Kenny Florian vs. Diego Nunes in the Works for UFC 131

Former lightweight contender Kenny Florian revealed that he will make his featherweight debut against Diego Nunes at UFC 131.

Florian (14-5, 11-4 UFC) recently came up short in his third bid for a lightweight title shot, dropping a unanimous decision to Gray Maynard at UFC 118. The Ultimate Fighter 1 finalist had expressed a desire to immediately face the best that the featherweight division has to offer.

Nunes (16-1, 1-0 UFC) certainly fits that bill. After a 4-1 mark in the WEC, Nunes made a successful UFC debut at UFC 125, defeating former featherweight champion Mike Brown by split decision.

Florian last three fights:
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Gray Maynard - UFC 118: Edgar vs. Penn 2 (08/28/2010)
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Takanori Gomi - UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi (03/31/2010)
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Clay Guida - UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez (12/12/2009)

Nunes last three fights:
Win (Split Decision) Mike Brown - UFC 125: Resolution (01/01/2011)
Win (Unanimous Decision) Tyler Toner - WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan (09/30/2010)
Win (Split Decision) Raphael Assuncao - WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus (06/20/2010)

Props: MMA Live

Kenny Florian vs. Evan Dunham in the works for UFC 127

Verbal agreements are in place for lightweights Kenny Florian and Evan Dunham to face off at UFC 127 on Super Bowl weekend.

"We have verbally agreed to fight Evan Dunham, which is great news. Phenomenal opponent, very excited about it... looks like it may happen on Super Bowl weekend," Florian announced while on ESPN MMA Live.

Florian (14-5, 11-4 UFC) is coming off of a loss to Gray Maynard at UFC 118 that could have earned him a third shot at the UFC lightweight title. A win over the highly-touted Dunham could propel Florian right back in to contention.

Dunham (11-1, 4-1 UFC) is also coming off of a loss, but under very different circumstances. Dunham came back from a nasty cut sustained at the hands of Sean Sherk to dominate the latter two rounds of their three-round affair at UFC 119. However, two of the judges scored the fight for Sherk, creating one of the most controversial decisions of the year.

Florian last three fights:
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Gray Maynard - UFC 118
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Takanori Gomi - UFC Fight Night 21
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Clay Guida - UFC 107

Dunham last three fights:
Loss (Split Decision) Sean Sherk - UFC 119
Win (Split Decision) Tyson Griffin - UFC 115
Win (Submission - Armbar) Efrain Escudero - UFC Fight Night 20

Dana White confirms winner of Florian/ Maynard gets title shot

UFC president Dana White announced at the UFC 118 press conference that the winner of Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard would get the next lightweight title shot.

"Gray Maynard beats Kenny Florian, he deserves a title shot, no doubt about it," White said at the press conference.

White confirmed later in the conference that either fighter would get a title shot with a win.

With UFC 118 also featuring a lightweight title bout between champion Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn, we will know what the next lightweight title fight will be by the end of the night.

If Maynard wins, there will be an interesting back story no matter who the champion is. Maynard handed Edgar his only career loss back at UFC Fight Night 13 in 2008, and was coached by Penn during his winning run on "The Ultimate Fighter 5."

Florian's last loss came at the hands of Penn at UFC 101, and has yet to face Edgar.

Watch the UFC 118 Press Conference at 3:00 PM EST

Join TapouTVTC.com right here at 3:00 PM EST today for the UFC 118 press conference. B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, Randy Couture, James Toney, Kenny Florian, Gray Maynard and Dana White will be on hand to take questions at the Great Hall in Faneuil Hall in Boston. You can also watch the press conference live here.

White:
"I didn't think I would make it, but then I ended up doing it." ~ on booking a James Toney fight
"[Tony]'s got more knockouts than Randy has fights."
"Lots of guys in boxing have talked smack about the UFC, one guy has come in and signed the contract."
"Gray Maynard beats Kenny Florian, he deserves a title shot, no doubt about it."
"Toronto. I want to get to Toronto as fast as possible." ~ on what city White wants the UFC in next.
"I would never do anything to embarrass myself. I know a lot more than you think I know."
"It's going to happen, it's just a matter of when." ~ on getting the UFC in New York
"We're going to be announcing some things in the next month or so that will take things to another level."

Penn:
"I feel like I'm going to blow a lot of people away on Saturday night, and they're going to be surprised who BJ Penn is."
"I love to be the contender."
"At certain times I've lived up to the expectations, and at certain times I haven't."

Edgar:
"The confidence that I gained from the last fight has really pushed me in the right direction."

Couture:
"This sport is going to continue to explode around the world whether I win or lose this fight."
"I don't do any talking, it all happens in the cage. That's all that matters."

Toney:
"I'm a different kind of animal. I adapt to my atmosphere."
"Bunch of cowards in there." ~ responding to White saying boxing has a lot of problems

Florian:
"I don't feel any added pressure fighting in my home town. This is a dream."
"This is the best point in my career to face a guy like Gray Maynard."

Maynard:
"I've got a couple more pounds to cut, so I'm going to be pretty hungry tomorrow."