FiveKnuckles.com: You trained with B.J. Penn, what was that experience like? Is his BJJ as sick as it looks?

Gray Maynard: Training with BJ opened my eyes to the sport and what it was about. I was still really new to the sport back then. His BJJ is really on another level than most people.

FiveKnuckles.com: You currently train with Xtreme Couture. How did you get hooked up
with Randy and the team at Xtreme Couture?

Gray Maynard: Well, when I first started out in MMA, I was able to get in with Randy and his camp when he was training for his third fight with Chuck Liddell. Back then Randy just moved to Las Vegas and was using The Ultimate Fighter gym. There was only a small group of us. It was Randy, myself, Jay Hieron, Mike Pyle, Forrest Griffin, Alex Schoenauer, John Wood. Tyson Griffin, Mac Danzig, and John Alessio would come out for their camps until they eventually moved out here. We were training together for about a year and a half until Randy opened up Xtreme Couture and then we had a permanent gym to train at.

FiveKnuckles.com: What is the toughest aspect for you about the business of MMA?

Gray Maynard: There's only 24hrs in a day and it's tough to try and fit everything into a day. There's so much to learn and you want to try and hit every aspect. But, your body can only handle so many workouts, so you have to be really organized and smart about how you're going to train each day.

FiveKnuckles.com: You were a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter Season 5, what was it like living in the TUF house?

Gray Maynard: Living in the house was really hard. There are no mental breaks from the day-to-day routine. There are no phones, no tv, no music, and no reading. You're stuck in a house, looking at the same people and doing the same thing everyday. But, I guess that's why it makes good TV, because it helps to create some drama and controversy. I'm just glad it's done with, but it gave me a foot in the door to the UFC, which I'm very thankful for.

FiveKnuckles.com: How did you benefit from the TUF experience?

Gray Maynard: Like I said before, it gave me the opportunity to compete in the UFC. It also made me appreciate my camp and training routine outside of the show much more.

FiveKnuckles.com: You were a coach on TUF for Team Forrest - what was that experience like?

Gray Maynard: Originally, I thought it would work out perfect because it was right after my fight with Denis Siver, so I thought I would have time to really get in there and help coach. But, I got the opportunity to fight Frank Edgar so I was very occupied with my training camp during the filming. I wasn't able to devote as much time to the show as I wanted. I definitely enjoyed the fact that I could go home everyday and wasn't confined to the fighter house and gym.

FiveKnuckles.com: You are the only person to hold a victory over the...