Gray Maynard Plans On Fighting At Least One More Time

After controlling much of the early action in his co-main event bout against Ross Pearson at last Saturday’s (August 16, 2014) UFC Fight Night 47 from the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, Maine, former UFC lightweight title challenger Gray Maynard suffered his third straight knockout loss when “The Real Deal” turned the tables with a thunderous flurry of punches.

Many had called for Maynard to retire after his The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 18 Finale loss to Nate Diaz late last November, but he soldiered on. Even more called for him to step away from the brutality after his loss to Pearson.

After absorbing vicious knockouts to Frankie Edgar and TJ Grant in two out of his three prior bouts to facing Diaz, the damage to Maynard’s brain has to be mounting.

But that reportedly isn’t stopping “The Bully” from looking to extend his fighting career. On tonight’s edition of UFC Tonight, Ariel Helwani revealed that he had spoken with Maynard’s manager David Martin, and he plans to continue fighting.

Their plan is for Maynard to return to South Dakota to undergo an extensive battery of tests to determine whether or not he suffered any severe head trauma and/or permanent damage before he steps into the Octagon again.

He’d like to return for at least one more fight if deemed medically fit to do so.

Maynard apparently underwent a similar testing program before he fought in Bangor.

UFC president Dana White recently said that he wouldn’t push Maynard into retirement, but it’s obvious that his long-term health could seriously be in danger if he suffers even one more knockout loss.

UFC Tonight co-hosts Kenny Florian and Brian Stann disagreed with Maynard’s decision, noting that he was a great fighter but it is now time to hang up his gloves. Do you think “The Bully” should be given one more chance in the UFC, or is the damage done simply too much to overcome?

Photo: Gregory Fisher for USA TODAY Sports