"Every time you get a loss, you take a different path and get back on your journey. I believe if I had won that fight I would have changed nothing about my game."
Also warmly received: BJ Penn, the former lightweight champion fighting to reclaim his belt from Frankie Edgar. The current champion, who lives down the East Coast in New Jersey, drew mostly boos with some loud cheers.
Davis, who meets Nate Diaz (12-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) this Saturday in UFC 118's first pay-per-view bout, fought at the Garden two years after he moved from Bangor, Maine, to Boston to further his boxing career. Already a dad, he took root in a Portugese neighborhood and trained alongside pros Micky Ward and Dana Rosenblatt while working as a barback in the Combat Zone, a red-light district known for its sleazy 1970s heyday.
David Haye agreed with Khan's opinion and explained: "I admire Toney's courage, but six months of training isn't going to be enough. As a UFC fan, I know two or three years wouldn't be enough. He's delusional here.
A basic UFC 118 preview, Frankie Edgar took the UFC Lightweight strap from BJ Penn, and the rivalry has heated up. In addition, Randy "The Natural" Couture will battle James "Lights Out" Toney, and Toney will be debuting in the mixed martial arts profession.
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
* Champ Frankie Edgar (154) vs. B.J. Penn (154) - for lightweight title
* Randy Couture () vs. James Toney (237)
* Kenny Florian (156) vs. Gray Maynard (156)
* Marcus Davis (170) vs. Nate Diaz (171)
* Demian Maia (184) vs. Mario Miranda (185)
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
* Joe Lauzon (156) vs. Gabe Ruediger (155)
* Nik Lentz (155) vs. Andre Winner (154)
PRELIMINARY CARD
* Dan Miller (185) vs. John Salter (185)
* Nick Osipczak (171) vs. Greg Soto (170)
* Amilcar Alves (171) vs. Mike Pierce (171)
In terms of skill, Florian is more well rounded and possesses a diversity of weapons that Maynard has yet to acquire. He is a very talented striker and also a very smart fighter. Where Maynard seems to have a very one track mind in the octagon, Florian seems to size his opponents up and attack with counter strikes.
Maynard is a big, strong lightweight that dominates his opponents with his wrestling. While improving in his boxing, his power and strength is in wrestling. He has had a lot of success getting opponents to the ground in his UFC career and as he develops his boxing, his wrestling will always be his go-to move.
In the #1 contender lightweight fight I believe the wrong man is the favorite. Gray Maynard will take Florian down at will and grind out a decision victory. Florian is dangerous but his wrestling is his achilles heel. Maynard is undefeated for a reason and will leave Boston with the win. Put down $100 and after tonight you will have $250 in your account.