Kenny Florian is still a 'student' of mixed martial arts
by Adam Wagner on Aug 11, 2009 7:09 PM EDT
82 comments
Fresh off his title shot loss to lightweight champion B.J. Penn at last weekend’s UFC 101: "Declaration," Kenny Florian appeared on MMAmania.com’s exclusive presentation of Pro MMA Radio on Monday.
Not a lot of fighters go on a media tour following a loss, but Florian was a terrific sport, fielding questions from host Larry Pepe about his game plan going into the fight, what lessons he takes away from the loss, and where he goes from here.
Describing the loss as "heartbreaking," Florian conceded that the nine months he spent awaiting his title shot "definitely hurt" him. Florian earned his number one contender status in November 2008 after submitting Joe Stevenson at UFC 91: "Couture vs. Lesnar"; however, he was forced to wait for his title shot until Penn moved up a division to challenge welterweight champion George St. Pierre in January 2009.
The wait took its toll mostly on his striking game, according to "KenFlo," specifically with getting his timing and range down to where he felt comfortable in the fight.
He also felt his wrestling needs to improve. While his entries were good and his timing was "okay," his finishing "wasn’t what it should have been," as he wasn’t able to secure an effective takedown in the fight. But again, he points to being a little rusty for why he couldn’t find his rhythm.
"I think that comes down to just being a little more active. I can’t be away from the cage for more than three or four months. I just can’t. I knew it would be a factor, but in my head I didn’t want it to be, and I tried to be as positive as possible."
There’s been some talk of Florian’s game plan heading into the fight. Penn criticized his opponent’s efforts to take the action to the ground, suggesting that his unsuccessful takedown attempts just tired Florian out.
But Florian disagrees, saying he was never tired in the fight — he also gave Penn credit for being in "probably the best shape he’s ever been in."
Florian stuck to his game plan — work the clinch, press Penn to the cage, and put him on his back — which, he says, differed from his friend Georges St. Pierre’s successful game plan against the lightweight champion at UFC 94.
Whereas GSP looked to force his weight specifically onto Penn’s shoulders, his "finishes really came off of leg attacks, not really from the clinch position," said Florian. "George St. Pierre is really more of a leg-type finisher. He’ll go for singles and doubles and high crotches."
Regardless, Florian admits he needs to work on his wrestling, as "B.J. has always been a very difficult guy to take down, regardless, and even more so at 155." He plans to invest in a regulation size cage with the same type of canvas as the UFC’s Octagon — something he’s never had in his career — for his own gym, so that he can get a more authentic feel in training.
So how does Florian score the first three rounds, leading up to the fourth, when Penn was able to take control of his back and sink in a rear naked choke?
At the time, he felt he was up two rounds to one. While Penn likely secured the first round, he felt "confident" he had won the next two. In fact, after the fight, Florian says, he was approached by the commissioner who mentioned that at least one of the judges, if not a majority of them, agreed.
Later, in the fourth, when both fighters ended up on the ground with Penn on top, Florian realized he had lost the round, and he went into survival mode, hoping to stay alive so that he could come back strong in the final frame.
"At that point, I had made too big of a mistake, and I knew against a guy like B.J. you can’t make those kinds of mistakes. … And I did, and that was that."
The mistake Florian refers to was not being able to pin his legs up against the fence when "The Prodigy" shot in for a double leg. As Florian says, "If you’re on your back with B.J. it’s going to be very difficult."
In the end, it was Penn’s night, and Florian confirmed that the champion looked to bury the hatchet, saying to "KenFlo" after the fight, "Let’s be friends again. Let’s be friends again."
While he is disappointed in the loss, Florian appreciates the experience to test himself against the very best his division has to offer. He may have come up short against the "master" of the lightweights, but he will forever be a student of mixed martial arts.
"I said it was about being a master, but even if I won this fight, I wouldn’t have been a master. I’ll always be a student."
Until then, he makes no excuses.
"There’s things that I know I could have done better. Was it my best performance? No. But … I hate going back and saying after a loss, ‘Well I coulda beaten that guy’ … At the end of the day, I gotta go back and prove it (in a fight). For me, right now, it’s about getting back in the gym, getting better, stepping up my game."
Florian now looks to jump right back into the thick of things with whoever the UFC throws at him. But make no mistake, he wants one of the toughest guys in the division.
One of those guys is The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 1 winner Diego Sanchez, who finished Florian in the first round to capture the TUF title way back in 2005. Florian fought a whopping 30 pounds out of his weight class to make it to the finals, and is widely considered to be one of the most-improved fighters from that inaugural season.
He’ll have to wait for a highly anticipated rematch, however, as Sanchez will likely get the next crack at Penn’s belt. Florian, a regularly featured commentator on ESPN’s "MMA Live" program, broke down "The Nightmare’s" chances:
"I don’t think (Diego) has the striking to get it done, I don’t think he has the wrestling to get it done. He has phenomenal cardio, phenomenal heart, great ground skills, but I think he’s going to have some trouble with B.J. … You gotta have B.J. as the favorite going into that fight, no doubt about it."
Keeping his "MMA Live" hat on, Florian also commented on another UFC 101-featured fighter in Anderson Silva, whose three minute, 23 second destruction of former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin may have secured "The Spider’s" place as the very best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
"It’s between him and George St. Pierre, really. Maybe I’m a little biased because I’m friends with Georges. Both of those guys are very well-deserving. … But Anderson Silva, that’s his home out there. That’s the difference. … Anderson Silva is the perfect person for you to show a fight and say, ‘Listen, guys, this is an artist. He’s not a fighter. He is an artist. He’s an absolute master.’ It’s beautiful to watch him fight."
And speaking of Griffin, what was Florian’s take on his friend’s exit from the cage immediately after being tooled by Silva?
"It must have been a tough reality for him, and I feel bad for Forrest. I know how much work he puts into it. There are a lot of emotions going on in there. We saw with Brock Lesnar, he reacted (after winning) in a weird way with some emotions, and Forrest did as well. They weren’t the first, they won’t be the last. It’s a tough thing in there, man. So many things are going (on) in your head after a fight."
Always a class act, Florian remains one of the best lightweight fighters in the world and a terrific ambassador to the sport.
Check out the complete interview, as well as the entire Pro MMA Radio archive by clicking here .
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9 months is a long layoff. but i think kenny could have been more active in the standup and gave himself a better opportunity to win. looking forward to bj and diego.
war dirty sanchez!!!
by J-J-is-God (formerly day1er) on Aug 11, 2009 7:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
were you just stuck in mod J-J cause DAVE A’s post was first for a good 5 minutes, i dont know but i think sometimes it’s weird how this moderation works lol
by Blunt N' Beer on Aug 11, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Either that or Mania’s a d*ckhead?… nah’’’ computer glich’.
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 9:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is really disheartening about the judges if they truly had him up in rounds. That would be a very sad state of affairs from the commission. I was rooting for kenny but he didn’t win any rounds period- hell takedowns don’t count as trying to finish the fight much less clinching or attempts. He was getting outstruck in the clinch and standing. I just can’t believe what these f$ckheads see in there. Does anyone know how the seating and views look from the judges’ chairs?
by NameNotRequired on Aug 11, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see it either NAME! I saw Kenny trying to take BJ down very unsuccessefully, then getting tagged like crazy when giving up the take down and coming out of the Clinch. This is the problem with judging in general. Like the Curran fight imo anyway, he was a-effectively more aggressive and he was more effectively technique wise which is the first part of scoring a bout. Then Cage Control, is secondary to the before mentioned. BJ was way more effective in aggresion(best effort to win the fight) and more effective techincally(Striking, Clinch Work, Takedowns, Submission attempts, Transitioning, and Positioning) so where oh where did Florida win this fight.
by Da Monkey on Aug 12, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wrote Florida in stead of Florian at the end of my statement…HAHA I was just thinknig how hot FL summers are at night…
by Da Monkey on Aug 12, 2009 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
NNR, I was rooting for Kenny, but I didn’t think he won any rnds either… I’m surprised the analyst, and Judges gave Kenny a rnd.. I really didn’t see that. One of those fights I got to watch again.
by DAVE A on Aug 12, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Props to Kenny for talking about the loss so positively…that can’t be an easy thing to do. He’s a class act for sure and a good role model for younger fighters on how to represent the sport. He’s still a top 3 LW in the UFC and there are a lot of great match ups for him in the division…maybe someone like Tyson Griffin would be a good start for him or even test himself out against a wrestler like Guida or even a rematch against Sherk. Kenny’s road back to the title needs to be against the best of the best this time.
Kenny was awarded a title shot right after his win over Huerta…he fought Joe cause he knew he’d have a long layoff so he basically was waiting to fight BJ for a year. That’s way too long to have to wait to fight. I think the points he makes about waiting that long having a profound affect on him are valid. There are a lot of fighters that say the same thing. It shouldn’t have taken BJ eight months to get back into the cage but he spent that whole time crying about his loss. BJ never fights more than twice a year and that’s pretty sad for a champ.
As far as the judging goes and as a big Kenny fan…that’s insane that some judge had him up 2-1. I even gave BJ all 3 rounds. I’ll have to go back and watch it but takedowns should score points…takedown attempts should not.
by Buster Bluth on Aug 12, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I watched the ESPN break down of it and they were arguing Ken could have possibly won all three rounds. Its disgusting to think that had this fight gone to a fifth round Kenny might have gotten a decision. No way did he win any rounds and he should have been getting docked in the rounds for unsuccessful takedown attempts. I personally think Kenflo is overrated. Yeah I know he’s really skilled and I’m not trying to hate on him as a fighter but I think there are plenty of other fighters in the division who could hang with him and possibly beat him. Frankie Edgar, Sean Sherk, Diego Sanchez, Tyson Griffen, and Gray Maynard to name a few. I also think in a rematch that Roger Huerta could beat him. Just my opinion but you know he could have picked up another fight instead of taking a huge layoff. IMO anyone who thinks they deserve a title shot shouldn’t be afraid to put their number one contender spot on the line if there is a hold on the title shot.
by Cogito Ergo Sum on Aug 12, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know im late as hell on this blog but i dont think that kenny won any rounds eitha:)lol.Seriously every1 has already spoken for me.He was unsuccesful on all takedown attempts and got outpointed in the clinch.He didnt do anything to win any rounds 2 me.The fans need to be getting paid becuz these judges suck.foreal
by The Legacy on Aug 12, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No excuses KENFLO cant blame it on the layoff or the lack of having a cage to train in. Bottom line is you should of came in more prepare and a better game plan. Cause all you got (instead of BJ’s belt) was a MASTER beatdown by the 155 pound MASTER. Cant wait to see BJ/SANCHEZ go at it, this time the MASTER will be in real danger though.
by TaPouT on Aug 11, 2009 7:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I listened to the interview. He wasn’t making excuses, the guy interviewing kept asking if stage rust affected him. He said yeah, BUT it wasn’t an excuse.
Kenny is a cool guy. Just ran his mouth in the promos too much.
BJ! BJ! BJ!
by Jerry Jackson is my hero on Aug 11, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
HEY!! Is anybody elses comment section format different than this morning??? I kinda like it more but nobody seems to be talking about it anywhere. Not bad actually. Makes me feel like what I have to say is more important…easier to follow and know where the hell you are…the thick black lines act as an optical road block, and the centering is brilliant…it literally must have taken Mania, Jesse and their band of merry men months to get this done…
by McArthur on Aug 11, 2009 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mac I don’t know what you’re talking about… everything seems just like its always been to me…
by Synyster on Aug 11, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea i don’t know what you are talking about either Mac mine is the same as always brother!
by Blunt N' Beer on Aug 11, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
jeez…I guess its possible…almost as possible as you guys pullin’ the wool over ole’ McArthur’s eyes eh?!?! I’ll find out… :cool:
by McArthur on Aug 11, 2009 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahaha maybe its all that killer grass you’ve been smoking my fellow Canadian :D
by Blunt N' Beer on Aug 11, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just face it kenny you got destroyed . And if they were to fight again it would be no different. Yeah and i cant wait for Bj and Sanchez i like both of them so we will see.
by Fight nut on Aug 11, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea I agree…I don’t see how Kenny or anyone else could think he was winning the fight at the end of rd. 3 Penn was EASILY winning the fight, he probably won every minute of the fight
by ja434650 on Aug 11, 2009 10:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To all u schmucks for giving Kenny a bad time.. it’s guys like him that give MMA a good name. Sure u need yr bad guys to spice things up, but I’ll a lot more respect for a guy like Florian than those whinny villians.
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed… great point, nothing but respect for Kenny.
by rawbert on Aug 11, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea good point, but who does more for the sport. the Tito Ortiz or the Kenny Florian type of guy? It’s Tito and he doesn’t have to be a bad guy and get hate mails and all that crap, but that’s the image he’s chosen cause he knows it will make him big money and bring alot of fans to watch the PPV..
by RoBerto on Aug 11, 2009 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Roberto, Comparing Tito to Florian is like Comparing Apples to Oranges…Let’s match up apple for apple, Tito or Couture? Which one did more for the sport?.. They’ve both been in the game for a long time and are former Champions… so which one?…I’d say the Couture (Florian) type guy! When MMA was trying to break through to get sanctioned in different states, Zuffa used Couture a ton as a spokesman for MMA and it’s fighters and what they represent… he did more for MMA than bad boy Tito!
by DAVE A on Aug 12, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If it was BJ giving this interview everyone would come in here yelling about how he is a cry baby and how he is making excuses. But, bc its Kenny he is classy and good for the sport. It has to be one or the other. BJ said nearly the same things after he lost, yet he was a huge cryababy that everyone hates. Yes, he did go to court with the whole greasegate, but that is a personal decision he felt it gave GSP a distinct advantage in the fight. You guys are amazing.
by sigpesal on Aug 12, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sigpesal, Apparently you didn’t listen to the interview, or you just luv hanging on BJ’s nuts… Kenny acted nothing like BJ did after the GSP fight.
by DAVE A on Aug 12, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And people are still ripping him for his pre-fight hype talk. guys need to chill. that word ‘hype’, learn the meaning.
Kenny will do more for this sport than any other fighter, as far as getting it sanctioned and educating people about it. Chuck and Tito may sell PPVs, but guys like Kenny will be the ones who make sure the Chucks and Titos can fight IN those areas.
by Synyster on Aug 11, 2009 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
no, that’s wrong.. they sanction the sport cause they know it brings money!
by RoBerto on Aug 11, 2009 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
such a long break can definitely take a toll on your timing…it sucks it went down like that, props to Ken-Flo for being gracious in defeat. He came across decent on that pro MMA radio…he kind of avoided answering questions about things he clearly was wrong about or regretted saying.
AND for making me some damn money, so glad i bet against him!!!
by "I came, I saw, I conquered" - "Veni, Vidi, Vici" on Aug 11, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
IC IS IC,,, (u need a shorter name!) didn’t sound like Florian was totally forgiving of BJ just yet… still feeling the ‘sting’ of getting choked out. I think Kenny’s biggest strategy mistake was hanging on the double against the fence for way too long and letting BJ hit him with small hammer fists…. Kenny should have moved up to the clinch a lot sooner, keeping BJ against the cage and out point him with elbows and short shots, instead of BJ outpointing him with elbows and short shots… that would’ve been plan B’ after the 1st rnd, BJ has such good takedown defense that it enabled him to rest because Kenny stayed on his legs for ‘such a long time’… there was no adjustment to plan ‘B’… I’m an ex wrestler and I’m telling you there isn’t a wrestler that can take BJ down rnd after rnd in the 155lb weight class!! Greg Maynard is the most likely candidate because he’s soo’ strong and a has longer reach to finish those shots… (Sherk too short a reach to take BJ down) but even Maynard can’t hang with BJ for 5 rnds… BJ’s best quality is that he can only be barely dazed by a blow standing up… one of the best chins in the world!!
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
DAVE A (this is IC IS IC) now Blunt N’ Beer as you can plainly see…. i agree with you 100% it was a stupid strategy to try and take down the guy with the possibly the best takedown defense in MMA…
also i agree that he should have been trying those short hell blows way moreee when they were clinched up like that, basically he should have done what BJ did.
and yea BJ’s chin is just too good, along with his boxing…looking at it now i don’t see how Ken-Flo could have won that fight other than a decision (which imo he was really going for, even though he says different)
by I came, I saw, I conquered on Aug 11, 2009 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahah i took your advice DAVE A and now go by the name of Blunt N’ Beer…but i agree with you 100%…kenny had a terrible game plan in trying to take BJ down like that. BJ has possibly the best takedown defense in MMA and has one of if not the best guard to go along with it. IMO Kenny was trying to grind out a decision and based his whole plan on BJ getting gassed
Also i agree when he has him up against the cage where were the hell blows? again he was just trying to gas him out not doing anything really, where as BJ was throwing some elbows…basically i think Ken Flo had no chance of winning this fight with BJ being in shape like he was….glad i betted against Florian man!!
by Blunt N' Beer on Aug 11, 2009 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The computer moderation sucks tonight! gud name change’’’ BnB… Kenny was forced to grind out a decision and he wouldn’ve had a better chance with a different fight strategy, he should have took the fight standing BJ against the cage and out working him there with shots n’ knees n’ etc… Kenny gave BJ too much respect or something in that position, probably didn’t match the game plan (no one suggested the correction) and he got a little tired.. Kenny’s biting his tounge not blaming his corner and excepting responsibility… I like that.
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Damn’’’ I can finally say 1st!!! If u don’t like it go suck balls, yr own if flexible enough! lol.
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 7:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was number first… then this site went haywire…the setup is way diff?… or my computer is going nuts 1 or the other…. ‘ahhh’ so I’m not 1st…. another day then…lol
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i don’t understand the fascination with being first??
like oh my god your some random person on a website who posted a comment before a bunch of other random people like good job that took some skill.
Honestly what do you get out of that? Does anybody ever go wow he posted first he must be the coolest guy ever, nobody cares and thats the end of it.
by "I came, I saw, I conquered" - "Veni, Vidi, Vici" on Aug 11, 2009 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t know what the fascination is with being 1st… but since everyone is is fascinated with it I decided to ham it up!!… now go suck balls IC IS IC…… GET A SHORTER NAME!!!! lol
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahaha i definitely see your point DAVE A, you were just trying to get in on the fun eh. lol the rant was not directed towards you esepcially now that i know your take on the subject, it was more directed towards those goofs who actually take some sort of sick pride in it!!
and no i’m not sucking no balls but i did get a shorter name!! that other one was too hard to put into short form or turn into an acronym. and i refuse to put (formerly I Came, I Saw, I Conquered) enough people have done that!!
by Blunt N' Beer on Aug 11, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
“You can’t understand the fascination with being first unless you finish first all the time”
- Anderson Silva
by Jerry Jackson is my hero on Aug 11, 2009 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i’ll admit that is a sick quote but that doesn’t apply to everything…especially in anderson’s case because it applies to fighting, and this applies to the most insiginificant thing possible – posting your thoughts to people who don’t know know nor care about you. ((well we all care about each other here on this great site :P (except for brendan and introvert) but you know what i mean lol))
and yes i did just put parenthesis inside of parenthesis…what the problem is?
by Blunt N' Beer on Aug 11, 2009 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s not “what the problem is?” It’s “What is the problem” that’s the problem… I got scheduled for the Spell Nazi late night shift.
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hahaha i know that its a joke…im trying to sound like a gangster black man give me a break!! i’m pretty sure i said parenthesis instead of brackets…if i know that i’m almost positive i know how to say “what is the problem?” (in a dave chappelle white news anchor voice.
by Blunt N' Beer on Aug 11, 2009 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
kenny is delusional, he didn’t win ant rounds and he lost because bj is the better fighter at everything.
by roy on Aug 11, 2009 7:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
RU dumb Roy? or what?…the judges had Kenny winning the rnds on the score cards… Couture and American Psycho had Kenny winning rnds on score cards… soo’ listen up… get yr facts straight before u expound on subjects u know nothing about… it wasn’t Kenny saying that… so he’s not delusional ur just uninformed.
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Lots of people had Kenny in round 2.
I didn’t but lots did.
Round 3 they called toss up.
I’m a BJ fan so I guess I’m biased.
by Jerry Jackson is my hero on Aug 11, 2009 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uhh so leaning on a guy for an entire round and never securing a takedown gets you a round? Everytime they broke apart BJ unloaded a flury on Florian and Florian was turning his back and running away after ever punch he threw. No round was even close in my opinion.
by GSP4Prez on Aug 11, 2009 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
GSP4Prez, u are correct, but the point I was making to Roy is that Kenny wasn’t the one saying he won the rnds, all he said is that it made him feel a tiny better, the judges told him he was winning…“I guess”… So therefore, Kenny is not delusional and said nothing to the effect he was winning the fight, I listened to the damn’ show! I actually thought BJ won all 1st 3rnds.. 1 of those fights I gotta’ watch again.
by DAVE A on Aug 12, 2009 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sorry Roy, just got grouchy for a sec.
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yea couture and bonner said that Kenny won rd. 2 I watched the fight a few times and I just can’t see how Kenny won that rd. Bj gets the better of EVERY exchange
by ja434650 on Aug 11, 2009 10:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was just about to check you, but i will let you slide this time.
by roy on Aug 12, 2009 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The student just got his ass handed to himby the master.
by The5thBeatle on Aug 11, 2009 7:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Then what does that make GSP… Master’s Daddy? Who’s yr daddy BJ?
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who is “himby the master?” More importantly, did himby hand it back to him?
by Soups on Aug 11, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Himby’s a Swami that’s awards MMA Master Licenses.
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course he’s still a student, wtf?! A loss like this only would make him better, just like his loss to Sean Sherk. Too bad he cannot wait for BJ to end his reign by bein’ over the hill because by that time, he would be older than BJ. Poor kid, born at the wrong time.
by The Negation on Aug 11, 2009 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kenny will be back, he won’t ever get the belt, but he’ll be back.
by Nine Duce on Aug 11, 2009 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Props to Kenny for taking questions after such a one-sided loss. How some people don’t like this guy is beyond me.
by ballhawkdawk on Aug 11, 2009 7:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kenny has a lot of class, glad to see him not acting like a bitch…Id love to see the rematch with in 12 months.
by Mark Hunts Fist on Aug 11, 2009 7:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
He should fight Sherk first. Good match for both of them and whoever wins can make a new run.
by revjames13 on Aug 11, 2009 7:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
im just glad we dont have to hear any of those stupid soundbytes anymore:
“i want bj’s belt” and “its time to kill the master”
props to kenny he has came a long way, from the one sided beat down from sanchez to being the undisputed #1 contendor.
by J-J-is-God (formerly day1er) on Aug 11, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I JUST WANA SAY IF U M*FERS GOTTA FIGHT COMING UP, U BETTER PRAY TO GOD ITS NO KENNY FLORIAN!!!
by d*locc on Aug 11, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We hope you get in a fight with an English book.
by halljam2 on Aug 11, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it was soooooo much fun watching him get beat up.
he gets finished in fights!!!
by jj on Aug 11, 2009 8:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
JJ, RU a BJ nuthugger? or Kenny Florian Hater?…
by DAVE A on Aug 11, 2009 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is there anyway we can get proof of Kenny winning these rounds?
If this is true, how do we get those judges fired?
by dawn on Aug 11, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kenny won that fight I dont care what anyone says
by Shinebox on Aug 12, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Somebody needs to readjust there bifocals becuz Ken-Ho got owned that fight.1st round clearly dominated by The Prodigy.2nd and 3rd he couldnt do anything to BJ besides Dance around the ring and do ballet all day.4th after BJ figured him out he got owned again and choked out.End of story.
by The Legacy on Aug 12, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Winning rounds or not. BJ was totally dominating Kenny that really didn’t do anything but lean against Penn. If you’re happy with that types of wins well good luck to Kenny.
It was not close.
by Alsv on Aug 12, 2009 1:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What a bunch of shite… He wasn’t “forced” into a 9 month wait, he CHOSE not to fight after earning the #1 contender spot.
And him saying Penn was in the best shape he’s ever been in? Whatever makes you feel better Kenny…
And LOL.. yeah I’d say his gameplan differed a bit from ST. Pierre’s too. GSP was actually able to take Penn down lol. His gameplan SUCKED.
Florian is a much better fighter than his gameplan suggested. He threw no kicks, no elbows, and landed pretty much nothing in the fight. The only area he won was the pressing your opponent mindlessly into the cage area. He did have a muay thai advantage in that fight that he chose to not even utilize.
I like Florian, but some of his comments are just funny.
OMG! BJ killed Kenny! You bastard!
Long live the champ!
by scoob on Aug 12, 2009 3:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
People complain about getting timing down so much after having a little layoff…but your training in the fricken gym year around so theres no fricken excuse.Its not like the only thing he was doing on his 9mnth layoff was just conditioning drills and crap,u spar,u improve boxing,muay thai wrestling everything so theres no excuse.If anything his timing should of been 2wice as good than his last fight at least like he was claiming in the pre-fight hype.The Kenny Florian of today would annhilate the Kenny Florian who fought Joe Stevenson.HOOORSSSSEE!!
by The Legacy on Aug 12, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Everyone who knows me should know I’m not on team penn, but come one 2 rounds to 1? The judges are nuts, unsuccessfull takedown attempts IMO should count against you not for you. Everytime they seperated, florian was peppered with shots. Bj definitely won round one, rounds 2 and 3 were closer but what did florian do to win the rounds? Penn seriously needs to stop letting guys push him into the fence and realize it looks bad in the judges eyes. Why does penn almost never go for the take down, and mix things up? This isn’t boxing, I can’t believe I’m defending penn but the guy’s game plans going into fights suck…penn needs to stay off the fence.
by nathan on Aug 12, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
WHAT?
Kenny and the judges thought he won round 2 and 3?
BJ really rocked him in the 1st and that must have affected his perception of the fight.
BJ strategically picked Kenny apart, just like he did to Sherk. Look at BJ’s face in the post fight interview and press conference. He just fought 4 rounds and didn’t have much but a scratch on his neck. Kenny had a knot on his his head a minute into the fight and got battered in round 4. Not only that, a guy know for BJJ, BJ crawled right over him and sunk in that choke like it was me out there.
Kenny was gassed on the ground in round 4 and gave up because he was scared knowing being on his back with BJ was worst case scenario.
Let him fight Clay Guida……
I’d love to see Diego come out against BJ like he did against Clay. This could be one of the better fights in a long long time. Or it could suck.
by tallimeca on Aug 12, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think kenny was going to try and use his kickboxing, but he felt the first shot that knocked him down, and wanted no part of BJs power. I had him loosing every round, and even had him loosing round 1 10 to 8 because he was knocked down twice.
by Parks on Aug 12, 2009 12:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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