Kenny Florian Interview

The kid who grew up to two Peruvian parents to become the number one contender for the UFC Lightweight title followed a different path than most might assume.  Kenny Florian, a Latino by birth, has no stories of a poverty stricken upbringing, anger issues or a violent childhood to speak of. His passion for the pure from of martial arts put him where is today.   Florian, raised in an affluent area of small town Massachusetts, was brought up knowing he would have to work hard for anything he really wanted and to take nothing for granted.  Now here Kenny sits, patiently waiting for his shot at the title that BJ Penn now holds but has been unable to defend while pursuing his own grudge match in the Welterweight division of the UFC.  Penn will face another man, like himself, considered one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, Georges St. Pierre, on January 31st in a massive super-bout to kickoff the UFC's new year.  Meanwhile, Florian who sits atop the Lightweight division's contenders list, has to watch and see when Penn will return to give someone, like himself, a shot at his title.  The always well-spoken and eloquent Florian, who co-hosts ESPN's MMA Weekly,  sat down with 8countnews recently to update us on his thoughts on the upcoming Penn/St.Pierre fight, his preparation for an eventual match with Penn and a possible eventual move to Welterweight.