Dana White: Kenny Florian-Gray Maynard Winner Guaranteed Title Shot

By Mike Chiappetta - Senior Writer

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BOSTON -- Fighting for the first time in his UFC career in his native state of Massachusetts, Kenny Florian already has plenty of incentive and motivation to beat Gray Maynard.

On Wednesday, he got one more reason.

UFC president Dana White confirmed that the winner of the Florian-Gray Maynard UFC 118 fight will indeed be guaranteed the next crack at the UFC lightweight championship.

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White first mentioned that Maynard would get an opportunity to fight for the championship if beat Florian, noting that many fans and media thought he'd become the No. 1 contender after defeating Nate Diaz in January. Instead, the UFC went a different route, giving Frankie Edgar a chance to face champion B.J. Penn. Edgar, of course, went on to earn the historic upset that led to Saturday night's main event rematch.

"If Gray Maynard beats Kenny Florian, he deserves a title shot, no doubt about it," White said during a pre-fight press conference held at the historic Faneuil Hall building.

Later, though, another reporter followed up on the 155-pound title picture.

"So, whoever comes out of this gets the title shot?" he asked.

"Yes," White said, explaining that he only mentioned Maynard earlier because he was passed over following his win over Diaz.

A Florian win would make him the No. 1 contender in the lightweight division for the third time in his career. In Oct. 2006, he lost a unanimous decision to Sean Sherk when the two faced off for the then-vacant belt. After six straight wins, he earned another opportunity, but was stopped by Penn in a fourth-round rear naked choke submission loss at UFC 101 in Aug. 2009.

After recently stopping Takanori Gomi and Clay Guida, a victory over Maynard would give Florian three straight wins. Other lightweights have longer streaks, including George Sotiropoulos, who's won six straight, but it appears, they'll have to wait.

"Every fight is important and every fight is like a championship fight," Florian said. "Obviously I've been there before. I think a lot of what you do, a lot of the winning comes before you get there. I think I've prepared very, very well. Gray's a great opponent. If I get the chance [to fight for the title again], I think it's well deserved and I'm very appreciative of that."

As for Maynard, who is 9-0 with one no contest, he seemed more concerned with more immediate matters.

"I have a couple of pounds to cut, that's what's going through my mind," he said. "Kenny's a tough guy, but it's a fight and I love it. I love my job. I'm prepared. Let's just hurry up and get there. Let's get past cutting weight and fight. Let's get in the cage. Let's find out."

Read More: bj penn, ufc 118, news, Frankie Edgar (MMA), Gray Maynard (MMA), Kenny Florian (MMA)

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