Despite defeating him nearly two years prior, Gray Maynard never complained once when Dana White passed him over to award Frankie Edgar a title shot against BJ Penn. But now that Edgar is the new lightweight champion, you guessed it, Gray Maynard wants his shot.

“I texted Joe Silva and told him I want the [title] fight,” said Maynard. “I will fight whoever they want me to, but they know I want to fight for the belt.”

“They announced Edgar as the guy like a day after my fight with Diaz, so it’s not like I had a lot of time to say anything,” said Maynard. “Sure, I talked to Dana [White] after the Diaz fight and he knows I want to fight for the belt — that’s what everyone wants to do — but I trust them and hopefully now I will get a shot at my dream.”

If Maynard’s wish is granted, it doesn’t sound like his strategy would change too much from their first bout. The key is neutralizing Edgar’s speed with his size, strength and wrestling ability.

“You have to bully him,” said Maynard, detailing the strategy he employed in their 2008 bout. “He is fast and you can’t let him move around like he did against Penn. You have to hit him with some punches, then get your hands on him and push him up against the cage and make him fight your fight.”

I’ve seen many calling for Kenny Florian to get first crack at Frankie Edgar, but it’s hard to deny that Gray Maynard doesn’t deserve it more. Since his bizarre self-imposed knockout against Robert Emerson at the TUF 5 finale, Maynard has recorded seven straight victories in the Octagon against some of the best lightweights in the UFC, plus he has a win over the champ. I’d prefer to see Maynard get his shot while Florian gets another crack at Penn in a number one contender’s match. After Florian recovers from a nasty case of the devilish staph infection of course.

What do you think? How do you think the UFC’s lightweight division should play out?