MMANEWS.COM GUEST CONTRIBUTOR</B><BR><BR>
UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar has officially been given the go ahead to resume training, as he has now been medically cleared to fight. The champ had recently suffered a back injury in preparation for his third scrap against Gray Maynard scheduled for UFC 130 and was forced to withdraw from the fight. The champ stated that his back problems have been an ongoing problem and was not merely an injury that he had suffered during training.<BR><BR>
Maynard, who also withdrew from the fight, as he too had sustained an injury during training, subsequently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee and has not yet been medically cleared to return to training. "Right now, we're still waiting for him to be cleared by the doctor?Hopefully, it happens this week. Once we get him back into the gym and we know everything is good, then we will move forward and start looking for the date," said Maynard's boxing coach Gil Martinez.<BR><BR>
The two fighters fought their hearts out to a split decision draw this past January at UFC 125, in a back and forth dramatic fight that saw both men coming close to a finish. Though Edgar managed to walk away from the fight with his belt, he was not able to definitively avenge the one and only blemish on his record that had come from the hands of none other than the ?Bully? Maynard back in April 2, 2008. Following the fight, Dana White announced that there would be an immediate third match-up between the two to settle the score, but was later pushed to May 28, 2011.<BR><BR>
The injuries that both Edgar and Maynard suffered, have added an extra sprinkle of anticipation for their rubber match as the tension in the UFC?s Lightweight division is building up to unprecedented heights. The division is so deep at present stage with so many prospective contenders that have also paid their dues and are ready for their shot at the title. Clay Guida has recently disposed of former WEC Lightweight champ Anthony Pettis scoring his fourth consecutive win, Melvin Guillard put away yet another opponent at UFC 132 with yet another vicious stoppage, Dennis Siver is tearing through competition, Ben Henderson is slowly but steadily climbing back to the top while Jim Miller boasts a hard-earned seven fight winning streak. And lest we forget, there is always the possibility for a cross-organization fight between Strikeforce Lightweight sensation and champ Gilbert Melendez and the UFC titleholder, whoever that ends up being.<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
As Frankie Edgar is already back to the gym and could be prepared to fight as early as October, the UFC may perhaps choose to abandon the Edgar/ Maynard rematch and go ahead with other possible opponents. One thing is for sure; Edgar better hit the gym hard and stay alert on his toes because there are challengers gunning for his strap left, right and centre.<BR><BR>
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