UFC 125: Resolution | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 125: Resolution. January 1, 2011. MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. The UFC’s New Year’s Day pay-per-view. The main event was the first draw in UFC title fight history. Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard fought five rounds for the UFC Lightweight Championship; the judges scored 46-48, 48-46, and 47-47 — a split draw. Edgar retained the title. The fight was awarded Sherdog’s 2011 Fight of the Year.
Maynard nearly stopped Edgar in round one, landing multiple knockdowns. Edgar survived, rallied across rounds two through five, and the fight ended level. Brian Stann knocked out Chris Leben in round one. Dustin Poirier upset Josh Grispi by unanimous decision. Thiago Silva’s win over Brandon Vera was later overturned to a No Contest by the NSAC following a failed drug test.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: January 1, 2011
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Attendance: 12,874; Gate: $2,174,780; PPV: 270,000 buys
Main Event: Frankie Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard — UFC LW Championship (5 rounds)
Result: SPLIT DRAW (46-48, 48-46, 47-47) — FIRST DRAW IN UFC TITLE FIGHT HISTORY; Edgar retains by default
Notable: Maynard drops Edgar multiple times R1; Edgar survives; Stann TKOs Leben R1; Poirier upsets Grispi; Thiago Silva NC (drugs)
The Build-Up
Gray Maynard was the only fighter on record to have beaten Frankie Edgar, winning their first meeting at the TUF 5 Finale. Maynard had earned the title shot by beating Kenny Florian at UFC 118. Edgar had defended against BJ Penn twice and defended convincingly. Maynard’s pressure-wrestling style was considered the most dangerous template for neutralising Edgar’s speed.
Main Event
Frankie Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard — UFC Lightweight Championship
Round one: Maynard landed a straight right that dropped Edgar. He followed with more shots. Edgar went down a second time. The crowd expected the stoppage. Edgar survived on instinct, covering up and timing his movements. The bell ended round one with Edgar on his feet.
Rounds two through four: Edgar rallied strongly, using his speed and boxing to counter Maynard’s pressure. By round three, Edgar had taken control. Rounds were close and contested but Edgar was scoring more cleanly.
Round five: Both fighters landed shots. The final round was competitive. When the scorecards were read, two judges had scored different fighters the winner. The third scored it even. A 47-47 from one judge, a 48-46 from each of the others in opposite directions. Split draw. Edgar retained the title.
Co-Main Event
Brian Stann vs. Chris Leben — Middleweight
Stann landed a knee and combination punches that stopped Leben at 3:37 of round one. Both fighters were known as aggressive finishers; Stann’s precision won out. The win continued Stann’s upward trajectory in the MW division.
Full Results
Preliminary Card (ION Television)
Daniel Roberts def. Greg Soto — Submission (Kimura) — R1, 3:45 — WW
Brad Tavares def. Phil Baroni — KO — R1, 4:20 — MW
Dustin Poirier def. Josh Grispi — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27 x3) — FW; Poirier upset; both were highly-rated FW prospects
Main Card
Jeremy Stephens def. Marcus Davis — KO — R3, 2:33 — LW
Clay Guida def. Takanori Gomi — Submission (Guillotine) — R2, 4:27 — LW
Dong Hyun Kim def. Nate Diaz — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28 x3) — WW
Thiago Silva def. Brandon Vera — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LHW; RESULT OVERTURNED to No Contest by NSAC (failed drug test)
Brian Stann def. Chris Leben — TKO (Knee and Punches) — R1, 3:37 — MW; Co-Main
UFC LW Championship (5 rounds) — Main Event
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard — Split Draw — R5, 5:00 (46-48, 48-46, 47-47) — FIRST DRAW IN UFC TITLE FIGHT HISTORY; Edgar retains; Fight of the Year
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard — $60,000 to each fighter; also awarded Sherdog Fight of the Year 2011.
KO of the Night: Brian Stann vs. Chris Leben — $60,000 to Stann.
Records & Milestones
First draw in UFC title fight history — Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard; split draw (46-48, 48-46, 47-47); Edgar retains on the draw rule.
Sherdog Fight of the Year 2011 — Edgar vs. Maynard awarded despite the result being a draw.
Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera overturned to No Contest — by the Nevada State Athletic Commission following a failed drug test.
Dustin Poirier upsets Josh Grispi UD — Poirier was a significant underdog at featherweight; both were highly-rated FW prospects.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 125 produced the most dramatic start to a UFC title fight of the modern era. Maynard landed multiple knockdowns in round one and Edgar was millimetres from a stoppage. Edgar’s survival instinct and recovery across rounds two through five was as compelling as any comeback in LW history. The draw outcome was satisfying in its impossibility — five rounds of war with no winner.
The trilogy between Edgar and Maynard was completed at UFC 130 in May 2011 (another draw) and UFC 136 in October 2011 (Edgar TKO win). The series is one of the LW division’s defining rivalries from the 2010-2011 period.
FAQ
Was UFC 125 the first draw in a UFC title fight?
Yes. The split draw between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard at UFC 125 was the first draw in UFC title fight history. Edgar retained the lightweight championship as the champion retains the title on a draw.
What happened in round one of Edgar vs Maynard at UFC 125?
Gray Maynard landed a straight right that put Edgar on the canvas, then followed with more shots that dropped Edgar a second time. Edgar barely survived the round, using his defence and timing to stay upright until the bell.
Was Dustin Poirier expected to beat Josh Grispi?
No. Poirier was the underdog against Grispi, who had been considered one of the top FW prospects in the world. Poirier won by unanimous decision 30-27 on all three scorecards.
Why was Thiago Silva vs Brandon Vera overturned at UFC 125?
The Nevada State Athletic Commission overturned Thiago Silva's decision victory over Brandon Vera to a No Contest after Silva failed a post-fight drug test.
What was the Edgar-Maynard trilogy outcome?
UFC 125 (January 2011): Split draw. UFC 130 (May 2011): Draw (split). UFC 136 (October 2011): Edgar def. Maynard TKO R4. Edgar won the trilogy.
References
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