Gray Maynard says he’s dropping to featherweight for next UFC bout

By Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Despite losses in four straight fights, former UFC Lightweight Title contender Gray Maynard will be fighting again in the Octagon, and he’ll be doing so in a new weight class.

Asked by a fan on Twitter if he’d be returning to the UFC, Maynard responded with the following:

Maynard’s most recent loss came by decision to Alexander Yakovlev in April of this year, though his prior three defeats all came by TKO. This would be the first weight class shift for Maynard, who has been a career long lightweight competitor.

Penick’s Analysis: Not a fan of that move for Maynard. He’s slowed down as it is at lightweight, and a cut down to featherweight means further dehydrating himself. For someone who has been stopped by strikes, and whose chin has not been a benefit for quite some time, that added cut is only going to make things more difficult. Maynard has been around long enough that the UFC will afford him this last opportunity, I just don’t see it being the right move for him.

[Photo (c) Gregory Fisher via USA Today Sports]

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