Is Frankie Edgar a better wrestler than Gray...

I went in thinking Gray would dominate him there like he did the first time, but it actually appeared that Frankie was the better grappler. Did Gray punch himself out in the first, and sap his ability to wrestle, or is Edgar just better on the mats now?

If Frankie is better there now, then he should win the rematch easily as long as he can avoid the big shots on the feet.

I think that is the reason Frankie got hit with those big shots because he was so concerned with stuffing takedowns. I think it happened to Koscheck against GSP also. Guys are so worried about stopping the takedowns they leave themselves open up top alittle. I still think Gray is a better wrestler but he did punch himself out in that 1st round.

No, but Edgar knew what to expect this time, and Frankie sets up his shots better through his striking.

I thought the wrestling was a dead heat on Sat. Each guy nullified the others wrestling to the point where it was a nonfactor.

I'd be surprised if it played a role in the 3rd fight.

Dead heat? Frankie landed a bunch more takedowns and one huge slam. I wrote off Frankie's wrestling advantage over BJ in the second fight as BJ under preparing. Maybe that needs rethought as well. Fact is in the first BJ and Maynard fights, Frankie was inferior to both in wrestling, but in the second fights he scoopslammed them both and got numerous takedowns. I think it's safe to say Edgar has upgraded his wrestling about 50 Damage Points. Chael Sonnen brought up that Edgar is now coaching at the D1 level on MMA live and this has improved his wrestling. I would be inclined to believe that, even if Sonnen was the one who said it.

On a wrestling mat who wins? Gray every time. But in a five round MMA fight on January 1 2010? Frankie Edgar had better wrestling.

Frankie knows how to set it up more with his striking now.

They both landed the same number of takedowns in the fight, 3, Frankie just had that sick slam.

yeah they each landed a few takedowns, and they each stuffed a bunch of takedowns.

Edgar had the slam, and Maynard sealed the 3rd rnd with a takedown and control.

But the fight was standing for 95% of the fight.

The wrestling played a very minimal role in that fight.

The wrestling did not play a minimal role. The wrestling advantage Frankie had saved him from a loss in fact. While they both landed 3 takedowns in the fight, Edgar shot at a much higher percentage and blocked many many more than Gray did. It was not a dead heat, especially in light of the first fight. Wrestling ; advantage Frankie Edgar.

No, but Edgar is very quick and sets up his takedowns very well. Takedowns are one thing, but neither fighter was able to keep eachother down for long enough. In Gray's case, he didnt really start going for a lot of takedowns until the later rounds where he was obviously tired.

Wrestling was more of an advantage for Frankie, possibly because Maynard was not worried about it based on their last fight and the fact that he's a more decorated wrestler. That slam in the second changed the fight.

Frankie worked on his wrestling for this fight and is better then before, he's been working with the Rutgers wrestling team. He also added a few pounds for the fight.

Something alot of people don't know is Edgar tried out for season 5 of TUF but didn't make it. A month later the UFC contacted him about fighting Tyson Griffin.

Primetyme199 wrote:

Something alot of people don't know is Edgar tried out for season 5 of TUF but didn't make it. A month later the UFC contacted him about fighting Tyson Griffin.

Wow I would have to check who was on that season but I find it hard to believe there were 16 guys better than Frankie on there lol.

Gray Maynard, Matt Wiman, Gabe Ruediger, Joe Lauzon, Rob Emerson, Andy Wang, Allen Berube, Noah Thomas, Corey Hill, Nate Diaz, Brandon Melendez, Marlon Sims, Manny Gamburyan, Cole Miller, Brian Geraghty, Wayne Weems


Coaches were Penn and Pulver

Eddie Alvarez was also turned down by TUF and I believe it was that year. Tyrone Woodley and Jake Shields have also been rejected by TUF. The show isn't and never has been about the best fighters. Zomg why do you hate tuf wolf?

Primetyme199 wrote:

Gray Maynard, Matt Wiman, Gabe Ruediger, Joe Lauzon, Rob Emerson, Andy Wang, Allen Berube, Noah Thomas, Corey Hill, Nate Diaz, Brandon Melendez, Marlon Sims, Manny Gamburyan, Cole Miller, Brian Geraghty, Wayne Weems


Coaches were Penn and Pulver

Pretty good group of guys but tough to believe that Edgar couldnt cut it.

on Jan. 1st Edgar was the superior wrestler, and that shocked me.

I didn't know they wrestled in that fight. Gray tossed Frankie around a few times in the first but it was more common than wrestling. Edgar got two take downs in the second under Maynard strikes, they looked good but were only takedowns, Gray still had the control and moves on the mat. They just stuffed takedowns save each getting one more for the rest of the fight. If one has better wrestling I wouldn't know it from that fight.

GDPofDRC wrote:

I didn't know they wrestled in that fight. Gray tossed Frankie around a few times in the first but it was more common than wrestling. Edgar got two take downs in the second under Maynard strikes, they looked good but were only takedowns, Gray still had the control and moves on the mat. They just stuffed takedowns save each getting one more for the rest of the fight. If one has better wrestling I wouldn't know it from that fight.

stuffing takedowns isnt considered wrasslin? Edgar stuffed a shit ton of TDs

the both stuffed takedowns. 95% of that fight was striking on the feet.

GDPofDRC wrote:

the both stuffed takedowns. 95% of that fight was striking on the feet.

Gray shot for a lot more takedownds than Edgar, therefore he stuffed a shit ton more... thats all im saying, maybe Gray blew his wad in the first and didnt have his full strength for the rest of the fight but he was stuffed a lot more

95% of the fight was on the feet because of the wrestling. It's really surprising to see how other sets of eyes viewed wrestling as a non factor where as I watching it saw it as one of the major tipping points that saved Edgar from the loss.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

95% of the fight was on the feet because of the wrestling. It's really surprising to see how other sets of eyes viewed wrestling as a non factor where as I watching it saw it as one of the major tipping points that saved Edgar from the loss.

+1 Wolf, thats what I was trying to say

Wolfgangsta wrote:

95% of the fight was on the feet because of the wrestling. It's really surprising to see how other sets of eyes viewed wrestling as a non factor where as I watching it saw it as one of the major tipping points that saved Edgar from the loss.

when Chuck was stuffing takedowns en route to KO'ing wrestlers, it was always said that his takedown defense nullified the other guys wrestling.

When GSP has top control for 22 minutes of a 25 minute fight, it is always said that his wrestling was the difference.


When 2 guys go out there and, save for a couple takedowns, and a bunch of stuffs, engage in a kickboxing match, im going to say that wrestling played a small role.

captain organic wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

95% of the fight was on the feet because of the wrestling. It's really surprising to see how other sets of eyes viewed wrestling as a non factor where as I watching it saw it as one of the major tipping points that saved Edgar from the loss.

when Chuck was stuffing takedowns en route to KO'ing wrestlers, it was always said that his takedown defense nullified the other guys wrestling.

When GSP has top control for 22 minutes of a 25 minute fight, it is always said that his wrestling was the difference.


When 2 guys go out there and, save for a couple takedowns, and a bunch of stuffs, engage in a kickboxing match, im going to say that wrestling played a small role.

yeah, to the naked eye it played a small role BUT....

PS
Chuck was always considered a great wrestler he just never chose to go to the ground cuz he had wicked power in his hands