Kenny Florian, Mark Dellagrotte Part Company

by Lynchman on Sep 19, 2009 9:28 AM EDT

Fighters Only magazine has an interesting interview with Mark Dellagrotte in which he confirms that he and Kenny have parted company:

"I think he is going to do well, I think the people he is going with are some of the best in the world. It wasn’t a bad break or anything like that, it was just a mutual decision we made in order for us both to move forward. It was necessary for Kenny to move forward with his career and me to move forward as a coach."

He also confirms that there have been problems between him and Keith Florian:

"I have to stress that I have nothing negative to say towards Kenny or his brother. Its not his brother’s fault, it’s not my fault, its just one of things that happens in sports like this," the Boston man says. "There has been a constant… ‘power struggle’ between me and his brother Keith. We never really got along - which is not anybody’s fault, some work well together and some don’t.

"We worked well together at first but over the last few camps and fights we put together, there were differences and I am just the type of guy that if I can’t steer the ship, if I can’t be the captain, I would prefer not to be onboard."

Reading the entire thing, it really does sound like things are good between Kenny and Mark. Too many bad splits out there, it is nice to see these guys were able to do so without burning bridges.

I know that Keith has always been an important figure in Kenny's personal and professional life, but I question how well he will be able to steer Kenny's career. After the BJ fight, I could not help but wonder if Kenny and Sherk got their plans mixed up as neither seemed to embrace their strengths.

Photo via ThatGirlisFunny.

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Any idea on who kenny is training with now? Could a move to Jackson’s camp be on the way? Since him and George have enjoyed training together maybe he’ll take george’s trainer, whose name escapes me.

by Corey N on Sep 19, 2009 10:51 AM EDT reply actions

I know he has moved onto training with GSP’s strength and conditioning coach full time. That’s all I know.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Sep 19, 2009 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Firhaz Zahabi?

by bubbafat on Sep 19, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

More I hear from Dellagrotte, the more he sounds like a sweet dude.

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by Mike Fagan on Sep 19, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions

and the more I hear about Keith Florian, the more I think he may not be serving his brother’s interests as well as he could if he put the ego on the shelf.

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by thetakeover on Sep 19, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions

That was a blockquote nightmare. I got all up in there.

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by Eugene Schelfaut on Sep 19, 2009 11:10 AM EDT reply actions

It was smart of Kenny to move on. He’s lost in dominant fashion in both of his title shots, so if he’s going to make one more run, it makes sense to change things up.

I’ve wondered why Kenny promotes his brother Keith so much. Maybe it’s to build up Kenny’s gym as one of the big MMA camps of the future?

IMO, Keith didn’t do a good job in Kenny’s corner in the BJ fight. I thought he actually put some bad ideas in Kenny’s head by yelling things like “Don’t be afraid of his power!” The gameplan was awful as well – constantly shooting in for takedowns against a guy with great dirty boxing and amazing TD defense made zero sense!

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by MMAEruption on Sep 19, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions

You're kinda right..

GSP’s camp wouldn’t agree with you about shooting for takedowns on BJ. But you’re TOTALLY correct with Kenny’s cornering. Ken-Flo would have been better off with just his stool and a bottle of water in his corner. Mark Dellagrote, " Don’t let it slip away Kenny!"

Forward Ever, Backward Never...

by Tony NJ on Sep 19, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Something that always bugs me is loud cornermen. For guys who are inexperienced, they are great.

But if a screechy cornerman Dellagrotte yells something, you can be sure the other guy knows what’s coming too. I feel like it can make fighters tentative or slow on the trigger because they don’t want to be timed. If someone yells “Shoot!”, you aren’t just going to shoot, or you’ll run face first into a knee.

by bigweeze on Sep 19, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions