UFC 155-pound contender Kenny Florian talks upcoming fight, Roger Huerta’s UFC status, the Boston Red Sox, and rematch with Sean Sherk or title fight against B.J. Penn. 

Danny Acosta: This is the biggest fight you’ve had since your title fight with Sean Sherk. How have you altered your training to prepare for Roger Huerta?

Kenny Florian: I wouldn’t say altered for this fight. I see it in a different way. I think that my biggest opponent is time. My goal always is just to improve my overall skills, you know, not just for this fight but for every fight…

[My wrestling has improved a lot] and my boxing has improved a lot, working with Peter Welch. You know I’m always trying to tighten up my game, but I guess those are the aspects I’ve improved a lot. I think they’re definitely going to come in handy not only for this fight but for every fight that comes in afterward.

DA: Many are predicting this clash with Huerta as a fight of the night/fight of year candidate. Do you feel any added pressure with that expectation going in?

KF: No, not at all. I don’t feel the pressure. My thing is I’m going out there to perform. There is no other way to fight that I know but to be aggressive. And I know Roger always comes with that same aggression and he’s going to come in great shape. I think its gonna be a barn burner. We’re both ready for this.

I hope he’s ready. I know I am.  I’ve trained as hard as I have in my life. I’m in the best shape of my life, the best technical level of my life. And I’m ready to get it on. There’s no real pressure.

For me there’s no pressure, there’s pleasure. For me it’s a gift to go out there and fight August 9th, that’s my reward. I’ve been training hard behind closed doors. Now I kind of get to let loose in front of everybody.

DA: Everyone’s touting you as the more technical fighter because your muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Do you think you’ll have a safer and better chance if you played it more cerebral and didn’t go in with your usual aggression?

KF: Absolutely. Absolutely. I think there’s a way to be aggressive but also fight smart and that’s what I plan to do. I don’t want to go in there and, you know, just start brawling with Roger Huerta. I think that’s when he’s at his best.

He has a tendency of turning fights intro brawls. I definitely don’t want to fight on his terms. I’m going to fight on my terms. I’m still going to be aggressive but I’m going to be technical in doing it.

DA: You’ve been hosting MMA Live on ESPN. How has that effected you as a fighter?

KF: It really didn’t effect me too too much. I’ll be honest, there were times when it was tough training. I had to wake up at 4 in the morning, get ready and drive down to Bristol, Connecticut to ESPN studios. I still got in my two work outs in that day…With my training I just have to be that much more…on top of my training to make sure that I’m on my diet, eating well. It’s kind of giving me more ways of focusing if anything.

DA: Is it harder to train during baseball season because you have to keep up with the Red Sox?

KF: [laughs] I haven’t been able to go to any games, but I always check and see how they’re doing on my phone with scores. I don’t have much time to watch them on TV anymore, but we’ll see after this fight I’ll hopefully get a chance to check out a couple of games.

DA: Huerta is coming off a long layoff due to school and has been very vocal about his position in the UFC, especially regarding pay. Do you think you’ll be able to exploit those potential distractions?

KF: I’m not sure how much a distraction it is, really. I know there is commentary about it. I’m not sure if there is a distraction for him or not. I’m really just going to concentrate on myself and what I need to do really to win the fight. Just the technical terms. That’s the most important thing.

What Roger said or whatever, that’s his business. I’m not going to talk about him or whatever. Everyone’s different and everyone has their opinions. I have lots of respect for Roger. My goal is to go in there and fight him and shake his hand after the fight.

DA: What’s the gravest threat Roger Huerta presents to you?

KF: I think his heart. His heart and determination are his biggest weapons, I think. The longer you leave Roger Huerta in that fight, the more dangerous he is. He’s a game opponent. He don’t ever quit.

I just need to get to the point where I can just knock him out where his body just goes limp or I need to get to the point where I get around his neck and put him to sleep. I don’t see him tapping. I don’t see him giving up. I don’t see gassing. He’s a fighter that fights with a lot of heart. He’s a lot like myself. We’re not going to give up easy. It’s going to have to be something serious to get us to stop. That’s what I see and I’m mentally and physically prepared to do that.

DA: Are you thinking about the title shot promised to the winner of this fight or are you waiting until after the fight?

KF: I’m really waiting to think about it later. I know B.J. [Penn] wants to fight Georges St. Pierre if he wins his fight against Jon Fitch, which if very possible. Before the end of the year that fight could happen. I want to stay active and I want to stay busy…Really, my only concern is Roger Huerta.

If B.J. is going to take time away from the lightweight division. I definitely want to have a fight before the end of the year as well…Right now I got to take care of business…as long as I get by this fight and have a tough fight after, that’s what I want. I want to fight the best.

DA: They just announced Sean Sherk and Tyson Griffin. Would you like to fight the winner?

KF: Absolutely. Absolutely. I’d love to fight the winner of that fight. Sean Sherk is an unbelievable fighter who beat him and I’d love to get a second chance at him. Tyson Griffin has been on a tear as well. He’s another guy people talk about as a top contender…I would love to fight the winner of that if I can’t get BJ.

I would love to fight the winner of that and seal the number one contender without a doubt. That’s really what I wanted to do back at UFC 73 when I fought Alvin Robinson I said that’s what I wanted to do. I want to be without a doubt the only guy left. I want to be at the top of the food chain…I want to leave my legacy.

DA: What’s your biggest source of your inspiration in this fight? What’s the one image or thought that will take you past your breaking point to continue?

KF: It’s just my will to win—to not let anybody get the better of me. That’s always been my inspiration. I’m not gonna back down. I’m not gonna lay down for anybody. Anybody who tries to beat me, they’re gonna have to walk through hell to do it.  that’s the main thing. It’s just my will to be the best. I trained, I suffered way too much way too hard to let anybody come in here and beat me. And if they are, they’re gonna earn it for sure.

DA: Is revenge against Sean Sherk or a title shot extra motivation on top of beating a quality fighter like Roger Huerta?

KF: Yeah, you know, its both. To fight the best, that motivates me a lot. That motivates me enough.

Editor’s Note: Kenny Florian would like to thank fans, and sponsors Tapout and One More Round.

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