Photo via UFC.com
Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran, and current co-host of the UFC Tonight program on Fuel TV, Kenny Florian (14-6) has been taking some time off since his last fight, a unanimous decision loss to featherweight champ Jose Aldo last October at UFC 136.
One of the reasons for the extended delay from training is due to his back, which has plagued him throughout his career. Florian told the Boston Herald that in November 2011 he suffered a new back injury while lifting weights, he says he is still experiencing numbness and tingling down his right leg since the initial injury which has prevented him from training.
“It’s possible, unfortunately,” Florian said of his career ending. “I’ve kind of been going back-and-forth with some of the doctors, so it’s possible. I’m going to see. As of right now, obviously I can’t compete and train like I was at all. I’m just kind of doing what I can and hoping that things heal up and get better. I’m just kind of in a holding pattern. That’s why I decided to do this commentary for the time being and take this next six months to really heal up and try to make some money on the side. It sucks. The last couple of months I’ve just been figuring out what’s going on and what I’m going to do.”
Florian also says that his doctors have told him to retire but is holding out hope that he can get better and return for one more title run.
His loss to Aldo was his third title fight in the UFC, having lost twice in lightweight title fights. The first to Sean Sherk back in 2006 at UFC 64, and the second against B.J Penn at UFC 101 in August 2009.