Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson
In an extremely competitive Lightweight title eliminator, Ultimate Fighter alums Kenny Florian and Joe Stevenson will both attempt to reassert themselves into the championship scene, which both were removed from fairly recently. This is a must win fight for both men, as Florian’s brutal loss to Sean Sherk and Stevenson’s mauling at the hands of BJ Penn set back their title hopes considerably.
Kenny Florian was perhaps the biggest surprise on the first season of the Ultimate Fighter. Drastically undersized for the 170 pound division he was competing in, Florian put together an impressive string of wins, showing surprisingly good striking for someone who was considered a pure grappler. Since the show ended, Florian has continually asserted his status as a top Lightweight, having suffered only one loss and securing big wins against the likes of Joe Lauzon and Roger Huerta. A respected Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt who trains in Muay Thai at Mark Dellagrotte’s Sityodtong camp, Florian has grown into one of UFC’s most well-rounded fighters, capable of ending a fight from any position.
For his part, Joe Stevenson is a skilled veteran who has been in the fight game since he was a teenager. After trucking through all of his opponents on his season of TUF, Stevenson secured a roster spot in UFC when he defeated Luke Cummo in an epic ground battle on the season finale. An extremely compact and powerful wrestler with great submissions, Stevenson is one of the most dangerous ground fighters in the division. If there is one hole in Stevenson’s game it is clearly his standup, but his proficiency on the ground more than makes up for it.
Stylistically, this is an extremely competitive fight. Florian has a clear edge in the kickboxing department, but it is balanced out by Stevenson’s superior strength and wrestling. Both men are world class grapplers, which renders a submission win for either man rather unlikely.
The result of this fight hinges on Florian’s takedown defense. If he can manage to keep the fight standing, Florian will no doubt bloody “Joe Daddy” up, TKOing him or at the very least winning a unanimous decision. More likely, though, Stevenson’s superior cardio, wrestling, and strength will allow him to score takedowns and outpoint.
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Florian in a carefully fought unanimous decision. Considering how close this fight promises to be, Stevenson is a good candidate for a bet, as he is surprisingly a substantial underdog.
