Saturday’s UFC 118 card in Boston is a mixture of the sublime and the ridiculous. There’s a pointless scrap between MMA legend Randy Couture and boxing legend James Toney (pictured) that probably qualifies as some manner of guilty pleasure.
But its novelty stature has somewhat overshadowed a pair of bouts of far greater significance. Long-time contender Kenny Florian battles Gray Maynard for a title shot against the winner of the main event between BJ Penn and champion Frankie Edgar.
By Sunday morning, the whole complexion of the lightweight division might have turned upside-down.
Florian is vying for his third title shot, having previously come up short against former champions Sean Sherk and BJ Penn. Those failed bids register as his only two losses since 2005, during which he has won 11 bouts — an astonishing 10 by stoppage.
Penn v Edgar preview
The worry for Florian is that Maynard is a monster wrestler in the mould of Sean Sherk, who controlled and dominated him at UFC 64. However, Florian argues (convincingly, on analysis) that he has evolved into a far more well-rounded fighter in the intervening four years.
Gray ‘The Bully’ Maynard is in the odd position of owning a fairly recent win over the incumbent champion, having dealt Frankie Edgar his only career loss with a unanimous decision in 2008. Indeed, many feel he has been overlooked for a title shot.
Maynard himself hasn’t complained much. Though undefeated, he suffers from an inability to finish fights. He hasn’t endeared himself to fans by allowing his last six wins to go to decision, and title shots are hard to come by when the fans aren’t on board.
Furthermore, UFC president Dana White had made clear that Maynard was on the cusp of a title shot, but the Arizonan wrestler scuppered his own chances with a thoroughly lacklustre performance against Nate Diaz in January.
So the opportunity fell to Edgar instead, who stunned the MMA world (and bookies) by prying the lightweight belt from a seemingly unstoppable BJ Penn. The decision was deemed controversial enough to warrant Saturday’s immediate rematch.
Ducking
Thus, Penn was incensed when Edgar began campaigning for a rematch with Maynard instead. To the former champion, this was blatant ducking. To Edgar, he insisted he merely wanted to avenge his only career loss, and that he was happy enough to rematch Penn first.
“His corner, they don’t have much to work with,” says Penn of Saturday’s bout. “They only have Frankie Edgar.” Disparaging words that fans of ‘The Prodigy’ will hope aren’t suggestive of him taking Edgar lightly — which would be the second time, according to many.
Nevertheless, Penn is heavily favoured to regain his belt. And of the title eliminator between Maynard and Florian? “I couldn’t care less about that bout,” says Penn. Not so for the fans. Â It’s a rare treat to see the four best UFC fighters from one division square off on one night.
Alan Murphy
