Photo via UFC.com
Fans of former UFC contender Kenny Florian (14-6) were hoping their fighter would finally capture a title after dropping down to the featherweight division.
Despite putting in a strong showing in his debut at 145-pounds, he came up short against the divisions champion Jose Aldo last October, losing by unanimous decision at UFC 136.
Florian originally debuted with the UFC as a middleweight back in 2005 on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and it’s been quite a journey for the Massachusetts fighter going from 185-pounds down to 145-pounds.
Speaking to Heavy.com, Florian admits that the weight-cut was “the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” and that the cut “took away my strength and energy” against Aldo last month.
“The hardest thing I’ve ever done, probably, is get down to 145. It was really brutal, and it took its toll on my body.”
“It definitely had an effect on my body, and I felt it a little bit in the Nunes fight,” Florian said. “But I felt it a tremendous amount in the Aldo fight. I just felt it took away my strength and my energy, and that’s not a good feeling to have going into a fight.”
“Despite it affecting my health a little bit, I would do it again,” Florian said. “I didn’t regret it. It was a great experience, and that’s exactly why I did it.
“Everything you do has consequences, and you have to be ready for those things. I was very thankful for the experience. I see it as a learning experience. I always try to take a positive from it.”