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UFC 118 Quote of the Day 3: Dana White: Kenny Florian "Chokes in the Big Fights"

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images.

"I hate to say this because I don't want to take anything away from Gray Maynard, but I think Kenny is just one of those guys who chokes in big fights. I'm not bad-mouthing him or trying to disrespect him; I'm just being honest. Every time it's a big fight and there's a lot of things on the line, Kenny just ... Kenny's hands are unbelievable. Kenny's ground is unbelievable. Kenny usually kicks guys to the body and legs so hard that he busts guys up. You didn't see any of that tonight. He stood there and stared at Gray Maynard for three rounds."

Mike Chiappetta quotes Dana White at the UFC 118 post fight press conference.

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One of the most truthful things I have ever heard come out of Dana’s mouth.

All your doing is spewing garbage with no sense of order or articulation whatsoever. - SimplePsych

by frosty31 on Aug 29, 2010 4:59 PM EDT reply actions  

Dana said it at the post fight press conference. But I disagree. He just doesn’t have the wrestling to keep it standing against Gray. If he did start throwing and kicking more, he’d be taken down even easier.

Hard core MMA fan since UFC 99

by ChiCubs23 on Aug 29, 2010 5:06 PM EDT reply actions  

Agreed. He’s just physically weak and can;t deal with big/powerful wrestlers. And him losing to Bj Penn was because it was BJ Penn and Kenny tried to be GSP. Dana needs to learn when to keep his mouth shut taking sides in fights a la randy/Toney and making disparaging remarks like this is very unprofessional.

Goldberg on Leben: One thing's for sure--he really did break that door on the Ultimate Fighter.
Rogan: uh...yeah.

by frosnt1 on Aug 29, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

strength

does nothing to compensate for a lack of wrestling technique.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Aug 29, 2010 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions  

true

my brother was a beast in terms of strength, eventually his opponents knew to just not get pinned upon initial takedown and work from the ground. game. set. match.

by silent.bisonte33 on Aug 29, 2010 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’d think that you need strength + technique against a guy like Maynard.

by MMABookworm on Aug 29, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions  

Speed kills.

Lets see how Maynard deals with the increased footspeed and movement of Edgar. I’m still intrigued by that rematch.

"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
-Randall Munroe

by pdl on Aug 29, 2010 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maynard by UD. Edgar is great, but Maynard’s boxing is underrated and he’s the better MMA wrestler. That said, you obviously can’t count Edgar out.

"If a dick don't get hard offa cocaine, what would you axe it?" O.D.B.
"To be is to be the value of a bound variable." W.V.O Quine
"I shoot. I score. He shoots. I score." Dan Gable.

by The Darkness on Aug 29, 2010 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maynard's boxing is garbage

and Edgar’s is actually pretty sharp. I think you’re probably right about the outcome of this fight, but it won’t be because Maynard out-boxes anyone.

Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.

by Monte Fisto on Aug 29, 2010 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions  

Maynard’s boxing is not as bad as you say it is. He didn’t do that bad against Nate Diaz, and Diaz’ boxing is pretty legit. Avoided a lot of damage.

Diaz messed Davis up bad last night, he uses his reach really well. He uses a lot of straight punches and mostly just uses big swooping punches to counter.

by davidm1122 on Aug 29, 2010 11:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

Avoiding damage and having good boxing aren’t really the same thing. Fighters like Nate have to respect Maynard’s ability to get the take-down, and can’t let them fly as much as they would against a more striking-oriented fighter. Maynard really only throws that big right, and he doesn’t do much to set it up. I’m not seeing it.

Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.

by Monte Fisto on Aug 30, 2010 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions  

Maynard was slipping Diaz’ punches pretty well in that fight, way better than Davis did and he was a pro boxer. He has some good mma boxing skills. Sure he might be garbage is you compare him to mayweather or pacquiao, but not for mma.

by davidm1122 on Aug 30, 2010 3:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

Something tells me

Davis wasn’t much of a “boxer” but rather a “brawler” during his boxing career. So i don’t think he’s the golden standard we should judge boxing by. Davis is a much better boxer than Maynard overall. I will give you that Maynard stays on his toes a bit more, but at the same time, Diaz didn’t have the hard cut to deal with when he fought Davis. I’m not sure that’s the best fight to gauge Maynard’s boxing on.

Maynard’s movement is okay. He’s not flat on his feet the entire time (like a lot of wrestlers), and he does have some head movement, but not enough to where it’s really anything of consequence. The reason he gets away with boxing is because of the threat he poses with the takedown.

Monte Fisto pretty much hit the nail on the head.

by JaeeJaee on Aug 30, 2010 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions  

just stop telling kenny that his next fight is for a title shot or anything important and let him obliterate people.

there was a very clear difference in the gomi / guida florian and the maynard florian….

so please, tell him to just have fun so i can see some more disgusting elbows from guard and more takedown defense. for a guy who was able to stuff guida and then take him down in return to just pin himself against the cage the other night…something was off.

by kneilson on Aug 29, 2010 5:07 PM EDT reply actions  

There was a difference in this fight. It was a big stronger 155er named Gray Maynard.

by Mike Fagan on Aug 29, 2010 6:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions   1 recs

Kenny didn’t even show up for last nights fight and I agree 100% with Dana’s statement regarding Florian blowing big fights regularly, lost some dough on Florian last night and I’m sure many others have lighter pockets today……… don’t think I’ll be putting any money on Kenny in the future.

Fear is temporary regret is for ever.

by twodragunns on Aug 29, 2010 5:08 PM EDT reply actions  

It’s funny because it’s true.

"I don't care, hit him with your groin!"

by 3PA on Aug 29, 2010 5:08 PM EDT reply actions  

It’s funny sad because it’s true.

by truck on Aug 29, 2010 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions  

LoL

Someone rec this for me.

Be a man, not a child-Phil Anselmo

by ANance on Aug 29, 2010 5:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions  

done

"Jesus, did somebody dip a baby in jalepenos?" - My Girlfriend

by Earl Montclair on Aug 29, 2010 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

Penn only chokes in half his big fights.

by ufc4 on Aug 29, 2010 5:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions   1 recs

+100

I was thinking that exact same thing during his fight.

When the fight was over, I actually felt bad for him. Watching him with his hands on his head and resting on the cage looking like he was about to cry. I felt bad. I really thought he’d win and I really wanted him to win. I would’ve really liked to have seen him fight Frankie (or even BJ again if he had won).

"Girls are mean." Lisa Ward

by Keren on Aug 29, 2010 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah I agree. When the gameplan isn’t working, Kenny blows a fuse, tenses up and turns over all the initiative. What’s happening to him doesn’t compute, and he can’t let himself go all savage and switch to a high risk/reward style.

What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?

by Kwisatz Haderach on Aug 30, 2010 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

I’m not bad-mouthing him or trying to disrespect him

But you go on and disrespect him.

"Dodger fans aren’t happy when foul balls get into their section, because it interferes with their playing with the beachball"- Mike Krukow

by 49er16 on Aug 29, 2010 5:30 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Making an observation and voicing an opinion

Doesn’t mean he’s disrespecting him.

"If the commission would sanction it and Dana would move, I’d fighter Anderson right now."
- Chael Sonnen at the post fight press conference following his loss to Anderson Silva.

Support independent artists
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by Worldisart on Aug 29, 2010 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions  

at the least it was a "bad mouthing"

and it sounded disrespectful too

it was also true

all three can happen at the same time

by Django Z on Aug 29, 2010 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions  

How is it disrespectful or bad mouthing?

It’s not like Dana’s intent was to insult Kenny Florian. Somebody asks Dana a question and he gives his honest opinion on the matter. It’s not like some of the clowns who post their “opinions” on the internet. Have you read some of the flat out insulting things some people have said around these parts about Gray Maynard

If people haven’t figured out by now that Dana White is going to voice his opinion when asked for it then they need to watching his interviews and reading his quotes. Dana White is under no obligation to say things like “You know he went out there and lost but at least he tried hard, so let’s all have a group hug.”.

"If the commission would sanction it and Dana would move, I’d fighter Anderson right now."
- Chael Sonnen at the post fight press conference following his loss to Anderson Silva.

Support independent artists
http://worldisart365.blogspot.com/

by Worldisart on Aug 29, 2010 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions  

*they need to stop watching his interviews and reading his quotes

"If the commission would sanction it and Dana would move, I’d fighter Anderson right now."
- Chael Sonnen at the post fight press conference following his loss to Anderson Silva.

Support independent artists
http://worldisart365.blogspot.com/

by Worldisart on Aug 29, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions  

I'm not a racist but

Black people are lazy. AMIRITE? AMIRITE?

OBAMA = ONE BIG ASS MISTAKE AMERICA AMIRITE? AMIRIIIIIIIIIIIITE?

I hate when people put BS disclaimers

/sarcasm
Better known as Black Lesnar
Read me at WatchKalibRun

by S.C. Michaelson on Aug 29, 2010 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions  

i dont think thats true. he got taken down a couple times by an excellent wrestler and now he choked?

by phantasma475 on Aug 29, 2010 6:13 PM EDT reply actions  

No, he didnt let his hands go or attempt any offense.

by Hutchy on Aug 29, 2010 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

It's too bad

I was at Hooters last night and after an uneventful two and a half rounds, everyone was on edge as Kenny first tried to lock up a gogoplata and then an omoplata. Would have been a nice comeback, but Maynard ended up winning in Fitch-esque fashion.

by dreamers_12345 on Aug 29, 2010 6:15 PM EDT reply actions  

The supposedly “weak” Kenny Florian didnt seem to have any problem with Joe Daddy or Guida’s wrestling, did he? Because he let his hands go and went on the offensive instead of just standing there circling. I dont think Kenny freezes in big fights, per se, the two fights I mentioned were big fights and he was fine. Bottom line, when THE BELT comes into play, Kenny freezes. Its almost like he has chased it too long, its become too big in his own mind.

by Hutchy on Aug 29, 2010 6:17 PM EDT reply actions  

Honestly it's hard to disagree with him

Florian is good enough to beat #4 and #5 but can’t beat and will never be #1.

He’s the Buffalo Bills of MMA.

Toronto FC - Where road games are forfeited and we STILL have no idea how to play from behind.

by SSreporters on Aug 29, 2010 6:21 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

Ouch

Comparing someone with the Bills should be fighter bashing! lol

"If the commission would sanction it and Dana would move, I’d fighter Anderson right now."
- Chael Sonnen at the post fight press conference following his loss to Anderson Silva.

Support independent artists
http://worldisart365.blogspot.com/

by Worldisart on Aug 29, 2010 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

Seems like working wrestling with GSP doesn’t translate well in actual fights. Kenny and Marquart both looked inept in grappling. I realize Chael and Maynard are top tier wrestlers but they made Nate and Kenny look like amateurs.

by YoungGun on Aug 29, 2010 6:39 PM EDT reply actions  

Kenny is a great fighter and I would not agree that he chokes in big fights

I think he has great all around skills and fights very smart. And I think last night he would have likely beat every other lightweight that was put in front of him. But he instead met the one that is likely to dominate the lightweight ranks for a long time. Maynard is from the new era of well rounded, smart, strategic, freakish cardio with wreslting base fighters. On top of that he is easily the biggest lightweight that I can think of. I saw pictures of him the other day standing next to Marcus Davis at the weigh ins and he looked dramatically bigger than Davis by far. And in the ring he looked like an Alves/GSP sized fighter while Florian looked like a 155. And I think Florian was surprised by his strength and control.

by SimplePsych on Aug 29, 2010 6:44 PM EDT reply actions  

The problem with Kenny is that

he is putting the pussy belt on a pedestal

by TylerTreese on Aug 29, 2010 8:06 PM EDT reply actions  

Alternate theory

The vibrations of Keith Florian’s voice actually allowed Gray Maynard to operate on a separate plane of existence, where he can anticipate Kenny’s movements and take him down at will. BJ was only able to tune into these vibrations late in the fight, but Maynard got it by the end of the first round.

"You hear people say, 'You're the greatest,' and all this stuff. It's BS. It's fake, it's all fake. You've just got to keep training as hard as you can. The only thing real is the fight, everything else is fake." - BJ Penn

by crazybones on Aug 29, 2010 9:34 PM EDT reply actions   1 recs

He’s putting the pus…belt on a pedestal.

by seanerk88 on Aug 29, 2010 10:40 PM EDT via mobile reply actions  

Kenny “The Chocker” Florian sounds right to me, nothing is more disapointing than seeing guys with tons of talent not show up in big fights.

"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/

by Nightwhistler on Aug 30, 2010 12:07 AM EDT reply actions  

Kenny's Noose

I think its time Kenny fires his brother Keith Florian and hooks up w/ Renzo for his jujitsu. It did wonders for Frankie & St. Pierre. Not to mention Keith was the source of the problem w/ Delagrotte. Boxer’s fire their relatives all the time and Kenny should follow suite to regain his focus.

by BrothaDarkness on Aug 30, 2010 1:26 PM EDT reply actions  

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