Edgar, Maynard Cleared for UFC 125

The UFC lightweight titleholder and the only man to defeat him hit the scales, mere moments apart, on the eve of their rematch. They squared off, shook hands and parted ways. When they meet again, the 155-pound division’s ultimate prize will be in play.

Frankie Edgar checked in at 155 pounds for his showdown with the unbeaten Gray Maynard (155) in the UFC 125 “Resolution” main event on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The eight other men scheduled for main card duty -- co-headliners Chris Leben (186) and Brian Stann (186) among them -- also met their mandated weight requirements at Friday’s official weigh-in.

Edgar has won five fights in a row, including consecutive victories over the incomparable B.J. Penn. The 29-year-old Toms River, N.J., native defeated Penn at UFC 112 in April to capture the lightweight crown and then turned away the Hawaiian in his first title defense four months later. An accomplished amateur wrestler, Edgar was a four-time national qualifier at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Wins over AMA Fight Club standout Jim Miller, Xtreme Couture product Tyson Griffin, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Mark Bocek and former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk strengthen his resume as one of the world’s top pound-for-pound mixed martial artists. Edgar suffered his only career setback in a unanimous decision defeat to Maynard at UFC Fight Night 13 in April 2008. Now comes his chance to avenge it.

Rooted at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Maynard has rattled off eight straight wins since his promotional debut against Robert Emerson ended in a no contest at “The Ultimate Fighter 5” Finale in June 2007. The 31-year-old last appeared at UFC 118 in August, when he earned a unanimous decision over two-time UFC lightweight title contender Kenny Florian at the TD Garden in Boston. A three-time collegiate All-American wrestler at Michigan State University, Maynard’s last seven fights have reached the judges.

UFC 125 -- which also features a light heavyweight scrap pitting Thiago Silva (206) against Brandon Vera (205), a lightweight matchup pairing Takanori Gomi (155) with Clay Guida (156) and a welterweight tilt between “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner Nate Diaz (170) and Dong Hyun Kim (171) -- will air live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. An hour prior, Ion Television will carry a trio of fights from the undercard: Dustin Poirier (145) vs. Josh Grispi (146), Jeremy Stephens (156) vs. Marcus Davis (156) and Phil Baroni (186) vs. Brad Tavares (185).

UFC 125 “Resolution”
Saturday, Jan. 1
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas

UFC Lightweight Championship
Frankie Edgar (155) vs. Gray Maynard (155)

Chris Leben (186) vs. Brian Stann (186)
Thiago Silva (206) vs. Brandon Vera (205)
Nate Diaz (170) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (171)
Clay Guida (156) vs. Takanori Gomi (155)
Jeremy Stephens (156) vs. Marcus Davis (156)
Dustin Poirier (145) vs. Josh Grispi (146)
Phil Baroni (186) vs. Brad Tavares (185)
Mike Thomas Brown (146) vs. Diego Nunes (146)
Daniel Roberts (171) vs. Greg Soto (171)
Antonio McKee (156) vs. Jacob Volkmann (156)