Kenny Florian
After a nine-year plus pro-mixed martial arts career, three time UFC title challenger Kenny Florian (14-6) has decided to end his career.
UFC president Dana White made the announcement before the start of Thursday’s official “TUF Live Finale” weigh-ins noting that Florian was moving onto “bigger and better things” in his career. Florian will work as a commentator for the UFC and will take on Friday’s duties alongside Jon Anik.
White talked about discovering Florian back in 2004 at a local event in Massachusetts which saw Florian lose to Drew Fickett by split decision. The UFC pres was so impressed that he offered Florian a chance to try out for a spot on the original series of “The Ultimate Fighter.”
Florian, who has suffered back problems for years, injured his back again last November and has had issues with numbness and tingling, opting to retire rather than seek surgery. He ends his career with a 12-5 record in the Octagon over four weight divisions along with three title bouts.
Florian was on hand at the weigh-ins at The Palms in Las Vegas and gave his thoughts on retirement.
“It was something I’ve been thinking about since November,” said Florian, who suffered a back injury following his October 2011 bout with Jose Aldo. “And it probably wasn’t until the last couple months where I really saw it (retirement) as a viable option. When you’ve fought as long as I have and trained as long as I have, you become what you do, and that’s all you know. It’s tough to do anything else, but in the end, I have so many things going on, from my gym back in Boston to the commentary and all that stuff, that I’m so lucky that I have all these other things in my life and I can still be a part of the sport that I love.”
“I was a kid who was kind of lost and fighting found me and made me a better person,” he said. “I think of a quote from Aristotle that said ‘you make war so you can find peace,’ and I think that’s something that happened with me. I’m in a great place in my life I think because of fighting somehow. I’ve never been happier in my life and I owe it to fighting.”
Florian fought Sean Sherk for the vacant UFC lightweight title back in October 2006 at UFC 64, losing that by decision. In August 2009, he lost to champion BJ Penn in the fourth round by submission. And lastly, he lost a decision to UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo at UFC 136 in October 2011 to finish his career.