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Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson? Florian Eyes Frankie Edgar Instead

ESPN's Franklin McNeil (grrooooaaannnn) has talked to both Florian and Edgar. Both, it seems, believe they need a fight with each other to earn a shot at BJ Penn's title. Notable quote:

"Like Kenny, I want to fight the best in my division and right now he might be the No. 1 contender. So, fighting him is kind of a no-brainer. I want to get one [fight] in before the year is out. I would prefer November, but I would wait around to fight Kenny in December."

As for having his name mentioned prominently by Florian? That's fine by Edgar.

"It kind of gives me some recognition," Edgar said. "For a guy like Kenny to consider me as a formidable opponent; he's fought for the title and he's on a lot of people's list for a possible future title shot. So, it's good for me.

"I don't think Kenny's really calling me out; he's just making a statement that he wants to fight tough opponents."

Florian and Edgar are friends. The dropping of Edgar's name was not a show of disrespect by Florian.

"As an athlete, I have a lot of respect for [Frankie Edgar] for what he's accomplished," Florian said. "I respect him as a fighter and a person.

"It was the same with Roger Huerta. I had nothing against Roger; I liked Roger. But he was the best opponent available at the time. … It's nothing personal.

"I want to fight Frankie because he's a great fighter. That's the most important thing. It's about respect, and beating someone like Frankie Edgar will get me more respect."

McNeil suggests Edgar's rejuvenated and improved game revolves largely around improvements in the stand-up, but I would suggest the improvement is in jiu-jitsu. More specifically, in submission defense. Training with Ricardo Almeida has helped him to improve control, posture and positioning against opposition with good jiu-jitsu and particularly good guards. Edgar's base is already good, but Almeida has honed it to help Edgar avoid sweeps.

As for the match-up, I like this significantly more than a Florian - Stevenson fight. I don't think either Florian or Edgar are ready for BJ, but the winner here would be very close to a title shot. Florian would force BJ's hand and Edgar would erase the stigma of his loss to Maynard in April. This match makes much more sense than anything involving Stevenson.

0 recs | Comment 21 comments

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Comments

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Not a big fan of McNeil Luke?

by nitro on Aug 20, 2008 1:01 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

everyone dislikes their nemesis.

by pr0cs on Aug 20, 2008 1:24 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Edgar would erase the stigma of his loss to Maynard in April.

I believe he’s already done that by beating Hermes Franca.

by Brett Jones on Aug 20, 2008 1:07 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

not IMO

Maynard proved that Edgar can’t hang with the larger wrestlers in the division. If he were to convincingly beat Griffin in a re-match or beat Maynard, that would erase the Maynard loss in my mind.

by Kid Nate on Aug 20, 2008 2:01 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don’t see how a re-match with Griffin would have any correlation to Edgar’s problem with bigger wrestlers. Griffin is only a little bigger than Edgar, but Maynard is MUCH bigger. I don’t see how any re-match with Maynard would be any different for Edgar.

(formerly TheFightJournal)

by Lucas2 on Aug 20, 2008 2:20 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don't expect

Edgar could ever beat Maynard, I’m just saying until he does I don’t think he should be in title contention. Not before Gray gets a shot anyhow. Griffin is good enough that if Edgar were to soundly whip him I’d revise that call.

by Kid Nate on Aug 20, 2008 2:35 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I see what you’re saying. I don’t think Edgar could ever beat Maynard either (that’s why I hope they don’t fight again). If Maynard really works on his striking (like Koscheck style), he is going to dominate the lw division. He has got to be one of the biggest fighters in that weight class. Is there anyone bigger than him? Gleison Tibau maybe?

(formerly TheFightJournal)

by Lucas2 on Aug 20, 2008 2:39 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think Frankie could beat him if he could actually fight off his back. Maynard outwrestled him.

by zeroword on Aug 20, 2008 6:13 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Going from reading the post on Noons to this one is quite refreshing. Good to see Florian and Edgar actively looking for competition, and in a respectful way that can still generate fan interest.

by dmayeda on Aug 20, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hope Florian isnt as elusive and “technical” as he was with Huerta. I’ll be rooting for Edgar.

by xFenixKnightx on Aug 20, 2008 2:10 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

This has the makings of a great fight. It’s funny because Edgar possesses the qualities that made Huerta dangerous for Florian but he also has a much more technical game, thus diminishing Florian’s strengths. This will me a very tough fight for Kenny and I really don’t see how he wins. If Hermes Franca couldn’t submit Edgar, there’s no way Kenny will (or it’s highly unlikely).

(formerly TheFightJournal)

by Lucas2 on Aug 20, 2008 2:18 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I think KenFlo's

kicks add a whole new element to the fight. But agree he’ll have a hard time finishing Edgar.

by Kid Nate on Aug 20, 2008 2:28 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

As soon as Kenny’s foot leaves he ground, he would be on his back. I think Kenny’s knees are actually the most dangerous tool against Edgar. He showed against Huerta that he could time them well.

Does it seem that more and more fighters are improving their timing for throwing those knees when a wrestler shoots in (e.g., Hermes Franca against Sherk and Edgar, Thiago Alves against Hughes)?

(formerly TheFightJournal)

by Lucas2 on Aug 20, 2008 2:43 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Noons against Diaz….

by zeroword on Aug 20, 2008 6:14 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Good call.

(formerly TheFightJournal)

by Lucas2 on Aug 20, 2008 7:16 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

McNeil

What do people have against McNeil? Is it the fact that he oftten comes across as a bit boring and formal or is it something more specific?

I personally really like him, but then I like boring and formal (I am Swedish, you know).

by Sventsh on Aug 20, 2008 3:09 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

… I think what a lot of people have against him is that he’s not an mma guy and often says stuff that is completely wrong, but he has a good gig based on his boxing background because ESPN doesn’t really realize that there’s a difference between boxing and mma …

by Kierkegaard on Aug 20, 2008 7:00 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

He is a boxing guy, and doesn’t know a lot about MMA. He’s obviously a good guy though.

by Michael Rome on Aug 20, 2008 7:05 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If this happens, then I want to see Sherk/Stevenson.

I’ll say it again, the UFC LW division is very compelling when you don’t factor BJ in.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Aug 20, 2008 3:22 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I still think BJ can get beat

by a few guys down there, but it would take some high-level planning on the part of his opponents.

That division is just so ridiculously talented that I don’t think anyone can maintain dominance for long.

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Aug 20, 2008 9:51 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yep

I’d rather see Edgar/Florian opposed to Florian/Stevenson

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Aug 20, 2008 3:45 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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