UFC 118 Betting – Florian, Maynard Fighting To Be No. 1 Contender?

With a main event title fight featuring UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and number one contender BJ Penn, the buildup to that contest will feature a lightweight match to determine who the winner of that tilt will have to defend their title against.

The undefeated Gray “The Bully” Maynard will step in to the octagon to take on Kenny Florian with a number one contender shot on the line.

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Both fighters are well-qualified for the championship shot, but with only one opportunity available, this will be the test to determine which of the two is really ready for the UFC betting big stage.

UFC 118: Edgar vs Penn 2

Kenny Florian vs Gray Maynard

Saturday August 28, 2010

Broadcast: Pay-Per-View

TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

UFC 118 Betting Line: Florian -160

Leading Up To UFC 118: Kenny Florian

A black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kenny Floran has used his well-rounded technique to climb to the top of the UFC lightweight division, and after falling to BJ Penn in a title match last December, has bounced back with consecutive wins.

Never before in his career had Florian’s own strength been turned against him until Penn used a rare naked choke-hold to submit the Massachusetts-native in the fourth round of their championship fight at UFC 101. The 34-year old has rebounded with consecutive wins over Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi via submission, using the same move as Penn to expel consecutive opponents.

A win over Maynard will help lift Florian back in to contention for the title he couldn’t clinch the first time they met.

Leading Up To UFC 118: Gray Maynard

Former NCAA division one wrestler Gray Maynard looks to extend his undefeated streak as a professional Mixed Martial Artist to ten wins, with a double knock out no contest with Rob Emerson the only blemish on his otherwise perfect record.

With a list of opponents he has beaten including the current UFC Lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, Nate Diaz, and Roger Huerta, Maynard will be a deserving number one contender if he is able to secure one more victory.

The only negative on the 31-year old to this point in his career is that only two of his nine victories have come via knock out, with the other seven all going to judge’s decision. Maynard has beaten Edgar before, but a lot has changed for both fighters since they last met in 2008.

UFC 118 Betting Match Up: Florian vs Maynard

After opening 2010 with a win over Nate Diaz, big things are expected of Maynard in the coming year, and this fight will serve as the catapult to reaching his potential. Florian has been on this stage before, and while he was able to earn a title shot, he also lost to the same man that Edgar beat for the title.

These two fighters have never met before, but it will be in Maynard’s best interest to stay away from the ground game, where Florian would likely dominate.

UFC 118 Betting Pick: Florian