Post by demolitionman on Jan 13, 2012 15:32:42 GMT -5
UFC vet Kenny Florian reportedly considering retirement due to back injury
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jan 13, 2012 at 8:45 am ET
Kenny Florian, who's competed in four different weight classes during a successful seven-year UFC run, is reportedly considering retirement.
A back injury may cut short the 35-year-old's fighting career.
Florian told the "Boston Herald" a lumbar herniated disc in his lower back hasn't improved since November, when he suffered the injury while lifting weights.
"I've kind of been going back-and-forth with some of the doctors, so it's possible," Florian told the newspaper. "I'm going to see. As of right now, obviously I can't compete and train like I was at all. I'm just kind of doing what I can and hoping that things heal up and get better. I'm just kind of in a holding pattern. That's why I decided to do this commentary for the time being and take this next six months to really heal up and try to make some money on the side. It sucks. The last couple of months I've just been figuring out what's going on and what I'm going to do."
Florian hasn't fought since an unsuccessful bid to take UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo's title in October at UFC 137. However, the former ESPN "MMA Live" host is now part of the weekly "UFC Tonight" program on FUEL TV and will be part of some upcoming event specials. Additionally, after some recent event broadcasting, he's in the running for a permanent spot on the UFC's second and new broadcast team with recently hired play-by-plan man Jon Anik.
Florian told the newspaper he hopes he can heal and continue to compete in the cage, though he admits the pain in his back and tingling in his right leg have caused both an orthopedic doctor and a neurologist to suggest retirement.
Florian (14-6 MMA, 12-5 UFC), who first joined the UFC as an undersized middleweight runner-up on "The Ultimate Fighter 1," twice fought for the lightweight title and once for the featherweight belt. Outside of title fights and title eliminators, he owns a 12-1 UFC record, which includes a 9-1 mark from 2005 to 2008.
Credit MMA Junkie
What do you think about this?
The only thing he can do is win a title and I can't see him doing that at 155.
by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jan 13, 2012 at 8:45 am ET
Kenny Florian, who's competed in four different weight classes during a successful seven-year UFC run, is reportedly considering retirement.
A back injury may cut short the 35-year-old's fighting career.
Florian told the "Boston Herald" a lumbar herniated disc in his lower back hasn't improved since November, when he suffered the injury while lifting weights.
"I've kind of been going back-and-forth with some of the doctors, so it's possible," Florian told the newspaper. "I'm going to see. As of right now, obviously I can't compete and train like I was at all. I'm just kind of doing what I can and hoping that things heal up and get better. I'm just kind of in a holding pattern. That's why I decided to do this commentary for the time being and take this next six months to really heal up and try to make some money on the side. It sucks. The last couple of months I've just been figuring out what's going on and what I'm going to do."
Florian hasn't fought since an unsuccessful bid to take UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo's title in October at UFC 137. However, the former ESPN "MMA Live" host is now part of the weekly "UFC Tonight" program on FUEL TV and will be part of some upcoming event specials. Additionally, after some recent event broadcasting, he's in the running for a permanent spot on the UFC's second and new broadcast team with recently hired play-by-plan man Jon Anik.
Florian told the newspaper he hopes he can heal and continue to compete in the cage, though he admits the pain in his back and tingling in his right leg have caused both an orthopedic doctor and a neurologist to suggest retirement.
Florian (14-6 MMA, 12-5 UFC), who first joined the UFC as an undersized middleweight runner-up on "The Ultimate Fighter 1," twice fought for the lightweight title and once for the featherweight belt. Outside of title fights and title eliminators, he owns a 12-1 UFC record, which includes a 9-1 mark from 2005 to 2008.
Credit MMA Junkie
What do you think about this?
The only thing he can do is win a title and I can't see him doing that at 155.
