Kenny Florian looks forward to testing himself against 'the greatest lightweight fighter in the world'

by MMAmania.com on Mar 26, 2009 10:04 AM EDT

Quoteworthy:

"I am very excited to let you know that while I don't have a definite date yet, I will be fighting BJ Penn for the Lightweight UFC title later this summer. It has been a long road back and I am very grateful for the opportunity. Rarely does one get the chance to fight for a championship belt in the UFC and it's even more infrequent to fight a legend. BJ Penn has been someone I have looked up to for a long time. He has accomplished many amazing things. So I am looking forward to testing myself against one of the greatest if not the greatest lightweight fighter in the world. My coaches can't wait for the full fight camp to get started. As I begin formal preparations, I would like to acknowledge my amazing team of coaches that include; Keith Florian, Mark DellaGrotte, Peter Welch, Kevin Kearns and Jesse Kropelnicki. Their instruction, guidance and mastery is truly world class. For sure this will be the best and toughest training camp of my career."

Number one lightweight contender Kenny Florian shares his thoughts on earning the second title shot of his career against a man who he clearly respects, reining 155-pound champion BJ Penn. Florian dropped a blood-soaked unanimous decision to Sean Sherk for the then vacant division title at UFC 64: "Unstoppable" back in October 2006. He has not tasted defeat since, winning six straight against many of the best the class had to offer. Now he gets a second bite at the championship apple, which could happen at UFC 101 on August 8 on the East Coast. Stay tuned.

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I always liked BJ and never cared for Rat boy, but the tides are turning. I’m still going to root for BJ, but not like I would have b4 97. I’m gaining a lot of respect for Kenny and losing a lot for BJ! If Kenny does win though I will be looking forward to the excuses that we will here from baby J.

by BOW on Mar 26, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

Kenny is going to win this fight…I have no doubt. He learned a lot from his 5 round war with Sherk and he almost squeaked that one out had the ref stopped the fight from the damage he inflicted on Sherk but that’s no way to win a title. Florian has been ever improving since then and we are going to see the best KenFlo to date come fight time. He has all the tools to beat anyone in the division and he will prove that when he fights and defeats Penn. This is going to be a bad year for Penn.

Kenny has been spending time at the TriStar gym in Montreal with GSP and his coaches working on his striking. That has got to elevate anyone’s game. Kenny has a solid Muay Thai background and if he can get his overall boxing skills up to a level that can compete with BJ then I see Kenny running away with this fight. I think the main advantage that BJ has is his aggression…but that can be deflated either by controlling the tempo of the fight like GSP did or just by weathering some of the storms until BJ eventually gasses and then it’ll be easy pickings. Kenny is simply a smarter fighter than Penn and we’ll see that as the fight goes on.

BJ hasn’t changed much in all the years he’s been training other than refining his boxing skills. It’s the same group of guys every day and they simply do not challenge him. His training camp does what BJ says…Kenny does what his trainers say…that’s a huge difference. Penn doesn’t know how to push himself in a way to evolve his game. BJ will also be distracted by the birth of his new daughter and I hope GSP keeps egging him on about training Kenny and laughing off the whole greasegate fiasco. That would get under BJ’s skin.

by Buster Bluth on Mar 26, 2009 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

bj is way overrated. kenny has a great chance.

by shamo84 on Mar 26, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

You’re an idiot

by ScissorSweep on Mar 26, 2009 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions

greatest lightweight??? maybe but he is the most hated champion i have ever known

even more hated than sylvia

what ever ppl say you cant deny his skills…. or his annoying f**king personality… i hope ken flo wins but it will be hard

by ufcaddict on Mar 26, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions

BJ gasses in the third round, and we won’t have to see his face ever again. Any bets?

by jay on Mar 26, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

hey scissorsweep, last time I checked I was a mensa member and you are nothing, so unless you have become king of the world lately you had better shut up..

by shamo84 on Mar 26, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

BJ the most hated champ in UFC history????

That is only if you sent the survey to only those fans that take up thier residence of GSP’s nut sack.

BJ is way more loved than he is hated. In the Sherk/BJ fight, Sherk was the bad guy and BJ was the good guy.

So, just off the top of my head before running out on lunch:

Tim Sylvia
Tito Ortiz
Sean Sherk (steroids)
Matt Hughes (there is WAAAAAY more hate out there for Hughes than there is for BJ)
Josh Barnett (steroids)
Frank Shamrock
possibly Ricco Rodriguez?

That list right there contains every champ in the UFC that was hated, or at least recieved a lot of hate.

by ViolentMike on Mar 26, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah there is no way BJ Penn is way overrated and there is no way he is the most hated champ. Has everyone on this forum been taking crazy pills?

by Cogito Ergo Sum on Mar 26, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

i would like to say that you guys are some retardely FICKLE Mofo’s! BJ DOMINATES everyone he faces at LW, but loses to a Monster WElterweight in GSP, and all of the sudden, bj has been written off. What a JOKE! Kenny is a very tough and improved fighter, who DESERVES to be in there with BJ, but I dont think there is a man on earth that can beat BJ at 155 lbs….so I will have to see it to believe it.

You guys are fully entitled to not like bJ’s personality. I understand if you have a problem with greasegate..but when people start saying how over rated he is, just makes you guys sound stupid!

There’s no shame in what happened in the GSP fight. Do u guys really think Kenny would have done better against GSP? Hell no, so that fight shouldnt be a measuring stick to what happens in the lightweight division. THere are weight classes for a reason.

Kenny is a deserving contender…I look forward to this fight and hopefully It will be in Philly so I can see it live, but until I see someone beat, or even hang with BJ at 155 lbs, I wont believe that it can happen!

by john on Mar 26, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

He lost some of my respect for Bj (not that he cares)after 97, he’s a b1tch.

by MikeD on Mar 26, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

John I will respectfully disagree and I can name 4 LW’s that would beat Penn.Again IMO.

Aoki
Alvarez
Hansen

FLORIAN

Also I am not against BJ Penn because of the GSP crap but I have always disliked him since about 3 years ago.
I was born in Hawaii and have trained with BJ.

by NM on Mar 26, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

has anyone talked to the ppl around them about bj lately??

did no 1 hear bj moaning?? and he tried to get gsp suspended and tried delaying his fight with alves… has sylvia/hughes/sherk or any other champ on your list done that??? no they havent..

he is a pathetic/annoying/moaning idiot that alot of ppl dont like… okay so he gets cheered by casual fans who have no clue whats going on behind the scenes and only cheer because he wins fights

and i’m definitely not a gsp nut hugger … i think he just uses his superior wrestling to win fights…. i would cheer for most ppl who go up against gsp now because he is becoming boring to watch … especially when i pay for a card and the main event is him laying on top of his opponent for 5 rounds or less

by ufcaddict on Mar 26, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

NM, to answer your question earlier in a thread asking my nationality, I’m from Flipland[Philippines]. And with regards to your short list, for now they can’t beat Penn. He ain’t the Prodigy for nothin’.

by Syd[a.k.a. "The Martial Fartist"] on Mar 26, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions

I really like Ken-Flo’s attitude. If people were to ever use MMA fighters as professional role models that have skill, heart, brains and talent…Ken-Flo deserves to be in that list.

That being said…

I hope BJ wins so all of these @ss munching haters can disappear into the woodwork.

by OJR on Mar 26, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope Ken Flo destroys BJ. I’m hoping Kenny cuts him with some elbows, overwhelms him, and submits him in the third or fourth.

by Punch You in the Ovaries on Mar 26, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I just hope that Ken Flo doesn’t win by cut. I don’t want to hear BJ saying he could have still continued if he loses. The ref needs to let Ken punch BJ in the face until BJ no longer moves or make sure we get a clear view of BJ tapping at least ten times before we pull Florian off of him. lol I’m just messing, I don’t want anyone to get seriously injured but Penn better come to win and make no excuses if he loses (which I don’t think he will lose)

by Cogito Ergo Sum on Mar 26, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

no worries, BJ doesnt get cut!

by john on Mar 26, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

So are you saying that THIS fight will be “to the death” or until BJ’s corner throws in the towel?

I don’t think BJ is a bad fighter, I just think he needs his ass kicked (again) because of his attitude. That’s how I felt before the GSP fight for the record. He needs a good reality check at his regular weight class, then there will be no excuses.

by UFC Champ on Mar 26, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

the cut wont be the excuse but im sure he will come up with another one.

by Egads on Mar 26, 2009 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

WAR KENFLO!!!!

by Spyder on Mar 26, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

I really like Kennys chances. Still got BJ as the favourite but Kenny has improved so much since the TUF days that I actually think this will be a lot more competitive than people think. I think he will come into this fight in tip top shape and will give BJ all he has got.

I think Kenny florian should come out to Ice Cube – No Vaseline!! - “Cos now you’re gettin’ done without vaseline!”

by Ca$z on Mar 26, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Kenny isnt cool enough to come out to NO Vaseline, but it would be cool.

BJ is going to retain his title…there isnt a 155 lb man on earth that ca take it away from him….he will retire soon, and then it will be competitive again. Kenny will make a fight out of it, but bJ will win!

by john on Mar 26, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Heard Kenny is training with Grease St Pierre, hopefully he doesn’t pass along the Vaseline technique!
Should be a good fight!

by Dude! on Mar 26, 2009 10:16 AM EDT reply actions

WOW! Grease St.Pierre? wonder if your a bitter B.J. fan….hmmmmmmm

by Dave on Mar 26, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Man grease st. pierre is really original, did you come up with that all by yourself? Or did you have to get your mom to help you, like penn did? WAR KENFLO!!!!

by Dragon on Mar 26, 2009 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions

No, your mom helped me, while she greased MY St Pierre!

by Dude! on Mar 26, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

And honestly, “Dragon”, you come up with that name while playing Dungeons and Dragons Scooter?

by Dude! on Mar 26, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

You gotta get it right man.
It’s Greasy.

by KS on Mar 26, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Haha, that’s funny as hell

by ja434650 on Mar 26, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

What’s not to like about this guy, class all the way. Will certainly give BJ a run for his money, may even win. It is certainly the most opportune time to overthrow this champion with everything that’s going on in his mind right now.

Go Kenny!!

by DJ on Mar 26, 2009 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

It’s the opposite BJ will run through Kenny becuase of the GSP cheating factor…

by Robert(1) on Mar 26, 2009 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

while I do think BJ wins this fight, i think Kenny has become to technically sound as a fighter for BJ to run through him like he did with Stevenson and Sherk, I think it will be a damn good fight

by Dave on Mar 26, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

BJ might have lost in horrible fashion to GSP but he will take his anger out on Kenflo. Sorry kenflo you’re an old skooler and a pretty good guy but you’re gonna get ripped apart by BJ.

by Heaton on Mar 26, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

Kenny by ownage!

by JonnyBoy on Mar 26, 2009 10:32 AM EDT reply actions

u must be a fool. bj will murder him

by Holdin McGroin on Mar 26, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope bj does win, I would to have to hear him cry for another 3 months about losing. Just imagine the excuses he would come up with for losing to kenflo. O I really hope kenflo wins, I have no respect fo bj anymore.

by Dragon on Mar 26, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

so who do u want to win?

by ja434650 on Mar 26, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

The one who will actually train for the fight – that is who. And that would be Kenny who comes in with a plan unlike Penn who has no plans. Remember, Penn is a natural fighter who at one time did not need a plan and would let their talents do the talking. UFC has changed big time and we all know who is the master planner of fights.

Kenny in Rd 4 – whenever this actually happens. I’d say no sooner than UFC 110 given Penn’s timeline.

by deadgrassinyeard on Mar 26, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe if Kenny wins BJ will call it quits. Because I don’t think is pride will let him continue. If BJ wins look out for the GSP challenge again.

by Tim on Mar 26, 2009 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

You nailed it!!

by Dragon on Mar 26, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions

he did nail it, that is what will happen, BJ will ask for another shot, have GSP showered and dried by Dana each day for a week before the fight.

I like Penn, he is a great fighter, and can turn himself into a pretzel, but the bellyaching is getting old, go and fight, keep the whining private, do your job, and destroy Florian, another very good fighter.

by The Slovak on Mar 26, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Who killed kenny ?

by Ktown on Mar 26, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

You b@stard!!

by Syd[a.k.a. "The Martial Fartist"] on Mar 26, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m gonna pick kenny by Decision. He will use same strategy against BJ that he used against Huerta which I think will be a good strategy to use.

by rydinlow on Mar 26, 2009 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

no way huerta threw wild swings bj is at a much higher level than huerta Bj will destroy Kenny, GSP was just to big for bj the grease had nothing to do with it but at lighweight Bj destroys!!!

by El Philicutioner on Mar 26, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions

This is halarious, its funny how almost everyone is jumping on the kenny band wagon after bj loses badly to one of the best fighters in the world. If bj doesn’t gass he would destroy kenny IMO, kenny’s best chances are fighting at a very high pace, being elusive and use his chopping leg kicks as often as possible. I would be surprised if kenny won and if you did I’m pretty sure it would be by decision. As I’ve said before MMA is full of surprises so who knows what will happen thats whats great about MMA, can’t wait to find out.

by nathan on Mar 26, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

I dont think it has anything to do with the brutal beating he took from GSP. I think it has everything to do with how he acted leading up to the fight and all the BS he has caused since the fight. People have genuinely lost alot of respect for him, I know I have. I used to like BJ alot but now I think he is a total chump and have no respect left for him at all. I have always liked KENFLO alot and regardless of the situation I would probably still be cheering for him in this fight. Personally I would love to see Kenny cut him brutally with one of his elbows, like he did to Alex’s nose when they fought a couple years back.

by the spyder on Mar 26, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

BJ will distroy Kenny and he won’t have a chance. As for losing respect for BJ. Most of you are fair weather fans and just started watching MMA with in the last for years. The competition now is evolved to three levels Stand up, mid level to take downs and defending the take down and ground. DOES Kenny fair well at defending BJ’s take down NO! Does he fair well on the ground HELL NO! I won’t even mention the stand up. IF you are a true fan you would see through the bullshit hype and know that BJ sells fights.
Now with the greasing and GSP’s camp that won’t happend ever again WHY? because BJ’s camp had the balls to risk the fair weather fans that jumped on the BJ banwagon since he distmanteled Sherk and by the way called him out on the cheating issue. BJ HAD to reinvent him self when he join the UFC the second time around and as the sport was growing he grew with it. I see this if he did not reinvent his name to all of the fair weathered fans he wouldn’t make as much money. If your talking about him he’s making money.

by Cheating is Cheating. on Mar 26, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

El Philicutioner I actually don’t agree with the whole size thing, gsp won the fight because he was able to impose HIS will and not fight penns fight, he took his strengths away from him. Penn fought machida at light heavy weight and the fight was close, I’m sure machida was much stronger than penn, and had way more muscle than him. Hughes also was bigger than penn he almost beat hughes the second time and beat him the first time in under one round. And what about the gracie fights at middle weight???

Size may have be a factor but it wasn’t what won the fight and the vas had no effect on the out come either. Gsp fought the better fight that night, fought a brillant game plan and has incredible top control and fought at a very high pace which totally gassed penn. Gsp is a naturally gifted athlete that can fight at a pace that few can match, he gassed out fitch and gassed out hughes after the first round in there third fight. I’m pretty certain kenny will have more gas in his tank than penn and if he’s elusive and uses lots and lots of leg kicks he might be able to pull of a decision.

by nathan on Mar 26, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

Not to mention Sherk on steroids was also much bigger & stronger

by Neeko on Mar 26, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do you guys think bj is overrated?!

He maybe a sore loser, but he’s still the best lightweight in the world.

by ✰Pretty Boy✰ on Mar 26, 2009 12:40 PM EDT reply actions

It makes no sense to judge Penn on his last performance, he fought GSP! Kenny Florian won’t be able to do anything GSP did. He can’t overpower him, he can’t wear him out…I see Penn with the advantage in every area of the fight.

by ja434650 on Mar 26, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions

Cant wear him out???? are you kidding, Kenny will be able to run circles around BJ and will wear him out unless BJ beats him before he gases like he always does.

by the spyder on Mar 26, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

ja , ja , you are the most educated mma fan on the planet, no , actually , you really do not know shit, so STFU. you are a b.j. nuthugger of large proportions, probably belong to his fan club, and would clean his ring peice if given the opportunity, go away!

by daz on Mar 26, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

piece, sorry for the spelling, this guy makes me dyslexic

by daz on Mar 26, 2009 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Don’t forget jack-arse only replies on posts that involve Penn. He must think he is Penn’s # 1 fan. I remember how Kenny was fighting against 185 lb’ers on TUF and he made it to the final so what does that say? From what I saw, he did overpower some guys and Kenny has improved 10-fold vs Penn who has stagnated. No disrespect to Penn’s abilities but his training sucks large. Kenny is too smart a fighter and Penn is a cabbage patch model.

by deadgrassinyeard on Mar 26, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Whats with all the BJ Hate? The UFC is changing the rules because of what happened – did no one else find it weird that GSP postured out of BJ’s guard so easily? Sure GSP is skilled, and so is BJ – youd think it would alittle harder.

Hughes had one of the most devastating GnPs in the game in his prime and a BJ (out of his prime) shut it down, now GSP in his prime is 100x better than Hughes ever was – dont get me wrong – but it did seem that GSPs top game made BJ’s bottom game look non-existent – which was weird to me

Because the UFC did change the process – im going to assume that it may have been a factor in the BJ/GSP fight – how would you like it if GSP had been given 7oz gloves or something instead of the normal 5oz gloves by mistake? i dont even know if its possible but try and see it from both sides

by jerrolds on Mar 26, 2009 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

As for myself I’m not jumping on any band wagon. BJ is one of my fav fighters just behind fedor and would love for him to win, but I just look at each others fight styles/conditioning. BJ does not have the gas tank Kenny has and that’s how I beleive he is gonna win. Ken will I think look to outpoint BJ with leg kicks and by throwing combo’s then running out of BJs range.I also think Kens MMA Jits is on par with BJ just without the flexibility, so If the fight does happen to go to the ground I don’t see either guy being submitted.

by rydinlow on Mar 26, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions

Kenny please train your ass off and beat ‘Crybaby J’ to a pulp .thanks !! “to the death Georges” ha ha ha ha!

by bDavid on Mar 26, 2009 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

I think I agree with rydinlow and think kenny’s bjj is good enough to at least save him should the fight go to the ground…but if bj gets a good mount on him it could be over, penn is one guy you don’t want on top of you. No offence to penn but kenny is a much much smarter fighter than penn, penn is probably the most naturally gifted fighter technique wise, but thats not enought to win. Training hard, fighting intelligently are key like hughes I think penn is too arrogant to fight guys who are better than him at everything something gsp and kenny are willing to do, they don’t mind they want to train with guys better than them. All I saw in hughes and penns training videos were both guys either in a pool or a lake, kicking other fighters ass’s and smugly “knowing” they’ll win and both got humiliated for there arrogance.

by nathan on Mar 26, 2009 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

Training hard, fighting intelligently are key like hughes I think penn is too arrogant to fight guys who are better than him at everything something gsp and kenny are willing to do, they don’t mind they want to train with guys better than them. All I saw in hughes and penns training videos were both guys either in a pool or a lake, kicking other fighters ass’s and smugly "knowing" they’ll win and both got humiliated for there arrogance.

Excellent qoute!

by DAMN! on Mar 26, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

BJ,is overrated ,well at least at welterweight,he did not face great 170 fighters exept for GSP and Hugues beside that he only face decent 155 fighter and got mix results.Uno 1win 1 draw,Pulver 1 win 1 loss,Serra 1 win. Now sure he won 2 fight recently against good 155 Stevenson and Sherk,but i DONT think that is enought to call himself the best lightweight on the planet or even less a god(like HE said more than once).As for the 170 fighters Hughes and GSP well is record speek for himself he is 1 win 1 loss and 2 loss againts GSP.Lets get out is fights at other weight class that he didnt win and the bullshit fight of Gilbert,Creighton,Thomas(sorry Din…it was long ago)Thats FYI BJ is overrated.As for Florian he is sure a great contender but its not a sure win,Kenny’s gonna have to use all is tools to be able to win(hopefully elbows)Anyways if Ken-flo doesn’t win well ALL the BJ lovers gonna be back to says that BJ is THE BEST FIGHTER ON THE PLANET AT ANY WEIGHT PERIOD.

by Alpha Male 360 on Mar 26, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions

BJ is still a monster at lightweight. As much respect as I have lost for him in the last few months, he is undeniably the best in the world at 155 until someone proves otherwise.

Kenny is a class act and a great fighter, but conditioning is his only advantage over BJ. I think he should try to leg-kick BJ and wait for him to gas. Keep it standing and hope that DellaGrotte kickboxing is enough to match Penn’s fast hands.

Will BJ be refocused after the GSP beatdown, or will he be mentally broken? Lots of question marks for this fight.

Go Kenny, can’t wait for this one.

by Jeremyjackson on Mar 26, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions