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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
When the matchup between Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard was announced for this weekend's UFC 118 event, it seemed like a natural fit for the "#1 Contender Bout" label. Florian had won two straight fights in convincing fashion since his last crack at the UFC Lightweight Championship, and Maynard has continued to roll on in the UFC with an undefeated record, giving both a legitimate claim to be the next fighter to challenge for the title with a win in Boston.
UFC President Dana White agrees with that assessment of the fight, and confirmed at Wednesday's pre-fight press conference that the winner of this bout will, in fact, get the first shot at the winner of the B.J. Penn-Frankie Edgar rematch in the main event.
"If Gray Maynard beats Kenny Florian, there's no doubt about it he deserves a title shot," said White.
And the inverse is true as well, as White answered "Absolutely" when asked if the title shot applied to a Florian victory as well.
Gray Maynard got passed over earlier this year for the shot at Penn at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, and because of that he'll be looking to seize the opportunity with a victory over the hometown fighter in Florian at the TD Garden.
"He's a tough guy, but it's a fight," Maynard said. "I love it, I love my job. I'm prepared, let's just get to it. Get past the weight cut, get to the fight, get into the cage."
For Florian, he's running up against a style that has, in the past, been able to neutralize him. Maynard's wrestling game is better than anyone Florian has faced since Sean Sherk in 2006, and Florian says he believes it's even better.
"Obviously Gray has a lot of experience over me in wrestling and I expect him to use that," Florian said. "I'd like to think I've improved a lot since that fight [with Sean Sherk]. I think Gray is a bigger and better version of Sean Sherk... I'm looking forward to testing myself against Gray."
UFC 118 airs live on Spike TV and pay-per-view this Saturday, August 28, from the TD Garden in Boston, Mass.
Penick's Analysis: It made perfect sense to have this be a number one contender's fight, as the winner will definitely have the most solid case for being the next challenger for the belt in the division. I still remain someone interested in seeing a second fight between B.J. Penn and Kenny Florian should both of them win on Saturday, and if Maynard beats Florian he'll have absolutely earned his shot. It should be a great fight for the Boston crowd and for the pay-per-view buying public.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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