‘The Bully’ is going back to the weight class where he made his name, as Gray Maynard returns to lightweight at UFC 229.
Gray Maynard is venturing back to familiar territory. As first reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Maynard will move up to lightweight for a fight at UFC 229. Facing him in his return to the weight class will be Nik Lentz. Maynard fought for the UFC’s 155lb title twice in 2011, both times against Frankie Edgar, in fights that became lightweight classics. After fighting to a draw in the first bout, Maynard was knocked out in the fourth round of the pair’s second meeting.
Maynard (13–6–1 (1)) hit hard times after those title challenges. A four fight losing streak from 2013 to 2015 saw him move to featherweight, where he went 2-1. ‘The Bully’ managed to sandwich a loss to Ryan Hall between wins over Fernando Bruno and Teruto Ishihara. All three bouts went to decision.
Despite his success at 145lbs, Maynard is heading back to lightweight when he fights Nik Lentz (28-9-2), a fellow UFC veteran. Lentz has also dabbled at featherweight, but returned to 155lbs in 2015. ‘The Carny’ is coming off a loss to David Teymur at UFC Fight Night 131.
UFC 229 takes place October 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The lightweight title is on the line when Khabib Nurmagomedov faces Conor McGregor in the main event.
