Kenny Florian officially announces his....

...move back up to 155

http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/ultimate_fighting/view/2011_1023k-flo_its_still_a_go_despite_another_setback_not_ready_to_quit/

K-Flo: It's still a go

A number of thoughts have gone through Kenny Florian’s mind in the two weeks since his unanimous-decision loss to featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 136 in Houston.

Florian considered retirement, but the 35-year-old couldn’t shake one feeling: He still loves to train and fight. With that in mind, Florian has decided to continue his career. The only change the Dover native will make is a move back up to the 155-pound lightweight division.

“I still love this sport tremendously and still want to be a part of it,” Florian said in an exclusive interview with the Herald. “I know myself and it’s not even just being competitive, but it’s just being there learning and competing. There’s still very much a fire burning there so I’m going to do it.”

The loss to Aldo was the third title shot loss of Florian’s career. After dropping a fight to Gray Maynard for the lightweight No.   1 contender spot last August, Lauzon dropped to the 145-pound featherweight division.

The move proved beneficial when Florian (16-6) defeated Diego Nunes in June to land the title shot vs. Aldo. But on fight night, Florian said he felt the effect of the lower weight.

“I felt it warming up, unfortunately,” Florian said. “I don’t want there to be an excuse because there’s still things I should have executed that I didn’t, but I feel that it’s tough to go in there at a weight class that you’re not sure if you’re going to be 100 percent.”

Florian doesn’t plan to fight for the next six months as he rebuilds his body for the lightweight division. He’ll return to an uncertain future, with a fourth title shot highly unlikely without a lot of stellar performances.

“I didn’t get in this to be second-best, of course. But at the same time, not everybody can be a champion,” Florian said. “I’m just going to go back to 155, work my way up, take it one fight at a time and see where it puts me.

“I think there’s exciting fights out there for me, there’s still challenges out there for me, there’s still things I’d like to try to improve on and that’s the main thing. I don’t necessarily have the title in my eyes, but I do have my own personal goals as far as the technical level that I want to get to.”

Florian believes he’s still making improvements and said he has been reinvigorated since switching training camps two years ago to work primarily at his own gym in Brookline and in Montreal with renowned trainer Firas Zahabi. A promising career as a TV analyst awaits after retirement, but Florian isn’t ready to hang it up yet.

“I don’t like making any limits on how many fights or anything like that,” Florian said. “I’m still going to take it one fight at a time. I know I’ve still got several good fights in me. I could fight for the next three years. I could fight maybe another couple of fights. I don’t know. I’m going to take it how I feel in training, how I feel fight after fight and I’m just going to take it like that.”




It's good that we'll finally get to see fight finished at one fifty fiiiive...i hear Kenny finishes fights!

At 35 with three failed title shots retirement would be wise. Kenny should look for a career in broadcasting, he's young, handsome and intelligent.

Considering everything, he really should retire.

Why should he retire? he's still top 10. Should everyone not good enough to be champ retire?

Yeah I dont think he needs to retire. He is just under champion status but i dont know what going back to 155 is going to prove I guess unless he feels he can beat Frankie.

He's probably just more comfortable at the weight class. If you're going to be a gatekeeper, might as well be one at a preferred weight class.

KingsOwn19 wrote:

He's probably just more comfortable at the weight class. If you're going to be a gatekeeper, might as well be one at a preferred weight class.

This. Why lose the extra weight when you don't have too?

Yeah I hear u guys.

Why continue when you've gone as far as you can go ?

Ali wrote:

Why continue when you've gone as far as you can go ?

Money, the love of the sport, Money, the competition, Money, The training, Money........Oh yeah did I say Money????

timthebim wrote:

Ali wrote:

Why continue when you've gone as far as you can go ?

Money, the love of the sport, Money, the competition, Money, The training, Money........Oh yeah did I say Money????

Kenny can make money working for ESPN and could also eventually become a full time commentator. He's got the opportunity to walk away with his health intact and go out with dignified performance against one of the best in the sport.

I just think those guys have been fighting for so long its just hard to stop.

He will make more money fighting than commentating.

freakzilla wrote:

He will make more money fighting than commentating.

No arguement from me.

Kenny already looks like he's appealing for a role in Zoolander II in Kings sig.

Ali wrote:

Kenny already looks like he's appealing for a role in Zoolander II in Kings sig.

Lol

Its not like Kenny has taken a lot of damage in his career anyway. Keep fighting

I'll look forward to seeing Kenny against some top guys in the now crowded LW division

Kenny Florian vs Jim Miller anyone?

Kenny can still make some nice $ at the top of some cards. Who wouldn't be down for Kenny vs Pettis? Kenny vs Melvin? He should still be competitive vs the top 5 of the division. What about Kenny vs Nate Diaz? Could be an interesting fight.

Kenny vs Cowboy

Kenny has a ton of fights people would want to see.

Ali wrote:

Why continue when you've gone as far as you can go ?

He said it in the first couple lines of that story. He still loves to train, he still loves to fight. And he has not taken a bunch of beatings in his career.

No reason for him not to continue.

KenFlo vs. Guillard makes sense.

Kenny 'The Gatekeeper' Florian...Yeah, I say retire...

Glad Kenny is back at LW. Ther are alot of good fights for him here. I want him to fight Showtime!