Florian: 'I've been doing wrestling every single day'

by Joe Myers | 9/8/10 2:27 PM | source: sherdog.com | 11207 Views | 10 Comments

UFC lightweight Kenny Florian dropped a unanimous decision to Gray Maynard at UFC 118 last month in Boston, costing him an opportunity at a third shot at the 155-pound title. Most fighters would be anxious to get back into action, hoping to dispel the memory of such a tough loss.

"It looks like my training team wants me to fight in another five months," said Florian during an interview Tuesday on the Sherdog Radio Network's "It's Time!" show with Bruce Buffer. "I'm more motivated than ever. I'm pissed, to be honest. I want to crush my training. That's what I'm focused on right now. I just hired the assistant wrestling coach at Boston University (Sean Gray) to be my wrestling coach here in Boston and I have other plans for a lot of other things as far as training goes."

"Losses are blessings in disguise. I've never been more motivated in my life. I kind of feel like this was one of the most frustrating losses that I've ever had and it was a fight I definitely learned a lot from. I'm very motivated and I had to come back to training quickly. I've already started training and did a hard conditioning session (Tuesday). I'm just motivated to work very hard and get right back into it."

“I need to make sure my game is capable of beating everybody in every aspect and it wasn't. So, I've been doing wrestling every single day. I've been watching wrestling and researching wrestling every single day."

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9/8/10 3:29 PM by Petey B

Semantics really...call it what you will (speed, technique, power, bad night by BJ), Edgar's boxing was better than BJ's when they last fought. Maybe it was only that night, whatever, it only needed to be for that night. The point is, that if Kenny can do that (even if it's not better "technique") with his wrestling, that's all he needs. Maybe he doesn't have to be "a better wrestler": than Gray.

9/8/10 3:29 PM by Ecko Unltd

Good point, however if you watch Florian's wrestling improve over the years, you can see a major difference. He went from having little to no wrestling vs Diego and Sherk, to stuffing almost every (or was it every) takedown vs Clay guida (and actually getting a takedown of his own), to coming close to stuffing Gray Maynard many times Kenny did better defensive wrestling wise than frankie Edgar did vs Maynard. Edgar did a better job at getting up, but he was double legged many times where Gray had to resort to pushing Kenny into the cage for most of his takedowns.

9/8/10 3:27 PM by frederic

He doesn't need to be a better wrestler than them, but a good enough of a wrestler to work the other aspects of his game more.

9/8/10 3:24 PM by Maximus77x

I think Kenny could be one of THE MOST dangerous 155'ers if he improved on his wrestling. Even if it was just defensive wrestling, that little edge could put him over the top. Think about it: imagine a Kenny Florian with the boxing shown in the Gomi fight, the BJJ shown in his 3 most recent wins, and wrestling that would allow him to stuff most takedown attempts. It would be pretty nasty for anyone at 155.

9/8/10 3:22 PM by Chris

I still don't think Frankie has better boxing than BJ. Frankie beat BJ with speed, not necessarily better technique.

9/8/10 3:20 PM by Petey B

<blockquote>Chris - I don't think it's the smartest move. He can work on wrestling every day for 6 months and he won't be a better wrestler than Gray or Frankie.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />I mean...did you ever think that Frankie Edgar would have better boxing than BJ Penn? People can and do get better, especially when focusing on one particular aspect of their game. And again, do you think he should just give up?

9/8/10 3:18 PM by Petey B

It may or may not be realistic, but shouldn't that be the goal? I mean, should he just say "I can't be the best wrestler in the UFC" and then quit trying? He definitely can get better.He probably thought his wrestling was good enough and fighting Gray made him realize it wasn't which is probably what prompted the epiphany.

9/8/10 3:16 PM by ShanTheMan

Maybe just work takedown D for 6 months

9/8/10 3:11 PM by Chris

I don't think it's the smartest move. He can work on wrestling every day for 6 months and he won't be a better wrestler than Gray or Frankie.

9/8/10 2:46 PM by supersonic

"I need to make sure my game is capable of beating everybody in every aspect and it wasn't."Not too realistic. There are virtually no fighters who can make such a claim.And if this is really the strategy its strange the epiphany is so recent

9/8/10 2:44 PM by Ensanity

Sounds like he is ONLY focusing on wrestling for a few months. He has great stand up and dope BJJ he can afford to put those on the back burner for a little while

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