Kenny Florian

Kenny Florian appeared on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter as a middleweight. He became interested in martial arts after college, and has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and also fights with aspects of Muay Thai.

Florian’s MMA debut came in February 2004, at Mass Destruction 15 where he defeated Bobby McAndrews by submission after applying a kimura armlock. He suffered his first loss in his next fight against Drew Fickett at Combat Zone 7: Gravel Pit. The fight went the distance and Florian lost by decision.

Florian appeared in the first season of The Ultimate Fighter the following year, and made it all the way to the middleweight final where he faced Diego Sanchez. In the finale he lost to Sanchez after taking a vicious amount of strikes from his opponent in the first round.

Florian posted his first UFC win in his next fight after delivering a mammoth shot to Alex Karalexis in the second round of their fight at UFC Ultimate Fight Night. The huge blow cut open Karalexis’ nose and gave Florian a TKO victory.

Florian also appeared in the finale of the next two seasons of The Ultimate Fighter. In the Season 2 finale of The Ultimate Fighter he defeated Kit Cope by submission, while he defeated Sam Stout by submission in The Ultimate Fighter 3 finale.

Those two wins earned Florian a fight versus Sean Sherk for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 64: Unstoppable. The fight went all five rounds, but Sherk was awarded the win by decision.

Since losing his title bout Florian has faced Dokonjonosuke Mishima at UFC Fight Night 9, and Alvin Robinson at UFC 73: Stacked. Florian won both fights by submission.

Florian currently holds a career MMA record of 6-3 with two knockouts and four submissions.