Florian Gunning for Third Title Shot After Maynard
Joe Myers Aug 25, 2010
Kenny
Florian has already had two cracks at the UFC lightweight
title, but following a pair of submission wins over Clay Guida and
Takanori
Gomi, the 34-year-old Florian may be just one victory away from
another shot at a championship bout. But if Florian does get past
the unbeaten Gray
Maynard on the main card of UFC 118 Saturday at the TD Garden
in Boston, don't expect to see the same old Florian in his third
title fight.
"It doesn't matter to me who wins (between Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn for the lightweight title Saturday), but I'd definitely like a shot at the winner," said Florian during an appearance on the Sherdog Radio Network's "Savage Dog Show" Monday. "I was really disappointed with my performance (against Penn). Obviously I'd love another shot and more importantly, I feel like I'm a different fighter. I feel like I've put myself in a much, much better position to win that belt and now it's just up to me to go out there and perform."
In his two title bids, Florian dropped a unanimous decision to
Sean
Sherk at UFC 64 in 2006 and was submitted by Penn via
rear-naked choke in the fourth round at UFC 101 in August 2009.
Still, the ESPN “MMA Live” co-host pushed forward. Florian cited an improved standup and wrestling game for his most recent victories over Guida and Gomi.
A three-time collegiate All-American wrestler at Michigan State University, Maynard has yet to taste defeat through 10 professional bouts. The 30-year-old owns a unanimous decision win over Edgar, but has not competed since January, when he eked out a split decision against “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20. It was his second straight split-decision win (the first coming against Roger Huerta at UFC Fight Night 19 in September 2009) and his last six fights have all gone the distance.
Florian said controlling Maynard's wrestling game will be a big key if he is to emerge with a win Saturday.
"(Maynard) is tough and he's taken down and controlled other wrestlers," said Florian. "He did that to (Edgar) and really stifled his offense and put him on his back. I've been working with some high-level wrestlers. After the Penn fight, I did some sparring with (UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre) and going with some good 170-pounders in Montreal and some other good 155-pounders. I really feel like I'm a much better wrestler than I used to be and each fight, I keep getting better. It's something I've been working on for a long time now. Hopefully my skills are up to par and I can keep the fight with Gray Maynard where I want it to be."
A Brazilian ju-jitsu black belt, Florian has 12 finishes (three knockouts, nine submissions) among his 13 victories and holds wins over former two-division Deep champion Dokonjonosuke Mishima, a former Strikeforce lightweight titleholder in Guida, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 semi-finalist Joe Lauzon and Huerta. He's won eight of his last nine fights and has lost just twice (to Sherk and Penn) in his last 13 outings.
Florian, who hails from Westwood, Mass., will enjoy a hometown advantage over Maynard and while he has been busy making public appearances to promote the Boston event, he said that he will be ready for the fight come Saturday night.
"Everything's going well, but why can't I just fight?" joked Florian. "Why can't it ever just be simple? I don't even want to train. How about I just fight? In all seriousness, it's all good. It's part of the territory and I'm not new to this. It's something I've dealt with in the past and you get used to it a little more every time. As long as I get my training in, it's good. I always stay focused on my opponent and what I need to do."
"It doesn't matter to me who wins (between Frankie Edgar and B.J. Penn for the lightweight title Saturday), but I'd definitely like a shot at the winner," said Florian during an appearance on the Sherdog Radio Network's "Savage Dog Show" Monday. "I was really disappointed with my performance (against Penn). Obviously I'd love another shot and more importantly, I feel like I'm a different fighter. I feel like I've put myself in a much, much better position to win that belt and now it's just up to me to go out there and perform."
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Still, the ESPN “MMA Live” co-host pushed forward. Florian cited an improved standup and wrestling game for his most recent victories over Guida and Gomi.
"I feel like I have a much different style as far as my striking
goes," said Florian. "I have a style that's much more conducive to
striking for mixed martial arts. I can be an effective striker
without giving up so many other things, like making yourself
vulnerable to getting hit. I feel that my wrestling has gotten
better and I have better training partners. Everything is in
position for me to become a better fighter and I think I've shown
that the last couple of fights. Hopefully, I can continue to do
that against Gray
Maynard."
A three-time collegiate All-American wrestler at Michigan State University, Maynard has yet to taste defeat through 10 professional bouts. The 30-year-old owns a unanimous decision win over Edgar, but has not competed since January, when he eked out a split decision against “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 winner Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20. It was his second straight split-decision win (the first coming against Roger Huerta at UFC Fight Night 19 in September 2009) and his last six fights have all gone the distance.
Florian said controlling Maynard's wrestling game will be a big key if he is to emerge with a win Saturday.
"(Maynard) is tough and he's taken down and controlled other wrestlers," said Florian. "He did that to (Edgar) and really stifled his offense and put him on his back. I've been working with some high-level wrestlers. After the Penn fight, I did some sparring with (UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre) and going with some good 170-pounders in Montreal and some other good 155-pounders. I really feel like I'm a much better wrestler than I used to be and each fight, I keep getting better. It's something I've been working on for a long time now. Hopefully my skills are up to par and I can keep the fight with Gray Maynard where I want it to be."
A Brazilian ju-jitsu black belt, Florian has 12 finishes (three knockouts, nine submissions) among his 13 victories and holds wins over former two-division Deep champion Dokonjonosuke Mishima, a former Strikeforce lightweight titleholder in Guida, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 semi-finalist Joe Lauzon and Huerta. He's won eight of his last nine fights and has lost just twice (to Sherk and Penn) in his last 13 outings.
Florian, who hails from Westwood, Mass., will enjoy a hometown advantage over Maynard and while he has been busy making public appearances to promote the Boston event, he said that he will be ready for the fight come Saturday night.
"Everything's going well, but why can't I just fight?" joked Florian. "Why can't it ever just be simple? I don't even want to train. How about I just fight? In all seriousness, it's all good. It's part of the territory and I'm not new to this. It's something I've dealt with in the past and you get used to it a little more every time. As long as I get my training in, it's good. I always stay focused on my opponent and what I need to do."
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