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[Legend]

Originally Posted by liddell316

Florian isn't fighting for the title, he said he doesn't have proper time to prepare for Sherk.

Yeah bc they wanted to move the fight up 3 months giving him around 3 weeks to prepare. Florian just came off a fight and Sherks been on the sidelines for months waiting to get the title shot.

[tikigodtiger]

Yea as long as ratings are up and UFC is still popular there will be more TUF's to come. And if they put current champion and Jens Pulver as coaches, wouldnt it be ironic if Kenny Florian was the champ he would be the first to be an actual participant and coach in the TUF.

[msrjr1972]

Originally Posted by killerinstinct

according to www.mmaweekly.com



Rumors started flying on Monday that highly regarded lightweight fighter Kenny Florian declined a fight with Sean Sherk for the vacant UFC Lightweight Title. Florian spoke with MMAWeekly and shot down any accusations that he doesn’t want to fight Sean Sherk or that he turned away from a potential title shot.

“No, not at all,” said Florian regarding the rumors that he turned down the fight with Sherk. “I would absolutely fight Sean Sherk, but the UFC wanted to push for the August show, and I just came out of training from my last fight, and I don’t want to push myself into another fight with only three weeks to prepare for a guy like Sean Sherk."

Regarding the specific timing, Florian said, "The UFC said I was fighting Sherk, and I accepted, but they said in October or November... then, all of a sudden, they pushed for the August show. I’m leaving for Brazil for two weeks to train pretty soon and just don’t have the time that I need to prepare for that fight. Sherk’s been on the sidelines waiting and training for a fight, and I just got done with my fight [against Sam Stout] and was in training for that for seven or eight months.

Florian is also still recovering from a nagging back injury, which kept him out of his originally scheduled fight with Sam Stout in March. On the June 24th Ultimate Finale broadcast on Spike TV, Florian vs. Stout finally took place, and Florian won by submission in just under two minutes.

Florian, who was a finalist on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, stands by his assertion that he welcomes the challenge of fighting anyone in the 155-pound division. “I’ll fight anyone at 155 pounds,” said Florian. “If Fedor [Emelianenko] can drop to 155 pounds, I’ll fight him. Just give me ample time to prepare for it!”

It’s not known at this time why the UFC pushed the title bout up almost three months from its originally scheduled date. It is unknown whether the UFC will now rush to find a replacement for Florian to go against Sherk for the vacant Lightweight Title at UFC 62 on August 26th.

Did they just hand pick Florian and Sherk to fight for the LW title?Why not have tournament instead which is more acceptable.

[NinjaShogunRua]

I don't really care for Florian's time excuse. Alot of guys fight on short notice, much shorter time than Florian would have to prepare for Sherk. Florian is passing up an opportunity that may not come along again anytime soon. Especially now that UFC is loading up the LW division. I mean how many guys pass up an opportunity to be a UFC champion?

[LethalStriker]

Florian is making a huge mistake, he may not be in position to get another title shot. Karo Parisyan missed his chance at the title because of injury and who knows when his chance at the title will be. If Florian loses he may never be this close to a title shot again with as deep as the LW division is.

[TapThatMat]

Backstage at the UFC 61 weigh in.

[killerinstinct]

Originally Posted by msrjr1972

Did they just hand pick Florian and Sherk to fight for the LW title?Why not have tournament instead which is more acceptable.

Dana White doesn't care for tournaments.Florian was the number 1 contendr b/c the winner of his fight with stout was supposed to fight Sherk for the title.Not completely hand picked.

[supermark21]

they completely forgot that bj penn went up to welterweight because there wasnt a lightweight title. he comes down he kills the competition. game over

[LethalStriker]

Sherk already turned down a chance to fight Sherk for the LW title. I don't think he has any interest in fighting LW anymore.

[supermark21]

yea but he really should lose that pudge and get his title. hed be unstopable. florians thinking hes a big enough name to make demands on fights. chuck has agreed to renato in august and the silva in november i think? if he goes only 3 months for the two of them then florian should quit crying and step up