UFC featherweight Diego Nunes (16-1) will welcome former lightweight contender Kenny Florian to the 145 lb division early this summer at UFC 131. The Brazilian is excited to be the first welcome the former “TUF” contestant to the division.
There is also talk that the winner will earn a shot at the featherweight title, currently held by Nunes teammate Jose Aldo. Aldo meets Mark Hominick in April at UFC 129, and depending on who the victor is, will determine whether Nunes takes the title shot if he successfully defeats Florian.
Nunes spoke to Tatame.com about his impending bout with Florian and his thoughts on the UFC featherweight title.
What do you think about Kenny Florian and what do you expect of this fight?
It’ll be a pleasure for me to fight him, it was a gift, and as a fighter I think Florian is a great athlete, with a great baggage. I’m very excited to fight him, I couldn’t have a better chance than this one.He’s fought as a middleweight on TUF, and went to the final rounds of the show. How do you see this divisions changing, now for the third time?
I remember it, I used to watch the show back then, and I followed his evolution since then, which was splendid, but let’s see how he’ll feel on this new weight division. His hunger for the belt made him to make a tough decision, it’ll be a great battle for him to lose that weight, but I loved to hear from it, because that’s a good thing for the division, especially when it’s me that will host him here. He doesn’t know what it’s to come on his way.Jose Aldo is your teammate, and you’ve said you wouldn’t fight him. Would you deny a title shot, in case you win and Aldo beats up Mark Hominick?
Of course, there’s nothing more worthy than being faithful to someone, whether it’s a family person, a friend, a friend from work… You have to honor the ones who honored you. I try to be faithful to God and to everything he’s given me, like my family, my wife, my teammates. Me and my team are together on this one. While one is on the top, the others around him are there to help him to remain there while God allow it, because that’s how honorable men should think. When it’s your time to shine, you will do so, and I know my chances will come, like they already are.