Former lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard has made the drop to featherweight in an attempt to snap his four fight losing streak, and is scheduled to face TUF Brazil 4 runner up Fernando Bruno at The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale.
The news was first reported by the Review Journal.
Maynard (11-5-1 1NC MMA, 9-5-1 1NC UFC) hasn’t won a fight since 2012 and is in desperate need of a victory. “The Bully” has lost five of his last six so we can only assume he is on the verge of being cut by the promotion. This is more than likely his last chance to redeem himself. Maynard engaged in a unbelievable trilogy with Frankie Edgar, with the first bout being taken by Maynard via decision, the second bout ending in a draw, and Frankie Edgar taking the third bout via knockout. Since the third fight with Edgar, Maynard has never looked as good as he did, not even close. Following the knockout loss to Edgar, Maynard fought Clay Guida and won the bout via split decision in a less than entertaining bout. Following that, Maynard faced TJ Grant, but was stopped with strikes at just over two minutes into the first round. He then faced Nate Diaz at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale and was again finishes with strikes in the first round. Maynard then returned nine months later to face Ross Pearson, but was knocked out for the third time in a row. Maynard fought most recently in April of 2015, and lost a decision to Alexander Yakovlev.
His opponent, Fernando Bruno (15-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was a runner up on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4 but did make his UFC debut last time out. Bruno faced Glaico Franca in his octagon debut at UFC 190, but was submitted in the third round with a rear naked choke. Bruno is 34-years-old so will have to make a statement in this bout if he hopes to fight higher ranked opponents. The Brazilian owns eight submission victories with seven decisions but has not yet won a fight with strikes.
The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale takes place live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 8 and is headlined by a Women’s Strawweight Championship fight between the two head coaches, Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Claudia Gadelha.
