MMAVu

UFC 101 likley has its main event, and it’s a good one.

Kenny Florian finally gets his shot at 155lb Champion, BJ Penn, after Penn’s failed attempt at simultaneously holding the Lightweight and Welterweight titles. We all know how that debacle turned out after his loss to George St. Pierre.

However, it’s time for Penn to move on and focus on the increasingly dangerous Florian. Florian has been on an unbelievable tear, taking down top contenders Roger Huerta and Joe Stevenson in his most recent fights. He is much, much more equipped for a title shot at this point in his career. As an added bonus, Georges St. Pierre is helping to prepare Florian for this bout, as one last jab at Penn.

Penn has been completely consumed by the apparent greasing during his last bout, and can’t seem to let it go. He has convinced himself it would have been a vastly different fight had the vaseline not been applied to St. Pierre. He had better refocus, and fast. Florian has cardio until next Tuesday, and is head and shoulders above the rest of the 155lb class.

In a conference call today at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, UFC President confirmed the winner of the 155lb bout will be guaranteed a title shot at BJ Penn. Said White:

This fight is going to be amazing, and the winner of this fight will face B.J. Penn for the lightweight title after B.J. fights Georges St. Pierre

In the lead up to Florian’s last bout with top contender Roger Huerta, it was widely speculated the winner of the fight would get a crack at Penn, and Dana White said as much…but after Florian took the decision, it was announced that BJ Penn would be taking on 170lb Champion Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight belt. Rather than rest on his laurels, Florian agreed to a fight with former number one contender, Joe Stevenson.

Stevenson is on the comeback trail after losing to Penn for the vacant lightweight title back at UFC 80. During the fight, Stevenson was doing so-so until an elbow from Penn opened up a geyser of a cut on Stevenson’s forehead, changing the course of the fight. Stevenson last defeated Gleison Tibau by guillotine choke at UFC 86. In fact, three out of his last four wins have come by guillotine choke, so watch for that in this weekend’s bout.

Prediction: Florian by unanimous decision. Stevenson just doesn’t have the range nor the striking technique to force Florian out of his game plan. Watch for Florian to do what he did to Huerta, fight a smart fight and not mix it up on the ground much with Joe Daddy.