UFC 136 Results: Top 5 Fights of Kenny Florian's Career

By (Correspondent) on October 10, 2011

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Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Following his loss at UFC 136, Kenny Florian hasn't decided to retire just yet. "Ken-Flo" recently spoke to The Boston Herald:

"Not right now," said Florian when asked about hanging up his gloves. "I haven't really thought past this fight, so we'll see what happens."

While Florian walked away on the losing end of yet another title fight, he still put on a good performance against one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Let's take a look at the top five fights of Kenny Florian's career.

5. Roger Huerta

Courtesy of UFC.com
Courtesy of UFC.com

Kenny Florian took on Roger Huerta at UFC 87 on August 8, 2009. At that point, Huerta was 20-1-1 (1) in his mixed martial arts career. He was undefeated in 17 straight bouts and coming off of a submission victory over Clay Guida.

Florian clearly dominated Huerta over the course of three rounds, winning a 30-27 unanimous decision and establishing himself as one of the top contenders at lightweight.

It marked five straight wins for Florian following his loss to Sean Sherk for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship.

4. BJ Penn

Courtesy of UFC.com
Courtesy of UFC.com

With six straight wins under his belt—five of them being finishes—Kenny Florian set himself up for yet another title shot. At UFC 101 on August 8, 2009, "Ken-Flo" took on "The Prodigy," BJ Penn.

While Florian was easily handled by Penn, getting submitted in the fourth round, the bout is one of the more memorable of Florian's career. It showed that while he may be one of the top lightweights in the world, he wasn't the best.

Many consider Jose Aldo to have been Florian's toughest test. Penn, however, was a much more dominant champion than Aldo has been. In addition, Florian will likely not be remembered for his lackluster performances at featherweight, but for his years at lightweight.

3. Joe Stevenson

Courtesy of UFC.com
Courtesy of UFC.com

Before getting his title shot against BJ Penn, Kenny Florian took on Joe Stevenson at UFC 91 on November 15, 2008.

Stevenson had rebounded from his loss to Penn for the UFC Lightweight Championship by submitting Gleison Tibau. It seemed as though Stevenson was on the path towards another title shot.

Florian, however, easily disposed of the former title challenger, submitting "Joe Daddy" via rear-naked choke in the first round.

"Ken-Flo" solidified his position as a finisher, establishing himself as the clear No. 1 contender for Penn's title.

2. Clay Guida

Courtesy of UFC.com
Courtesy of UFC.com

With a disappointing performance against BJ Penn, Florian attempted to rebound by taking on veteran Clay "The Carpenter" Guida at UFC 107 on December 12, 2009.

Florian had Guida bloodied up and in the second round, he dropped him before immediately jumping onto him and sinking in a rear-naked choke.

Dropping a man with a chin like Guida's is no small task and while Florian was not the champion at lightweight, he was clearly still improving and working his way back up the ladder.

1. Takanori Gomi

Courtesy of UFC.com
Courtesy of UFC.com

With lackluster fights in his last three bouts against Gray Maynard, Diego Nunes and Jose Aldo, Kenny Florian's last dominating performance was against Takanori Gomi at UFC Fight Night 21.

At the time, Gomi was still considered to be one of the top lightweights in the world. "The Fireball Kid" had some of the most vicious knockout power in the weight class. However, Florian easily picked apart the former PRIDE lightweight champion for two-and-a-half rounds before getting the finish via rear-naked choke.

It was yet another finish for "Ken-Flo" and his ninth via submission, earning him a bonus for Submission of the Night.

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