UFC 118 Kenny Florian vs Gray Maynard Fight Odds, Picks & Predictions: The lightweight title is on the line this evening as former champion BJ Penn takes on current belt holder Frankie Edgar at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The undercard may feature the champion in waiting, though, as top contenders Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard square off in battle for a shot at the Penn/Edgar winner. UFC 118 Fight Odds, Picks & Predictions at Bodog.com have Florian listed as a slight -155 moneyline favorite in his meeting with the undefeated Maynard.
Kenny Florian, one the original TUF cast members, has carved out a nice career in the Octagon, one which lacks only a 
championship belt. Florian, who is 15-4 as a professional fighter, has won eight of his last nine fights, the only loss coming in a championship match against BJ Penn last August.
The Boston native's last three victories (Joe Stevenson, Clay Guida, Takanori Gomi) have all come via submission; however, the jiu jitsu ace has become one of the better strikers in the lightweight division. Florian is especially dangerous from the mount or even his own guard where his notorious elbows are known for inflicting serious damage.
Florian, who is not much of a trash talker, had a few words of warning for Maynard, who asked UFC President Dana White for a scrap with the Boston College graduate.
"I sense a certain cockiness [from Gray]," Florian said. "I think he's already overlooking me, he's already looking towards the title. [But] I don't think he's faced a fighter like me. He's faced good guys, but I know I'm gonna surprise him…I don't think he's going to expect what he's going to see on Saturday night."
Gray Maynard, a former All-American wrestler at Michigan State, brings an unblemished 10-0 record into the Octagon this evening. Maynard, who is 7-0-0, 1 NC in the UFC after a no content meeting with Rob Emerson in the TUF 5 finale, has taken out some of the division's best, including a unanimous decision victory over current champion Frankie Edgar in April of 2008.
The 31 year old Arizona native, like Florian, is dangerous both on the ground and on his feet; however, he has finished just one UFC fight (KO/TKO over Joe Veres in 2007). Maynard's last two wins (Roger Huerta, Nate Diaz) both came via split decision.
Perhaps validating Florian's suspicions about Maynard overlooking him, the latter had the following to say in the lead up to tonight's fight.
"Edgar has the belt and I'm gonna have to pry it out of his hands, which is gonna be a tough job to do," Maynard said. "Just because I beat him before doesn't mean it's automatic."
UFC 118 Fight Odds, Picks & Predictions: Not only has Maynard assumed a victory over Florian, he has also discounted the most decorated lightweight fighter in the history of the UFC in BJ Penn. Take "Ken Flo" and the -155 in this three round struggle.
Bodog.com UFC 118 Kenny Florian vs Gray Maynard Fight Odds, Picks & Predictions:
Kenny "Ken Flo" Florian -155
Gray "The Bully" Maynard +125
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