I am a fan of Kenny Florian. I find that he is funny and intelligent outside of the cage and vicious and technical inside of it.
He is perhaps one of the best fighters to never win a belt in the UFC. Every time he seems like he is close to getting that brass ring, it slips from his grasp.
Part of it has to do with the fighters he’s faced. Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn, and Gray Maynard, in a lightweight title eliminator, are no joke. If he loses to Jose Aldo on Saturday it will just be another great fighter who Florian came up short against.
It depends on the fight, but there are many fans who believe that the young Aldo will have too much for Florian. If Aldo does win, what is next for The Ultimate Fighter alumni?
At 35 he isn’t getting any younger and he most likely can’t cut down to bantamweight. So, what is the next step?
He could continue fighting, but at this point he would only tarnish his career by continuing to try and get the title. If it doesn’t happen on Saturday, it probably never will. Florian is way to good to become a gatekeeper.
Some fans and MMA insiders have mentioned that he should become a commentator. It’s a good suggestion, as Florian has always impressed when he appears on the MMA hour and has legitimate knowledge, being a fighter himself.
However, I believe that Florian would be best served doing another job.
Dana White‘s job.
This doesn’t mean that when he retires from the cage, whether it be on Saturday or in the future, he should immediately get it. He should be put in the company and under Dana White to learn.
Florian would be perfect as the President of the UFC. He is educated, a former fighter, and polite. Dana White is what got the UFC to where it is, but in the coming years it will need somebody different to help it go on to the next level.
The other reason Florian should get White’s job is because Dana White won’t be around forever. In a sit-down interview with Joe Rogan, White admitted that in about 10 years he would like to retire. Though he is relatively young, White’s schedule is incredibly stressful and it wouldn’t be surprising if he burned out in less than a decade.
Florian might be only seven years younger than White, but being a fighter is still less stressful than being the president of the premier MMA company. He is healthier and is not as worn out as White.
He also understands how to handle media and be in the spotlight. It makes him a great candidate overall.
Of course, Florian might end up winning on Saturday and become the best featherweight title holder in MMA history.
But if he doesn’t, the alternatives aren’t that bad either.
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