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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"My best striking performances have always been when I’ve been working with Peter [Welch] the most. Striking always comes from footwork and Peter really stresses that. It takes a little while to get it down but each training camp I see more and more improvements... I feel that I’ve evolved a lot since the time when I fought another wrestler with similar skills [to Gray Maynard], Sean Sherk. I feel that this is coming at a great time in my career. I’m ready for a challenge and I really consider it the biggest fight of my career, the biggest challenge of my career."
-Kenny Florian talks to the Boston Herald about improving his striking game while working with Peter Welch and how he's evolved in his wrestling game over the years in preparation for his bout against Gray Maynard at UFC 118.
Penick's Analysis: This fight between Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard at UFC 118 will be a really good indicator of just how far Florian has come since the Sherk fight. He had no answer for the takedowns of Sherk at that point in his career, and it led to a lengthy ground and pound beating in the fight.
Now, he's evolved and, with the exception of the fight against B.J. Penn, he's not really been in trouble against any of his opponents. He continues to finish fights, and does so in impressive fashion, and he's an extremely tough fight for Maynard.
Maynard's a big lightweight and can certainly take Florian to the ground, but I think Florian will be dangerous off his back as well if he gets put there and he'll constantly be looking for an opening. I think this should be a really good fight but ultimately I see the hometown boy in Florian getting another crack at the Lightweight Championship.
RELATED STORY: UFC NEWS: UFC 118 Prelims on Spike confirmed with Lauzon vs. Etim, Rivera vs. Sakara: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]
[Kenny Florian art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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