I Was Wrong About Kenny Florian. So Who's Next?

by MMAEruption on Nov 17, 2008 1:32 PM EST

In my last fanpost, I was pretty damn adamant that Kenny Florian was not a legit title contender, based upon the quality of competition he's faced and the qualities of his wins. However, with his dominant performance over Joe Stevenson this past Saturday at UFC 91, there's no doubt that I was dead wrong about Kenny.

Kenny's ground game looked absolutely superb and he buzz-sawed through Joe way more easily than I could have possibly imagined. I didn't think Kenny had the physical strength to really take it to Joe, but his aggressiveness and slickness more than overcame any lack of brawn.

I also thought Kenny's decision to call out BJ after the fight was pure genius. BJ doesn't seem interested in the lightweight division any more, but if Kenny begins to create enough heat among the fans, BJ might feel compelled to him on Kenny after the GSP fight.

Kenny would have a considerable advantage over BJ in cardio and some technical aspects of the striking game, but BJ's takedown defense, iron chin, punching power, and impenetrable guard makes him an awful match-up for Kenny. To beat BJ, you must overpower him and wear him out, and if GSP couldn't hurt a fat, out of shape BJ, I don't think Kenny can hurt the physically-fit, 155 pound version.

But if BJ permanently left the lightweight division to compete at 170, a rematch between Kenny and Sean Sherk for the vacant title could be an amazing fight, with a great storyline to boot

A new and improved Kenny Florian comes back to fight for the title against the only guy to beat him at 155? I'd buy it!

Poll

Who do you want to see Kenny fight?

BJ Penn

44 votes

Sean Sherk

9 votes

53 votes | Poll has closed

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

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Read More: kenny florian, bj penn, ufc, ufc 91, sean sherk

Comments

The man has earned his shot at ‘the master.’

by Derek Suboticki on Nov 17, 2008 1:38 PM EST reply actions

I agree with subo….AND it would be more competitive than most people think.

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Nov 17, 2008 1:50 PM EST reply actions

I could see Florian beating Penn..if Penn overlooked him..

I don’t think there is a fighter out there that ahs improved more than Kenny with each fight.

by lbk on Nov 17, 2008 2:21 PM EST reply actions

Florian won’t be able to fight Penn until around April or May 2009 at the earliest. Florian should rematch Sherk in the meantime.

by Flying Gogoplata on Nov 17, 2008 3:57 PM EST reply actions

Re-matching Sherk is something he said he is open to even before he fights Penn…courtesy of the post fight interview on MMA Live.

http://mma4real.net/

by Tha Realness on Nov 17, 2008 4:20 PM EST reply actions

Damn…the most earned title shot after having it promised to him?

by iiowyn on Nov 17, 2008 4:20 PM EST up reply actions

I think it may be a benefit to Florian to take the Sherk fight in the meantime. I think he can beat Sherk and it will add even more validity and hype to his fight with BJ.

Thiago Alves is taking time off until he fights the winner of GSP/Penn. I think that could be a mistake. I’d like to see him fight Diego Sanchez or Jon Fitch in the mean time.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Nov 17, 2008 4:31 PM EST reply actions

Dudes gotta eat

you get paid for a title shot as much as a regular fight

by dbcb on Nov 17, 2008 5:08 PM EST reply actions

He has said as much. He would rather beat more people on his way to a title shot and get paid then get a fast title shot. He is not a dumb man. He is taking the long way around and collecting cash. He has a loss in a title match so another one doesn’t enhance his status. He needs to win to gain status and the risk, right now, isn’t worth it. Pad your wallet while you can and get the shot in due time. Smart.

by szucconi on Nov 17, 2008 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

mmmm...crow!

lol!! j/k man. and props for the post.

I’m really torn here. On one hand, I want Ken to get the shot at BJ, because he has earned it. On the other, hand, I think BJ will dust him fairly easily and I think the rematch with Sherk is an awesome fight.

This is what I would like to see. BJ beats GSP in an amazing fight. GSP goes on to fight and win against 1 or 2 of the top WWs. BJ drops back to 155 and beats Ken in one of the most hyped fights ever with BJ being promoted as the 2 division champ. BJ then vacates the LW belt and goes back to WW, defeats a top WW and we then get the finale of the BJ/GSP trilogy. Ken and Sherk then fight for the LW belt, with Ken pulling it out this time.

I sincerely think the best thing for the UFC is to have BJ as a competitive if not the best, WW. And the LW division is far more interesting without him dominating it, imo. I think this adds quality depth and interesting fights at 170 as well as a more evenly matched LW division.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Nov 17, 2008 5:36 PM EST reply actions

That’s how I see it playing out too with the exception of this: after BJ goes back to defend the WW belt – all this is after defending the LW belt – he goes up to MW to fight Anderson Silva.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Nov 18, 2008 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

by Nick Thomas on Nov 17, 2008 5:51 PM EST reply actions

That’s the hardest working sumbitch in MMA. Kenny Florian embodies everything I love about the sport.

by dropkick101 on Nov 17, 2008 6:46 PM EST reply actions

I have to say, my favorite Kenny moment remains, the “drinking” from the unopened Xyience can, lol.

http://eliotmarshall.com/

by BJJDenver on Nov 18, 2008 11:55 AM EST reply actions

That was pretty wild..

by Charles Awad on Nov 18, 2008 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

has bj said publicly, whether he plans to retain and defend both belts if he wins? he makes plenty of bold claims, obviously… but i know there was some speculation he might vacate the LW one and stay at WW, if he beats gsp.

by woooburn on Nov 18, 2008 4:20 PM EST reply actions