Smaller Florian eyes elusive UFC belt
Kenny Florian has slimmed down several times in his career in an effort to find a size where an Ultimate Fighting Championship belt will finally fit around his waist.
He hopes it will pay off Saturday, when he has a chance to take the featherweight title from Jose Aldo in the co-main event of UFC 136 in Houston.
Florian entered the UFC competing as a middleweight (185 pounds) on Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” when he lost in the final to Diego Sanchez.
After the show, he decided to compete at a more natural weight, the 170-pound welterweight division. Florian won his next two fights, but decided to drop down even further when the UFC added a l55-pound lightweight division in 2006.
He lost to Sean Sherk for the vacant title that year, then worked his way back up the ranks until losing another title bout to BJ Penn in 2009. Florian gave it one more go, but dropped a No. 1 contender bout to Las Vegan Gray Maynard in August 2010, a loss that prompted Florian to make the shift to the 145-pound featherweight division.
On Saturday, all that maneuvering can culminate in Florian’s ultimate goal of a UFC title.
“I was never really a true middleweight,” Florian said. “I was a chubby 178-pounder.”
Through all of his transformations, Florian has seen just about every style of fighter that exists. He acknowledges Aldo is exceptional, but thinks he can bring something different to the cage.
“I don’t think he’s faced a guy who’s as well-rounded and as experienced as I am, and that’s what I’m going to bring in there,” Florian said. “I’m going to bring in well-rounded skills, experience, and just going to see where (he makes a mistake), and that’s it.”
The belt is one of two up for grabs. Frankie Edgar will put the lightweight title on the line against Maynard.
The two fought to a draw on Jan. 1 in Las Vegas after Maynard nearly finished Edgar in the first round. Maynard also owns a win over Edgar when both were rising contenders in 2008.
Also, Chael Sonnen will meet Brian Stann in a bout that could determine the top contender in the middleweight division.
■ MELENDEZ ON THE WAY — Several Strikeforce champions have been brought over to the UFC in the months since Strikeforce was purchased by the larger organization.
One more might be coming soon.
“We do want to bring Gilbert Melendez over, and we’re looking at it right now,” UFC president Dana White said of the Strikeforce lightweight champion. “We’re going to bring Melendez over ASAP.”
White made the comments at the news conference that followed UFC on Versus 6 on Saturday in Washington, D.C.
Melendez would join heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson and welterweight champion Nick Diaz in the UFC.
Melendez was in line to defend the belt against Jorge Masvidal, though the fight has not been announced. White didn’t say whether Melendez would get an immediate title shot in the UFC.
“It’s a possibility. The thing is, that division is so stacked,” White said. “And usually timing has a lot to do with it.”
■ FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE — Recently retired UFC competitor Chris Lytle hinted he might go into politics after his fighting career.
He took to a popular MMA message board to officially make his intentions known.
“I’ve decided that I can no longer let our government run with the same attitude that it has been for years. Our politicians worry about themselves more than the people they represent. That needs to change,” he posted on “The Underground” in announcing he was running for state senate in Indiana and requesting campaign donations. “Once again thanks and please watch how I start fighting in a new way.”
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.
