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Stevenson-Florian winner to get UFC title shot

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Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White stated at the UFC 91 pre-fight press conference that the winner of the lightweight match-up between Kenny "Ken-Flo" Florian and Joe "Daddy" Stevenson would get the next shot at the title.

"The winner of this fight definitely gets the shot," said White.

Florian was widely considered the No.1 contender to B.J. Penn's UFC lightweight crown after handily defeating Roger Huerta at UFC 87 on Aug. 9. Florian and Stevenson have each had the opportunity to compete for the belt and both came up short.

Florian lost to former UFC lightweight titleholder Sean Sherk at UFC 64 on Oct. 14, 2006 by unanimous decision after five rounds. The Bostonian has strung together a five-fight win streak since being defeated by Sherk in a bout that saw Sherk cut and bloodied by the end of the 25 minutes.

Stevenson was submitted by current champion Penn at UFC 80 on Jan. 19, but rebounded by defeating Gleison Tibau by guillotine choke at UFC 86 six months later on July 19.

"It's a great fight overshadowed by the heavyweight fight," said the UFC president. "It's going to be a sick fight. It should be. On paper it is."