How do these two stack up?
Florian: 35 years old | 5'10" | 72" reach
Nunes: 28 years old | 5'6" | 67" reach
What have these two done recently?
Florian: L - Gray Maynard (UD) | W - Takanori Gomi (SUB) | W - Clay Guida (SUB)
Nunes: W - Mike Thomas Brown (SD) | W - Tyler Toner (UD) | W - Raphael Assuncao (SD)
How did these two get here?
It didn't take long for Kenny Florian to work his way into the UFC going 2-1 before becoming a contestant on the first season of TUF. Fighting way above his weight class (middleweight) for a chance at what, at the time, was a nice contract and a chance for glory, Kenny made it to the finals before getting absolutely wrecked by Diego Sanchez (also not a middleweight... see a theme?). Eventually the UFC reestablished their lightweight division and Kenny thought he had found his home, getting a fast tracked title shot. After losing his first chance at gold, that he really wasn't ready for, Florian rattled off an impressive 6 fight win streak in which five ended in submission or TKO. Finally prepared for a title shot he met B.J. Penn and got wrecked. Again. After losing a title eliminator to Gray Maynard, the Incredible Shrinking Kenny has finally decided to give 145 a title run.
Diego Nunes worked his way into the WEC with a number of exciting first round finishes. Once under the ZUFFA umbrella, however, he never finished anyone ever again. Nearly half of his ZUFFA wins are split decisions. He has only lost once, to L.C. Davis, and since then has had three straight hard fought wins. Nunes is riding high off of his Mike Brown victory and after winning three in a row he is poised to get a crack at Aldo if he can parlay his momentum past Florian.
Why should you watch?
Kenny is usually exciting, he finishes fights I am told. Nunes puts on exciting fights himself so it really could shape up to be the best fight of the night. The most interesting reason to watch is the winner might get a fast track to a title shot. So, exciting and title implications? Good bout for fight fans.
