UFC 136: Kenny Florian Plans on Giving Jose Aldo "Hell" in the Stand-Up

Former two-time lightweight title contender Kenny Florian is preparing diligently for his upcoming showdown with UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.

Since securing featherweight gold, Aldo has wrecked the competition at 145-pounds.

His explosive striking and impenetrable defense has helped him soar up the pound-for-pound ranks right behind Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva.

Florian admits to being very impressed when he first started watching Aldo fight.

"I just remembered that he was extremely explosive. He finishes guys very quickly. I just remember being very impressed," Florian told the Boston Herald. "I didn't know much about him, but I just liked the way that he fought. He was exciting. Anyone who's willing to try flying knees, acrobatic kicks and finish the fight the way he did––I'm always a fan of those kind of fighters, and Aldo is that guy."

In 19 wins, Aldo has finished 12 of those bouts by knockout. Training out of Black House gym with phenomenal strikers like Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and Junior Dos Santos, Aldo's Muay Thai has proven to be some of the best in the world.

Against Florian, he faces another world class striker, perhaps the best he's ever faced in his seven year career.

Florian has shown a propensity for a chess-like mindset in doing surgery on the feet. The methodical styles make this bout one of the most anticipated in 2011.

Can Florian finally capture UFC gold?

"I think the key is being able to compete with Jose Aldo on the stand-up," Florian said. "If you can do that, you can start to take away his confidence. That's what I plan to do: Really challenge him with his stand-up and give him hell there."

While Florian is a more complete fighter, Mark Hominick tested Aldo on the feet at UFC 129, and fans were shocked to see the Brazilian explode in for some nice double leg takedowns.

Wrestling has always been the Achilles heel of Florian's, and he'll have to be aware of Aldo changing levels and setting up takedowns. This won't be the same gassed Aldo coming off an extended hiatus and multiple injuries as it was in the Hominick fight.

Florian will be facing one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but he welcomes the challenge with open arms.

"I think it's going to be one of my toughest fights or the toughest fight of my career," stated Florian. "He comes in with a lot of the different assets than other fighters I've faced. He has tremendous stand-up, tremendous Jiu-Jitsu, and we're even on the wrestling. That makes it an awesome fight."