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Kenny "Ken Flo" Florian Retires

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  • 01-06-2012 3:53am
    #1
    MrStuffins
    Registered Users Posts: 19,164 ✭✭✭✭


    Kenny Florian has officially retired from MMA.

    The UFC veteran, who hasn't competed since an October title loss to featherweight champion Jose Aldo, made the decision official at today's weigh-ins for The Ultimate Fighter Finale.

    The 36-year-old now will focus on his current UFC broadcasting career, which includes live UFC cable-TV broadcasts and the weekly "UFC Tonight" program on FUEL TV.

    "Fighting found me, and I'm a much better person because of it," said Florian, who said recent injuries contributed to his decision to retire.

    Florian (14-6 MMA, 12-5 UFC) first debuted with the UFC in 2005, when he was a middleweight runner-up on the groundbreaking first season "The Ultimate Fighter." In fact, UFC president Dana White first discovered "Ken-Flo" when he saw him during a 2005 scouting trip for Drew Fickett, who ultimately defeated Florian via close split decision in a regional show. White, though, was impressed and offered Florian a spot on the show, anyway. Despite his small size for the division, Florian made it to the tournament's finals, where he ultimately lost to Diego Sanchez.

    Florian, who spent most of his career in the lightweight division, ultimately competed in four different weight classes during his 17-fight UFC career. His final two came in the featherweight division, where he admitted to grueling weight cuts to make the 145-pound limit for a final but unsuccessful title run.

    From 2005 to 2010, Florian went 11-2 with 10 stoppages. The only losses came to Sean Sherk and B.J. Penn, the first two of his three eventual title fights. However, he posted wins over the likes of Clay Guida, Takanori Gomi, Joe Lauzon and Sam Stout, among others, during non-title bouts.

    The Massachusetts native and former Boston College soccer player remained a fan favorite throughout his career, and he has been a go-to ambassador for many UFC ventures.

    For now, though, one of the UFC's most likable personalities is hanging up his gloves and retiring to the broadcast booth with partner Jon Anik.

    "I'm so thankful I'm able to do commentary and shows like 'UFC Tonight' here for the UFC, FUEL and FOX," Florian said.

    Source


    Really sad to see Kenny retire. He's always been an exciting guy and a really solid fighter. he just seemed to choke when he got his title shots and couldn't take that extra step.

    Good luck to Ken Flo!


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    #2
    cowzerp
    Registered Users Posts: 10,549 ✭✭✭✭cowzerp


    Would love to see him take over from Goldberg

    Rush Boxing club and Rush Martial Arts head coach.



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    #3
    Barry.Oglesby
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,917 ✭✭✭Barry.Oglesby


    A smart man, a clever fighter, and a respectful guy who did it his own way. I always enjoyed watching his fights. Always fell just short of the mark but gave it his all. Looks like he'll have a good career ahead of him now though.


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    #4
    Plastikman_eire
    Registered Users Posts: 427 ✭✭Plastikman_eire


    Barry.Oglesby wrote: »
    Always fell just short of the mark but gave it his all. Looks like he'll have a good career ahead of him now though.

    I feel for Kenny in this regard. Worked his ass off to get title shots, fell short but always made the necessary improvements to his game afterwards.

    Shame for him that the champions he came up against got progressively more talented.


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    #5
    El Guapo!
    Registered Users Posts: 12,432 ✭✭✭✭El Guapo!


    A shame to see him retiring, I always enjoyed watching him fight. He seems like a gentleman and a great ambassador for the sport. He's a brilliant commentator and I wish him the best in the rest of his career.


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    #6
    jayteecork
    Site Banned Posts: 5,676 ✭✭✭jayteecork


    Plastikman_eire wrote: »
    I feel for Kenny in this regard. Worked his ass off to get title shots, fell short but always made the necessary improvements to his game afterwards.

    Shame for him that the champions he came up against got progressively more talented.

    What the one fight at featherweight to get a shot at Aldo.

    Another Dana White business decision, other guys in the division must have been ill.


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    #7
    Dermighty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,748 ✭✭✭Dermighty


    Cool guy.

    He's a good commentator, I enjoy listening to him.


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    #8
    Mellor
    Registered Users Posts: 39,168 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    jayteecork wrote: »
    What the one fight at featherweight to get a shot at Aldo.

    Another Dana White business decision, other guys in the division must have been ill.
    Are you suggesting that his fights at LW don't count towards his ability as a fighter. LMFAO


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    #9
    jayteecork
    Site Banned Posts: 5,676 ✭✭✭jayteecork


    Mellor wrote: »
    Are you suggesting that his fights at LW don't count towards his ability as a fighter. LMFAO

    Are you having a laugh?

    How can someone lose a lightweight title eliminator, drop down, have one fight and get a shot?

    It's taking the piss out of everyone in the featherweight division.

    Dana White "Hey this kid Ken Flo is popular, he's not good enough in LW though, let's tell him to drop down to FW and we'll give him a shot cause he'll sell PPV"

    He's a good commentator and he seems like a good guy but no way did he deserve an insta-title shot in the FW division.


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    #10
    MrStuffins
    Registered Users Posts: 19,164 ✭✭✭✭MrStuffins


    jayteecork wrote: »
    Are you having a laugh?

    How can someone lose a lightweight title eliminator, drop down, have one fight and get a shot?

    It's taking the piss out of everyone in the featherweight division.

    Dana White "Hey this kid Ken Flo is popular, he's not good enough in LW though, let's tell him to drop down to FW and we'll give him a shot cause he'll sell PPV"

    He's a good commentator and he seems like a good guy but no way did he deserve an insta-title shot in the FW division.

    Well, it wasn't just as simple as that. There were many factors contributing to Florian getting that title shot.

    - The FW was very young and in need of a big name title contender.

    - There was a serious lack of contenders at the time. Hioki was still in Japan. He'd CONVINCINGLY beaten the likes of Gamburyan, Hominick, Faber. Mike Brown was on the slide. Mendez was still on the rise. Nobody had heard of Poirier, Korean Zombie was coming off 2 losses........ the only viable guys really were Florian and Diego Nunes.

    - Kenny had proven himself to be a top guy in the LW Division. For me, there's no reason why he can't go straight into the FW Division against a top contender and put himself up there!

    Example: The last title shot went to Chad Mendes. Good fighter of course. He'd beaten some solid guys in the FW division. Yaha, Omigawa, Swanson etc.

    Florian held wins over Gomi, Guida, Joe Daddy, Lauzon, Huerta etc. Those wins hold more weight than Mendes' IMO!


    Also it was good business :pac:


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    #11
    jayteecork
    Site Banned Posts: 5,676 ✭✭✭jayteecork


    Thanking Stuffins before dean09 and bottle(whatever) get in there.


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    #12
    MrStuffins
    Registered Users Posts: 19,164 ✭✭✭✭MrStuffins


    jayteecork wrote: »
    Thanking Stuffins before dean09 and bottle(whatever) get in there.

    :rolleyes:

    Don't be so precious. If you disagree, do so. Nobody is out to get you.


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    #13
    jayteecork
    Site Banned Posts: 5,676 ✭✭✭jayteecork


    MrStuffins wrote: »
    :rolleyes:

    Don't be so precious. If you disagree, do so. Nobody is out to get you.


    They're probably at the Turkish baths right now I suppose they'll be on later!


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    #14
    El Guapo!
    Registered Users Posts: 12,432 ✭✭✭✭El Guapo!


    jayteecork wrote: »
    Thanking Stuffins before dean09 and bottle(whatever) get in there.
    jayteecork wrote: »

    They're probably at the Turkish baths right now I suppose they'll be on later!

    Good man. Making a great contribution to the forum again I see. Stop being so childish just because someone doesn't agree with you.
    I'm refusing to be drawn into an argument with you again.


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    #15
    arybvtcw0eolkf
    Closed Accounts Posts: 24,878 ✭✭✭✭arybvtcw0eolkf


    jayteecork wrote: »
    They're probably at the Turkish baths right now I suppose they'll be on later!

    Take the rest of the week off, and here's a fair warning to you ~ next ban will be for one month, third (if that happens) will be permanent.


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    #16
    Mellor
    Registered Users Posts: 39,168 ✭✭✭✭Mellor


    jayteecork wrote: »
    Are you having a laugh?

    How can someone lose a lightweight title eliminator, drop down, have one fight and get a shot?

    As I said, his ranking/ability/etc are based on far more than that single fight at FW. There's no point discussing anything if you just ignore the point.
    The FW divisions was was spread pretty thin at the time. Even now, there's only a few guys near the top. I had no problem with Florian getting a title shot, and I think he gave Aldo a better run than most would have.


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