Name Kenny Florian
Nickname KenFlo
Association Florian Martial Arts Center / Tristar Gym
Weight Class Featherweight / Lightweight
Height 5′ 10″ (178 cm)
Reach 74.0 in (188 cm)
Style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai
Stance Southpaw
Birth Date May 26, 1976
Fighting Out Of Montreal, Canada
Country USA
Kenny Florian Pictures Official Website

”’Kenneth ” Ken Flo” Florian”’, better known as Kenny, is an American mixed martial artist with a background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. He is best known for his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter 1 reality show where he lost the middleweight final to Diego Sanchez. Florian currently fights as a Lightweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

== Professional Record ==

Record 14 – 6 – 0 (Win â€Â“ Loss â€Â“ Draw)
Wins 3 (T)KOs
9 Submissions
2 Decisions
Losses 1 (T)KOs
1 Submissions
4 Decisions
Result Opponent Method Event Title Date Round Time Notes
Loss Jose Aldo Decision (Unanimous) UFC 136 Edgar vs Maynard 3 10/08/2011 5 5:00 For UFC Featherweight Championship
Win Diego Nunes Decision (Unanimous) UFC 131 Dos Santos vs Carwin 6/11/2011 3 5:00
Loss Gray Maynard Decision (Unanimous) UFC 118 Edgar vs Penn 2 8/28/2010 3 5:00
Win Takanori Gomi Submission (Rear Naked Choke) UFC Fight Night 21 Florian vs Gomi 3/31/2010 3 2:52 Won Submission of the Night Honors
Win Clay Guida Submission (Rear Naked Choke) UFC 107 Penn vs Sanchez 12/12/2009 2 2:19
Loss B.J. Penn Submission (Rear Naked Choke) UFC 101 Declaration 8/08/2009 4 3:54 For UFC Lightweight Championship
Win Joe Stevenson Submission (Rear Naked Choke) UFC 91 Couture vs Lesnar 11/15/2008 1 4:03 Became #1 Contender for Lightweight Title
Win Roger Huerta Decision (Unanimous) UFC 87 Seek and Destroy 8/09/2008 3 5:00
Win Joe Lauzon TKO (Punches and Elbows) UFC Fight Night 13 Florian vs Lauzon 4/02/2008 2 3:28 Won Fight of the Night Honors
Win Din Thomas Submission (Rear Naked Choke) UFC Fight Night Thomas vs Florian 9/19/2007 1 4:31 Thomas injured his knee during a takedown attempt
Win Alvin Robinson Submission (Punches) UFC 73 Stacked 7/07/2007 1 4:30
Win Dokonjonosuke Mishima Submission (Rear Naked Choke) UFC Fight Night 9 Stevenson vs Guillard 4/05/2007 3 3:57
Loss Sean Sherk Decision (Unanimous) UFC 64 Unstoppable 10/14/2006 5 5:00 For vacant UFC Lightweight Championship
Win Sam Stout Submission (Rear Naked Choke) The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale 6/24/2006 1 1:46 Lightweight debut
Win Kit Cope Submission (Rear Naked Choke) The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale 11/05/2005 2 0:37 Bout at Welterweight
Win Alex Karalexis TKO (Cut) UFC Fight Night 1 Ultimate Fight Night 8/6/2005 2 2:52 Bout at Welterweight
Loss Diego Sanchez TKO (Punches) The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale 4/09/2005 1 2:49 UFC debut; for The Ultimate Fighter 1 Middleweight Tournament
Loss Drew Fickett Decision CZ 7: Gravel Pit 7/10/2004 3 5:00 For Combat Zone Welterweight Championship
Win Bobby McAndrews Submission (Kimura) MD 15: Mass Destruction 15 2/21/2004 1 1:57
Win Jason Giroux TKO (Strikes) MD 10: Mass Destruction 10 1/25/2003 1 N/A

== Early Life ==
Florian was born in Westwood, Massachusetts of Peruviann parents. His ethnic background includes: Armenian, French, German, Italian, and Spanish ancestry. He attended Boston College where he played for the varsity soccer team (NCAA Division 1).

After college, his interests turned towards mixed martial arts, and he earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Prof. Roberto Maia of Boston Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Gracie Barra Boston).

== Mixed Martial Arts Career ==
Kenny is known for his elbow strikes, which Joe Rogan describes as “razor sharp”.

Florian made his MMA debut in January 2003 at Mass Destruction 10, defeating Jason Giroux via TKO (strikes). Kenny made another appearance in the Mass Destruction Promotion at MD – 15 and brought home a sweet victory over Bobby McAndrews by submission (kimura). Following those victories, Kenny suffered his first loss to UFC regular Drew Fickett via decision at Combat Zone 7 – Gravel Pit on July 10, 2004.

=== The Ultimate Fighter ===
Florian appeared on the SpikeTV hit series The Ultimate Fighter in its first season. He was a middleweight contestant on Chuck Liddell‘s team. He defeated Chris Leben to make it on The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale. He lost to Diego Sanchez in the first round due to strikes.

=== UFC Career ===
Following his loss to Sanchez, Florian returned at the first Ultimate Fight Night to defeat fellow TUF 1 competitor Alex Karalexis with a vicious cut across the nose. Picking up momentum, Kenny went on to face Muay Thai competitor Kit Cope, winning with a rear naked choke submission early in round 2. Florian earned a title shot after defeating Canadian TKO Lightweight champion Sam Stout at The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale; Florian won in the first round by rear naked choke.

On October 14, 2006, Florian fought Sean Sherk for the UFC Lightweight championship title at UFC 64 Unstoppable and lost via unanimous decision. Sherk exhibited superior control despite being cut severely by several Florian elbows. The judges scored it 50-45 and 49-46 twice for Sherk. In doing so Sherk became the new UFC lightweight champion.

On April 5, 2007 at UFC Fight Night 9, Florian defeated Japanese fighter Dokonjonosuke Mishima via rear naked choke submission. Florian managed to break free of an excruciating kneebar attempt made by Mishima late in the fight.

On July 7, 2007 at UFC 73, he fought and defeated UFC newcomer Alvin Robinson via submission due to strikes in the first round. Florian tripped Robinson to the mat before moving to side-control. Florian then transitioned into mount before pounding away until Robinson tapped due to strikes.

In one of Florian’s more recent fights he managed to get another win via submission due to a rear naked choke against Din Thomas at UFC Fight Night 11. Thomas injured his knee while attempting a takedown during the bout. Thomas was originally slated to face off against Spencer Fisher, but Fisher had to pull out due to a staph infection. Florian took his place.

On April 2, 2008 Florian defeated Joe Lauzon at UFC Fight Night 13 Florian vs Lauzon by TKO due to strikes from mount early in the second round to secure his spot among the UFC’s top lightweight contenders. In the fight Lauzon took down Florian to the mat but whilst there Florian lands several illegal elbows to the back of the head that cut Lauzon. The 1st round went back and forth as Kenny landed a vicious body kick and Lauzon looked for knee bars and heel hooks. Florian finished the round with some hard shots to Joe’s head. Florian opened the 2nd round with a takedown and rained down punches on Lauzon from the mount position. Lauzon attempted another heel hook but Florian continued to strike. Herb Dean stops the fight.

At UFC 87 on August 9, 2008 Florian defeated Roger Huerta by unanimous decision. By winning, Florian ended Huerta’s 17-fight win streak. All three judges scored the bout 30-27 for Florian.

At UFC 91 on November 15, 2008, Florian defeated Joe Stevenson by rear naked choke submission in the first round. Florian executed a takedown before mounting Stevenson and transitioning to a position to finish him with the choke. With the win Florian established himself as the #1 contender for the Lightweight Championship. Florian said “I want B.J.’s belt. B.J., you’re one of the best fighters out there. I’m here to test myself. I think you’re a great fighter, someone I look up to. I consider you a master. It’s time to kill that master.” Lorenzo Fertitta said the UFC is working on B.J. Penn vs Kenny Florian for the UFC Lightweight Championship as the main event for UFC 101 Declaration. The fight took place on August 8, 2009 and Florian was submitted by Penn, who completely outclassed his opponent.

After the loss to Penn, Florian parted ways with Mark Dellagrotte of Team Sityodtong. The rift occurred between Kenny’s brother and Dellagrotte, but the split was said to be mutual. He is currently training at Tristar Gym in Montreal Canada, alongside the likes of Georges.St. Pierre.

Florian returned to action, for the first time since changing training camps and losing his title shot, at UFC 107 Penn vs Sanchez on December 12, 2009 against the always fast paced Clay Guida. Interestingly, the main event of UFC 107 were the two people who handed both Florian and Guida their most recent losses, at the time of the event. Though by the first round both fighters had bloody lacerations, with Guida having the worst of the two fighters, the fight continued into the second round, where Florian countered with a powerful right hand that crumpled his opponent to the canvas. Florian pounced with a flurry, before working quickly to the back and sinking in a fight-ending rear naked choke at 2:19 into the second round. The win put Florian back into the fray of the Lightweight division.

Florian was next rumored to be facing UFC new-comer and former PRIDE Lightweight Champion Takanori Gomi. The rumors became reality mid-January 2010, when the two Lightweights were announced to be facing off against one another at UFC Fight Night 21. With Florian’s crisp striking and effective jab, Gomi could never mount much of an offense. Additionally, so battered by the strikes and forced to take a defensive position in the second half of the fight, Gomi left himself open for an easy takedown in the third. Once on the ground, Florian made quick work of the Japanese fighter while moving into the mount position and then taking his opponent’s back when Gomi tried to roll free from the susceptible position. Florian quickly slapped on a Rear Naked Choke and prompted the tapout just seconds later at the 2:52 mark of the round. The submission earned him the Submission of the Night Honors.

In April of 2010 it was learned that Florian had suffered from a staph infection, which sent him to the hospital for precautionary measured.

He returned to action at UFC 118 Edgar vs Penn 2 on August 27, 2010, where he faced Gray Maynard in a #1 contender match-up to face the winner of the B.J. Penn and Frankie Edgar re-match. Florian attempted to keep the fight standing, where he had his best shot at victory. But Maynard’s relentless attacks left Florian clearly frustrated as he was taken to the mat again and again. A late string of submission attempts fell short, and Florian was denied his third shot at a UFC belt. Instead, Maynard earned the Decision (Unanimous) victory (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) and went the distance for the seventh consecutive time.

== Outside Fighting ==
He currently hosts an online show called MMA Live for ESPN.com. Florian contributes to the show with his MMA experience and his perspective as a fighter.

On April 19, Florian filled in for Joe Rogan as the color commentator for UFC 83.

== Ranks and Titles ==
* BJJ Black Belt under Roberto Maia
* Pan-American BJJ medalist
* NAGA BJJ Superfight Champion
* Grapplers Quest Superfight champion
* 2002 US Grappling Pro 8-man champion
* 2002 Copa Atlantica BJJ Champion
* 2x Mass Destruction MMA Superfight Champion