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[killakem1]

- FLORIAN VS. DUNHAM AGREED FOR SUPER BOWL CARD- MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

It looks like two lightweights are hoping to get back into title contention with a fight on Super Bowl weekend. Kenny Florian has verbally agreed to meet Evan Dunham in a 155-pound contest on Feb. 5 at UFC 126.

Florian made the announcement on MMA Live on ESPN 2 Thursday night.

"We verbally agreed to fight Evan Dunham, which is great news," Florian stated on the show. "Phenomenal opponent, very excited about, and it looks like it may happen on Super Bowl weekend."

With a title shot on the line in his last fight, Florian (13-5) came up short against current top contender Gray Maynard in a hometown fight at UFC 118 in Boston. While Florian was not dominated, he still wasn't able to pull the trigger and go after Maynard in the manner he had done in previous fights.

Concentrating on his wrestling since the fight, Florian pulled his hamstring derailing him from a potential fight with B.J. Penn in November, but now he's healthy and ready to get back to action in February.

For his part, Dunham (11-1) may come into the February fight with a loss on his record, but most people would tell you that the Oregon native was anything but a loser in the fight with Sean Sherk at UFC 119. Dunham seemed to get the best of the former UFC lightweight champion, but the judges saw fit to award Sherk the split decision.

UFC president Dana White voiced his displeasure after the event stating he believed Dunham clearly won the bout. If Dunham is looking to take out his frustrations, it will be against Florian in February.

Sources close to Dunham's camp had informed MMAWeekly.com that the Xtreme Couture fighter was planning some time off following the Sherk fight, which was his third bout for 2010. The opportunity to face Florian was an obviously enticing lure to get him back in the Octagon.

The Super Bowl card, tentatively titled UFC 126, will go down Feb. 5 with several other rumored fights being talked about for the event, but the UFC has yet to make any official announcements about the card.

Evan Dunham vs. Kenny Florian in the works for UFC 127 in February
http://mmajunkie.com/news/20937/evan...n-february.mma

A key matchup in the lightweight division is in the works for February.

Two-time UFC title contender Kenny Florian (14-5 MMA, 11-4 UFC) revealed on the latest episode of ESPN's "MMA Live" that a UFC 127 bout with lightweight prospect Evan Dunham (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is currently in the works.

"We've verbally agreed to fight Evan Dunham, which is great news," Florian said. "Phenomenal opponent, which I'm very excited about, and it looks like it may happen on Super Bowl weekend."

While not yet officially announced by the organization, UFC 127 is expected to take place Feb. 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The main event is expected to feature a middleweight title fight between current champion Anderson Silva and top contender Vitor Belfort.

While both lightweights are highly respected, each is looking to recover from a recent loss.

Dunham faced former UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk in September and was dealt the first loss of his career via split decision.

After suffering a huge gash near his right eye in the opening round, Dunham battled back with an impressive blend of striking from distance and a capable takedown attack. Nevertheless, Sherk was granted the victory, and Dunham was handed the first loss of his career.

While many MMA observers questioned the result, Dunham refused to seek pity following his first professional defeat.

"What all this comes down to is that it's my fault that I lost because I didn't finish him," Dunham told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "When you don't finish somebody, you're subject to the judges' scrutiny. I don't place blame on anybody. It's my fault that I did not go out there and finish him, and I needed to finish him."

Meanwhile, Florian returns to the cage for the first time since suffering a unanimous-decision loss to Gray Maynard at UFC 118 in August. In a fight to determine the 155-pound division's top contender, Florian was unable to defend Maynard's wrestling attack and lost the fight on all three judges' cards.

The loss left the runner-up from the original season of "The Ultimate Fighter" at just 2-2 in his past four fights – though the defeats have come at the hands of current No. 1 contender Maynard and former lightweight champion B.J. Penn.

For more on the rumored UFC 127 event, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

evan takes this...gonna be a good fight but i got evan by sd

**UPDATE**
FLORIAN VS. DUNHAM AGREED FOR SUPER BOWL CARD (UPDATED)
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/...2823&zoneid=13

UPDATE: Sources close to Evan Dunham's camp spoke to MMAWeekly.com on Friday and stated that at this point no agreement has been made verbal or otherwise for a fight with Kenny Florian on Feb 5. While the sources made it clear that the fight could still happen, Dunham has not accepted the fight, nor has a date been officially set for the bout to happen.

Florian's agent Malki Kawa also posted on Twitter on Friday that the fight was not official either, and that a search for opponents was underway.

MMAWeeekly will continue to follow this story as it develops.

this fight better occur. who doesnt wanna see it

[Adambomb]

I like both these guys so I'm a little disappointed they have to fight each other, but it'll be a great fight.

I would've liked to see Florian get a chance to avenge his loss to Sherk and really test the wrestling improvements he's striving to make.

[dimerules28]

Man sick fight. And this card is gonna be epic. Last superbowl card we were watchin Randy beat up an ancient Coleman. what a difference a year makes. Hopefully injuries stay to minimum.

[iced]

Originally Posted by Adambomb

I like both these guys so I'm a little disappointed they have to fight each other, but it'll be a great fight.

I would've liked to see Florian get a chance to avenge his loss to Sherk and really test the wrestling improvements he's striving to make.

i agree with all of the above. kind of sad that both of these guys have to fight right now, but it should be an absolute war!

[xraygex]

Dunham is going to fucking SHINE !!!!

[Chute_Boxe44]

Amazing match up, both of these guys need to make a statement here.

I honestly see this as a pretty even matchup stylistically. It should be a very technical match on all levels.

I have to give the edge to Kenny though, he comes out like a beast after a loss

[foutch550]

I wonder what they'll do with Sherk then? Edgar gets Gray; BJ get Hughes; Florian/Dunham; Sotiropolous/Lauzon.... Maybe they'll do Sherk/Melvin. But that actually seems like Dunham's getting the "winner's matchup". Clearly fighting Florian coming off a loss is a more rewarding fight than a "new" Guillard coming off a win.

[Chute_Boxe44]

Originally Posted by foutch550

I wonder what they'll do with Sherk then?

Sherk VS Cole Miller maybe? Not sure who else would be reasonable at this point

[Leucoethiops]

Should be a good one.

[rodzilla1988]

I think Florian takes this by UD. I think Kenny is more well rounded than Dunham, but def. more crisp in the standup dept.