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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"Yeah, I'm training with Firas [Zahabi] at Tri-Star Gym in Montreal. They're associated with Greg Jackson, of course. I haven't gone to New Mexico to train with Greg or anything like that. Actually, Clay Guida has been training over there, so that would be a little awkward. But training with Firas, bringing him on as my striking and MMA coach, he's been phenomenal. He's doing things that no one else is even close to thinking about. So for me, I feel that between having my brother Keith as a coach and Firas as well, with my boxing coach Peter Welch and all the incredible people I've had a chance to work with for this camp, it feels like I'm in my Ph.D course for mixed martial arts. So it's been really enjoyable with these guys. I've improved my game leaps and bounds for this fight... [Greg Jackson and Firas] will be cornering against each other. They're not sure exactly how that's going to work. I know they are very good friends. But I know that Clay was preparing at Greg's camp for this fight."
-Kenny Florian talks to Heavy.com's Jeremy Botter about his move to the Tri-Star gym, training with GSP and much more, including having Firas and Greg Jackson on separate sides of the Octagon for his fight against Clay Guida at UFC 107.
Penick's Analysis: This will be an interesting dynamic with Jackson and Firas in opposite corners when they've been in the same corner for GSP on multiple occasions. Whether either side's gameplan excels or if it's simply a case of either Florian or Guida being the better fighter will remain to be seen, but it's a nice little wrinkle to add into the storyline for this fight. Guida's got the benefit of Jackson's camp and his strategical guidance that has brought many a fighter victory, or has at least had some assistance in that regard, while Florian is still getting in a great camp with some excellent fighters with Firas in Montreal. This is a very good lightweight bout and it should definitely be fun to watch next Saturday.
[Kenny Florian art credit Cory Gould (c) MMATorch]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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