Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive
UFC president Dana White saw Kenny Florian‘s loss to Gray Maynard at UFC 118 on Saturday night as yet another sign that Florian cracks under the pressure of the big fights, falling short just as he’s about to reach the top.
But to hear Florian tell it, the defeat was far more physical than mental.
“I take what Dana said as a compliment because I think he really believes in my skills as a fighter,” Florian told MMA Fighting via email Monday morning. “I was capable of winning the fight but I would have to have fought a very boring fight. I felt great mentally & physically. I have more work to do on my wrestling & have already made the arrangements to become much better in that area of my game.”
It’s not the first time White has taken aim at Florian’s mental game. After his loss to B.J. Penn at UFC 101, White accussed Florian of being less aggressive in title fights, suggesting he had some sort of “mental block” when a belt was on the line.