UFC 107: Firas Zahabi of Tristar vs Greg Jackson, for Kenny Florian vs Clay Guida

Published on: 2nd December, 2009

UFC 107: Firas Zahabi of Tristar vs Greg Jackson, for Kenny Florian vs Clay Guida   | read this item

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As we all know the UFC 107 main event will have current lightweight champion BJ Penn defending his title against Diego Sanchez from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee on December. But, there is another interesting lightweight matchup that is taking place on the card as Penn’s last opponent, Kenny Florian takes on Clay Guida and in order to prepare for this fight ‘KenFlo’ switched camps from Team Sityodtong with coach Mark DelaGrotte to work with Firas Zahabi at the Tri-Star Gym in Montreal, Canada and is ready to make another run to get a third shot at the lightweight championship once again.

In a new interview with Heavy.com Florian says that while training with Firas Zahabi who also trains UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is improving on his game leaps and bounds and is delighted in working up in Canada for this fight.

“I’m training with Firas at Tri-Star Gym in Montreal. They’re associated with Greg Jackson, of course. I haven’t gone to New Mexico to train with Greg or anything like that. Actually, Clay Guida has been training over there, so that would be a little awkward.”

“But training with Firas, bringing him on as my striking and MMA coach, he’s been phenomenal. He’s doing things that no one else is even close to thinking about. So for me, I feel that between having my brother Keith as a coach and Firas as well, with my boxing coach Peter Welch and all the incredible people I’ve had a chance to work with for this camp, it feels like I’m in my Ph.D course for mixed martial arts. So it’s been really enjoyable with these guys. I’ve improved my game leaps and bounds for this fight.”

Like Florian, Clay Guida has also switched up camps for this fight as he has moved down to Albuquerque, New Mexico to work with Greg Jackson who also works with Zahabi as Florian says the coaches who are good friends and work often will be on opposite sides.

Florian is also aware of the pace that Guida can keep from the beginning to the end of any fight and adds that he has stepped up his strength and conditioning program for this fight considerably. Still, Florian guarantees that he will be in the best shape ever coming into this fight.

“I’ve been working very hard. My strength and conditioning coach and I have been working very hard during my sparring sessions, and all of my coaches have really been pushing me hard to prepare for that. They know that Clay is the kind of guy that doesn’t really come with the best technique, but he’s a guy that’s always going to be there until the end. He can really push you and tire you out. He’s beaten a lot of fighters that were technically superior to him because of that pace. I’m planning on bringing technique and pace into the cage on December 12. I’m going to be in the best shape that I can and be at the best technical level that I can. I’ll do whatever it takes to get that win.”

This is one of the more interesting matchups on the UFC 107 fight card as a win for Florian will help him get back up that ladder to a title shot once again. A win for Clay Guida will vault him into the front of the line in the process as well as top ten status in a very deep weight class as well.

Thoughts?

 Nelson Rodriguez AKA: Nelo2.0 is the Co - Owner of URDirt.com who is also an Editor and Author on the site. Read more from this author

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