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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Kenny Florian Retires From Fighting at Age of 36

Florian

By FCF Staff

After months of speculation as to what the future holds for Kenny Florian, the 36 year-old-veteran has announced that it will no longer include professional fighting.  The decorated fighter’s decision to retire was reportedly announced today at the TUF Live Finale weigh-ins and it was subsequently confirmed by the UFC afterwards.

Following his unanimous decision loss to featherweight champion Jose Aldo in October, Florian suffered a back injury, and he confirmed to UFC.com today that the injury was the deciding factor regarding retirement.

“What it came down to was that my back just wasn’t getting back to where it was,” Florian said in the UFC report. “I was not able to train the way I was before, and it’s been going on for a while. I’ve dealt with injuries before and I’ve dealt with a back injury before, but with this new injury that I suffered in November, I just haven’t been the same since.”

Florian leaves the sport having put together a 14-6 record, which included challenging BJ Penn and Sean Sherk for the UFC lightweight title.

During his time in the lightweight division, the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and talented striker scored wins over notable name like Roger Huerta, Joe Lauzon, Takanori Gomi, and Clay Guida, among others.

Following a unanimous decision loss to Gray Maynard in August, 2010, Florian dropped down to featherweight and defeated prospect Diego Nunes by UD in July, 2011.

The win earned Florian a fight with the aforementioned Aldo, but the Massachusetts fighter came up short and lost by unanimous decision.

Florian will continue on with the broadcasting and commentating responsibilities he currently has with the UFC and FOX.

“I was a kid who was kind of lost and fighting found me and made me a better person,” Florian added in the UFC story. “I think of a quote from Aristotle that said ‘you make war so you can find peace,’ and I think that’s something that happened with me. I’m in a great place in my life I think because of fighting somehow. I’ve never been happier in my life and I owe it to fighting.”

 

posted by FCF Staff @ 8:35 pm
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