UFC Speakables: Kenny Florian speaks on Gray Maynard

Florian recently sat down with MMAMania.com and talked about  his upcoming fight with Gray Maynard at UFC 118 in August.

“I’m much more capable to fight a wrestler the caliber and the size of Gray Maynard. I train with a lot of great wrestlers now. Back then [prior to his fight against Sherk at UFC 64], I didn’t train much wrestling at all. The last couple fights I’ve really focused on developing my wrestling. Now, having the access to train with the guys at the Montreal Wrestling Club and to train with guys like Georges St. Pierre, Gray is going to quickly find out that I’m not the same guy I was back then. I’ll tell you this, if he does get me down, he’s gonna have to work his ass off to get it. That’s for sure.
Yeah, [winning on points is] kinda the way I think he’s gonna have to fight. And this is no offense to Gray, but he’s gonna have to play his typical, boring, Gray Maynard fight. You know, take the guy down and just stay there. Just lay and pray. I think that is his only hope to win the fight. He’s good everywhere, but I think that in order to win the fight, he knows that’s what he’s gonna have to do. But however he goes about fighting me, it’s not gonna be easy.”

Quick Hit: Does Gray Maynard train with Greg Jackson? Just saying. He does love the “lay & pray” aspect of the MMA game. I think Kenny is right on this one. He’s in the top three of lightweights the UFC has to offer and I don’t expect Gray to be able to keep taking him down without being submitted.