are right.
Not many fighters say GSP, which I don’t get.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Couture?
Not so sure about that one.
I figured he would say BJ since they trained together.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
for a p4p fighter Randy sure got ripped apart by Chuck Liddell. Couldnt cut it at LHW so he moved up where the division is weaker.
October 10th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Really Ricardo.. did u forget about tito ortiz and vitor belfort. Idiot
October 10th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Couldnt cut it??? he wont the belt
October 10th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
err won rather
October 10th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
He beat Tito a while ago and Vitor wasn’t the same Vitor when they fought.
Liddell beat his butt and he went up to heavyweight.
There is no argument there.
October 11th, 2008 at 12:07 am
now liddell needs to move up to heavyweight
October 11th, 2008 at 12:26 am
I remember Randy beat Liddell or did you forget, he beat Vitor when he was the world beater,I think Randy would beat Liddell today and tomorrow, as Al bundy said Liddell has a style anyone can beat if they have any stand up at all, the past is the past and today is today,
I pick them man with will power not a big shot, thats all Liddell has besides he knows how to get up leaning against the cage, plus it’s out when he is going to punch he wrinkles his knows,
predictable mike tysons punch out
October 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Maynard rd 3 TKO.
He’s good ****.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
GRAY MAYNARD IS A REALLY GOOD GUY THAT IS ONE OF THE FEW IN THE SPORT THAT WILL MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE PUBLIC EYE FOR THE BETTER OF THE SPORT! THATS WHY RANDY COUTURE IS SUCH AN IMPACT, BECAUSE HE IS TRULY NOT AN A-HOLE, AND HE IS WHO HE IS, AND NOT WHAT PEOPLE TELL HIM TO BE!! THAY WILL MAKE THIS SPORT BETTER WIN OR LOSE, WITH THAT ATTITUDE REGARDLESS!! GO GRAY MAYNARD, WIN THE CROWD, AND WIN THE MATCH,WIN OR LOSE THEY WILL STILL LOVE YA!!