Edgar-Maynard Lightweight Title Bout Bolsters UFC 136

Sherdog.com confirmed the pairing with a source close to the bout after an initial report from MMAFighting.com on Friday. UFC 136 emanates from the Toyota Center in Houston and will also feature a pivotal middleweight conflict between Brian Stann and Chael Sonnen.

Edgar and Maynard (Pictured; file photo) first met in 2008, with Maynard walking away with a unanimous decision victory. After suffering that defeat, Edgar went on to win five straight bouts, wresting the lightweight title from B.J. Penn in April 2010 and defeating the Hawaiian in the return bout four months later.

Maynard also continued to win after besting Edgar, maintaining his career unbeaten streak. The 32-year-old was awarded a title shot at UFC 125, fighting Edgar to a draw in a seesaw main event on New Year’s Day. Maynard battered Edgar in the first frame, flooring him numerous times and nearly earning a referee’s stoppage.

However, the resilient champion battled back over the course of the next four rounds to make the fight extremely competitive. At the conclusion of the five rounds, two judges were split in their verdict and one scored the contest even, resulting in a split draw. Neither fighter has competed since. The two were scheduled to scrap as the UFC 130 headliner in May, but both men withdrew from the contest due to injury.