UFC 101 Preview: Kenny Florian SportsCenter Interview

by Nick Thomas on Jul 29, 2009 2:24 PM EDT in MMA News

"I feel like my skill level has increased 10 times, even since my last fight against Joe Stevenson. I feel all the steps that I've taken since the Sherk fight has lead me to this point. Now it's about testing my skills, let's see whose skills are better. BJ Penn has proven to be the number 1 fighter in the world and I've earned this shot now and I'm going to try to take advantage of it."

HT: ESPN.com

His academy in Brookline

Regulation in Massachusetts

Bringing the title to Massachusetts

Furthering his broadcasting career

Brock Lesnar

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I love KenFlo

and I think his fight with Penn is going to be awesome. But this notion that alot of these guys continue to peddle that Lesnar will drive people away is ridiculous. For everyone 1 hardcore fan that refuses to buy a ppv with Lesnar on it, there will be ten casual fans showing up to see what this guy is about.

by mason_beer on Jul 29, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

And then deciding not to show off again because they’re just as disgusted as the rest of us.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Jul 29, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

True, but...

Pissing off your hardcore fanbase is generally never a good idea(4 various reasons).

by FredPancake on Jul 29, 2009 2:03 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah but they'll watch

just to see him lose. I’m not saying Brock wasn’t wrong or that Dana needs to coral him abit. But I had a house full of about 15 people – only about three are hardcore fans. After the fight, the 12 others were asking me when the next fight was, and when Brock was fighting next. So its win-win.

But I get Florian’s point, and I think Brock respects martial arts as an artform more than people thinks. He actually talks about it a lot. He can stay the asshole-bad guy without some of the over-the-top wwe stuff.

by mason_beer on Jul 29, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Casual fans are not gonna keep putting down $45 to see somebody fight that they don’t like. There are more casual fans than hardcores.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Jul 29, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

As long as it’s not two people they don’t like. I think people will gladly shovel over money to see the possibility of somebody they don’t like lose to somebody they only vaguely know.

It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.

by capital L on Jul 29, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Also true, but...

4 Brock there is a big difference between mainstream popularity & respect from hardcore fans, And Brock seems like a guy who cares about respect deep down in his heart underneath all the WWE bravado. Brocks choice from here on out will be money or respect. We’ll see which path he chooses.

by FredPancake on Jul 29, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

i don't think its a choice

he’s getting the money no matter what. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a change in him, like he realizes he went too far. But Frank Mir talked alot of trash before this fight, and it was personal. I can’t see why he went bezerk after the fight. He didn’t act like that after the Couture fight because Couture didn’t insult him the way Mir did. I expect that will be the last time we see Lesnar go insane like that.

by mason_beer on Jul 29, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions