5 Opponents for Kenny Florian's Return to Lightweight

After a two-fight stint in the UFC's featherweight division, former lightweight and featherweight title challenger Kenny Florian will return to the 155 pound division, according to the former TUF 1 finalist's twitter.

In a recent interview with the Boston Herald, Florian spoke about his return to the cage and declined any rumors on retirement after his loss to Jose Aldo at UFC 136.

“I still love this sport tremendously and still want to be a part of it,” Florian said. “I know myself and it’s not even just being competitive, but it’s just being there learning and competing. There’s still very much a fire burning there so I’m going to do it.”

“I don’t like making any limits on how many fights or anything like that,” he continued. “I’m still going to take it one fight at a time. I know I’ve still got several good fights in me. I could fight for the next three years. I could fight maybe another couple of fights. I don’t know. I’m going to take it how I feel in training, how I feel fight after fight and I’m just going to take it like that.”

These are five possible opponents Florian could face in his lightweight return.

No. 5: Melvin Guillard

Melvin Guillard (29-9-2) never quite made it to the level that Florian did, but he has been in the UFC for just as long since debuting in 2005.

His UFC record consists of 10 wins and five losses. Florian's record in the UFC is 12-5. It's an even matchup in terms of records, and it would be an intriguing matchup for that reason alone.

Both are coming off of losses, and Guillard had the most disappointing one of the two. He went into his bout with Joe Lauzon as a 3-to-1 favorite and lost by rear-naked choke 47 seconds into Round 1.

A five-fight win streak preceded that loss, and it does let him hold some momentum that he can build upon in a potential fight with Florian.

No. 4: Evan Dunham

A fight between Evan Dunham and Florian was supposed to happen at UFC 126 before it was moved to UFC Fight Night 23.

Unfortunately, Florian had to pull out a month before that fight, and he was replaced by Melvin Guillard, who knocked out Dunham in the first round.

Dunahm (12-2) recently rebounded from that loss to defeat Shamar Bailey at UFN 25. It broke a two-fight losing streak.

It wasn't too long ago that Dunham was a fight or two from lightweight title contention, and he will be in the same position if he is to defeat Florian.

No. 3: Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz (14-7) is 9-5 in the UFC with all of his losses coming by way of decision, some of which were very close. Florian has a similar record at 14-6. Both have a combined 28 victories with 25 finishes between them.

Florian, who has finished 12 of his 20 opponents, could become the first man in the UFC to stop the younger brother of former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz if they ever decide to fight. It could go the other way as well, and that's what makes this fight fun to think about.

Now is the time to do it with both fighters being more motivated than ever to get back on the winning track. Diaz recently broke a two-fight losing streak when he submitted Takanori Gomi in the first round of his UFC 135 bout.

No. 2: Donald Cerrone

Former WEC lightweight title challenger Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone (16-3) knows what it's like to try to win a title more than once and come up short both times.

In two WEC title fights versus Jamie Varner and Ben Henderson, Cerrone came up short losing one by technical decision and the other by a first-round guillotine choke.

Now, the 28-year-old is on a five fight winning streak where he earned two fight of the night bonuses and the first knockout victory of his career.

He is currently scheduled to face Dennis Siver at UFC 137, and that fight could determine a solid challenger for Florian.

No. 1: Anthony Pettis

Former WEC lightweight champion Anthony "Showtime" Pettis (14-2) hasn't quite had the UFC introduction he would have hoped for.

In fights versus Clay Guida and Jeremy Stephens, the dynamic striker fought to decisions where he won one and lost the other. Neither were the standout performances he would have liked to have after winning the 2010 Fight of the Year award for his battle with Ben Henderson.

Being that he is the former WEC champion, he knows what it takes to get to the top, and a bout versus Florian could be the step he needs in introducing himself to UFC fans the way he had originally intended.