Kenny Florian and
Gray Maynard will have a title shot on the line when they face off at UFC 118 on Saturday at the TD Garden in Boston.
UFC President Dana White confirmed the news during a pre-fight press conference for the event on Wednesday at the famous Faneuil Hall in Boston.
Maynard, a former three-time All-American wrestler at Michigan State University, seemed on the doorstep of a title bid early this year. But after earning an uninspiring split decision victory over
Nate Diaz in January, the promotion opted to have
Frankie Edgar challenge
B.J. Penn for the lightweight title at UFC 112 in April.
Edgar earned a unanimous decision victory over Penn -- a controversial decision that will also be addressed in a rematch this Saturday.
“A lot of people were talking about Gray getting a title shot last time and I decided to put Frankie in there,” said White on Wednesday. “Let me tell you, if Gray beats
Kenny Florian, he deserves a title shot, no doubt about it.”
White confirmed that if Florian should win Saturday, he will be afforded the same opportunity as Maynard.
For Florian, it would mean his third go at a championship title. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt came up short against wrestler
Sean Sherk at UFC 64 in October 2006. Penn submitted the 34-year-old Brookline, Mass., resident in the fourth round of their championship bout at UFC 101 a year ago in Philadelphia. Florian had accumulated six victories in a row before he faced Penn.
Style-wise, the 31-year-old Maynard, who is undefeated since his MMA debut in 2006, most closely resembles Sherk, who easily handled the gritty, but green Florian nearly four years ago.
“I think I’ve gained a lot more experience since then. (The Sherk loss) was my second fight at 155, so I’d like to think I’ve improved a lot in that aspect,” said Florian. “With that said, I think Gray is much better version of
Sean Sherk, a bigger, better version, and certainly he has the better wrestling credentials, and I think he’s the better overall fighter.”
Printer Friendly
