Bully Beatdown: MMAmania.com UFC 118 interview exclusive with Gray Maynard

Gray Maynard doesn't like to talk a lot. He doesn't really joke around too much. He isn't in the fight game to put on a "show."

Gray Maynard likes to brawl. And brawling he does well.

With an undefeated record of 9-0, no one has been able to solve the riddle that is "The Bully." With a powerful and dominant wrestling game, size that makes you think he's a 170-pounder, and a team surrounding him that is second to none, Gray Maynard has all the makings of a future champion.

At UFC 118 this Saturday night, August 28, in Boston, Massachusetts, he'll have the opportunity to move himself one step closer to becoming just that. Standing in his way is perennial top contender Kenny Florian. A man that knows all to well what it means to fight for a title. Should Gray get by KenFlo, a shot at 155-pound gold is his.

But before he steps inside the Octagon opposite Florian, Maynard was kind enough to talk with MMAmania.com about finally getting to fight for a title shot, the Randy Couture vs. James Toney bout, his game plan coming into his own match and more.

Check it out:

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Thanks for your time Gray. I have to first ask you about UFC 117. Seeing as how wrestling served Chael Sonnen so well, does that make a strong wrestler like yourself rethink your strategy for a fight regarding how much you try to stand and trade vs. how much you stick to what you do best?

Gray Maynard: I actually didn't see the fight, but I heard about it of course. Chael used his wrestling great in that fight. But I'm confident wherever the fight goes. We have a game plan and that's the plan I'm gonna keep. Either way, stand up or on the ground, I'm happy.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Does fan criticism like what Jon Fitch has been receiving for his style of fighting have an effect on how guys like you with a wrestling base choose to perform?

Gray Maynard: No, not really. Just because you have people who complain about whatever, it doesn't matter. You have people who all they do is talk s---, talk s---, talk s---. But this is a sport. This is people's jobs. You have to do what you have to do to be successful with whatever tools you have.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): How do you see the rematch between Frankie Edgar and B.J Penn shaking out? You're familiar with both guys having beaten Edgar and trained with Penn.

Gray Maynard: I think Penn will come out and make a couple changes to pull off the win. It won't be easy, but I think he'll take it.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Regarding getting a title shot, were you at all bothered with Frankie getting the shot instead of you back at UFC 112 and now Penn receiving an immediate rematch over you?

Gray Maynard: Not really. It is what it is. I love my job. I have Florian coming up which will hopefully give me my shot. I'm happy. I'm ready to get it on. I'll get that belt.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): I think I know the answer to this, but is there a guy you'd rather face?

Gray Maynard: Whoever has the gold around his waist. Either one is fine with me. I don't care who I fight, just as long they have the title.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Figured that. I want to ask you about Randy Couture. You're obviously pretty close with him training at his gym. Talk about that fight. Is there anyway James Toney makes it out of the first round?

Gray Maynard: Obviously, it'll be tough. But, he's got a puncher's chance. I'll give it to James Toney. That dude can crack. He has fought for a long, long time. He's good and he's accurate. He definitely has a puncher's chance. Other than that though, no, he doesn't have a chance. Randy is gonna have to stand with him a little bit, but the plan is obviously to take him down. There's gonna be some punches thrown, and that's where it's gonna be dangerous. I guarantee Randy is not gonna pull a Floyd Mayweather and try to stick and move with him. He's got a plan and he'll employ it perfectly.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Your last fight against Nate Diaz back in January at UFC Fight Night 20 was contested almost entirely in the feet. Is it safe to say we're going to see some of your patented physical wrestling this time out?

Gray Maynard: Yeah, for sure. Nate has jiu-jitsu that's a little different than Florian. He's tricky and long. It was more of a judgment call for me. Why take that chance with Nate on the ground? Florian has a good top game, but he's not gonna be on top, so I'm not really concerned with it. I'm not worried about the ground game with him.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Aside from your wrestling and Kenny's striking, talk about the advantages coming into this fight for you and for Kenny.

Gray Maynard: Florian is good. He's got a good all-around game. He poses a problem because he's a lefty. For guys like Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi, they just didn't know how to deal that. But I've fought four southpaws in a row now. Rich Clementi, Jim Miller, Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz, and now Florian. Kenny will be my fifth. It's getting easier for me. They're always a pain in the ass because you have to change up everything. If you don't have a coach who knows how to deal with it, you're gonna get caught because they are a chance of pace. But it is getting easier. I think this is the perfect time for this fight. 

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Do you see the fact that the fight is taking place in his hometown of Boston as a benefit to you or to him?

Gray Maynard: It's a benefit for him if the crowd can get into the cage and jump me. That's about it. The crowd doesn't matter to me and I hope it doesn't matter to him. I don't pay attention to the crowd. If he does, then obviously he's got other problems to deal with.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): OK, how do you envision the fight playing out? How about a friendly prediction.

Gray Maynard: It plays out differently in my head everyday. I go through knockouts, submissions, all kinds of stuff. You never now how it'll go until fight night. And I like that. You can't have one ending set your mind. We're gonna get in there and scrap and whatever happens is fine by me.

James Kimball (MMAmania.com): Thanks again for your time Gray. Do you have any sponsors or a website you'd like to plug?

Gray Maynard: Sure, thank you. My website is graymaynard.com. I'd like to thank my sponsors Everlast, MMA Elite, Kid Dangerous, XCap, and of course all the guys at Extreme Couture. Fans can follow me on Twitter @GrayMaynard.