UFC Pres says: Kenny Florian Choked at UFC 118

Dana White has never been the kind of guy to keep things to himself. If he has an opinion of you, good or bad, he’ll let you know.

One of the UFC’s biggest team players, Kenny Florian is very much endeared by the UFC President. Their ties go back to season one of “The Ultimate Fighter”, where Florian was personally asked to appear on the show once White saw the now debonair ESPN personality, in a fight with former UFC veteran Drew Fickett some 5-6 years ago.

After losing in the finale of his season of TUF to Diego Sanchez at middleweight, Florian hit the ground running. After a brief stint at welterweight, Kenny made another stop at his new home at 155-pounds, where he run into his first title shot opposite of former champion Sean Sherk. Florian would go on to lose a lopsided 5 round decision to Sherk, but was “seemingly” undeterred.

He rallied back with an impressive 6-fight win streak, which included victories over Joe Lauzon, Roger Huerta, and Joe Stevenson to earn a second bid at the lightweight title against then champion BJ Penn. And at UFC 101, a full two-plus-years after earning his initial shot at the belt, Florian–a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, was submitted by Penn in the fourth round.

Dana White asserts that it’s part of Kenny’s character to flop when a big opportunity looms his way.

“I love Kenny Florian, I’ve known him since season one of The Ultimate Fighter”, said Dana to a small group of reporters following UFC 118.

“He’s one of the best fighters in the world, but in the big fights, he chokes in the big fights. He’s here in his hometown (Boston, Mass.), another shot at title and he sits in front of Gray Maynard for three rounds. He couldn’t let anything go”, he continued.

“Gray Maynard fought his fight, did what he wanted to do, and dominated him”.

White made no illusions of how he felt about the fight otherwise, and stuck to his guns. You can’t fault him for speaking his mind. And among other things, it’s hard to argue the facts.

Do you think Florian is predetermined to lose when a big opportunity is set in front of him, or is it simply the worst case scenario for Florian–fighting a talented wrestler, which looks to be his Achilles heel. You be the judge.