Champ Edgar pursues respect

A pair of victories over longtime champion BJ Penn this year firmly established Frankie Edgar atop the Ultimate Fighting Championship's 155-pound class.

Still, Edgar's name doesn't carry anywhere near the clout that Penn's does in a sport in which the former champion has been a star for many years.

Edgar, 29, from New Jersey, can begin building a legacy beyond his victories over Penn when he fights Las Vegan Gray Maynard in the main event of UFC 125 on Saturday at the MGM Grand.

Edgar knows continuing to win is the best way to earn wider acclaim.

"I just think it takes time. BJ's been around for such a long time. He's been the dominant force at lightweight, so it's the process it takes for guys to welcome somebody new," Edgar said on a conference call.

"I'm seeing (respect) more and more, but that's not what it's about. If I keep winning fights, the respect will come eventually."

If Edgar can avenge his only defeat, a unanimous decision in 2008 to Maynard, who remains unbeaten, he'll also cast away doubts over whether he should have had a title shot in the first place.

"I'm just approaching it as my next fight, my next title defense," he said. "The fact that he beat me and I get a chance to maybe get that one back, it does make it a little bit better."

For his part, Maynard insists he is not bitter that he was passed over for a title shot by someone he had beaten.

"(Now) is a perfect time (to fight for the title)," Maynard said. "He had the chance and he took it and the time is now for me and I'm prepared."

Neither fighter has lost since their first meeting, but both insist they have come a long way since a match Maynard controlled with his wrestling abilities.

"I just think I've grown as a fighter," Edgar said. "Mentally, physically, I possess different skills."

Maynard believes he will have to be even better to defeat Edgar this time.

"It was 2½ years ago. Any time you're going up against the top in the world, you've evolved and changed and so I'm prepared for a new fight," he said.

■ PETTIS ON DECK -- The Edgar-Maynard winner will next face World Extreme Cagefighting lightweight champion Anthony Pettis, who enters the UFC off a highlight-reel kick that helped him take the belt from Ben Henderson in the final WEC bout.

Maynard said he hasn't seen the maneuver Pettis used, in which he bounced off the cage and kicked Henderson all in one motion.

"I didn't get to check it out because I don't own cable," he said. "I'll be able to check it out after the fight probably."

Edgar saw the kick and said some of the younger fighters from the WEC will bring a new dynamic to the UFC.

"They're tough guys," the champion said. "They're going to pose some challenges for us, and I thought the kick was great. It was all over the news and ESPN. It's great for the sport."

■ DREAM CARD ON LIVE -- HDNet will air Dream's "Dynamite!!2010" card at 1 a.m. Friday, though the channel is not available on Cox Cable.

The card might feature a still-unconfirmed main event between Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem and UFC castoff Todd Duffee, but the lineup is loaded even if the bout falls through.

Shinya Aoki will be in action, as will Dream champions Marius Zaromskis and Bibiano Fernandes, in addition to many Japanese stars, including 2008 Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.