Kenny Florian MMAMemories.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on March 13th, 2009

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Status: UFC #1 contender for BJ Penn’s Lightweight championship.

HT: 5-10 WT: 155

DOB: May 26, 1976 IN: Westwood, MA

Fight Inspirations: “Bruce Lee, for sure, and Royce Gracie.”

Leisure Activities/Hobbies: “I really don’t do too much besides MMA. Some traveling, hang out by the beach, go to some place close to a body of water. And I like to read.”

Favorite Movies: “Braveheart, 300, The Godfather, Scarface, Dumb & Dumber, Afro Samurai.”

Favorite TV Show: “Family Guy, The Unit, Entourage are the only three I watch.”

Musical Tastes: “I listen to absolutely everything. The stuff I play the most is hip-hop, Lil Wayne, Wu Tang Clan, KRS-One.”

Nicknames: “KenFlo, Scrub, Kennycito, The Machinist, The Caveman.”

Last Book Read: “The Art of Learning.”

First Job: “Lawn work for neighbors in Dover, MA.”

First Car: “Old Acura Integra (black).”

Current Car: “A Mercedes Benz C63 AMG (silver).”

Early Fighting Memory: “I guess my first MMA fight, going in there against a veteran (vs. Jason Giroux at Mass Destruction 10 in 2003). I remember actually not being that nervous. I felt fine. It just felt like, I don’t know, like something I was supposed to be doing. (Did you win?) I won, by TKO from mount. He tapped out.”

Favorite Meal: “Probably a smoothie I make – blueberry, soy milk, banana, apple juice, half a scoop of protein powder.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “When I can have it – Ben & Jerry’s oatmeal cookie crunch.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “It’s changed over the years. But right now, just emptying my mind, not thinking about anything. Going in there with a very clear mind. Thinking about wanting to destroy my opponent, but not having any particular techniques in mind.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “I don’t know. I don’t put too much weigh in what I’ve done. I guess just my last fight. That fight was pretty good. I was able to win in the first round without really getting hit. But I try not to think about past accomplishments too much.”

Most Painful Moment: “The time when I hurt my back before the Sam Stout fight, UFC 58, USA vs. Canada card. I hurt my back in training, during intense periods of training. I fell to the floor, stayed there for two hours. Felt like my spine exploded. I couldn’t move my legs or anything. (How long were you out?) It was only for a few weeks.”

Childhood Dream: “I actually wanted to be an actor for a while. Kind of always dreamt of being a fighter but I didn’t think it was possible – there wasn’t a boxing gym near my house. And being a professional soccer player.”

Embarrassing Fighting Memory: “When I fought (Dokonjonsuke) Mishima (in 2007) after the Sherk fight. It was a great fight, went three rounds, I beat him in the third round. He showed a lot of heart. After the fight – I was practicing Japanese – I went down, bowed on my knees. In my Japanese, instead of saying, You’re a Samurai, I accidentally said, I’m a Samurai. He said, I am too. So after beating him (by rear naked choke), it sounded like I was rubbing it in. It was an awkward moment. I had to make sure that they understood what I meant to say, so I went to his dressing room again after and explained it to his corner people.”

Toughest Man Faced: “Off the bat, Sean Sherk (lost by unanimous decision at UFC 64 in 2006) I guess.”

Last Vacation: “January of ’06 I went to Hawaii.”

Favorite Fighters To Watch: “BJ Penn, GSP, Anderson Silva, Fedor.”

Your Finest Performances: “I’m so picky, I think every performance sucks. Just my last performance, I saw it the other day, (I thought to myself) Gee, that sucks. There’s so much I could’ve done. But I guess it was pretty good.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “People who are honest, people who have integrity. And people who are real. I don’t like fake people.”

On His Possible Next Opponent – BJ Penn: “I want BJ’s belt. BJ, you’re one of the best fighters out there. I am here to test myself. I think you’re a great fighter, someone I look up to. I consider you a master. It’s time to kill that master.”

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