Kenny Florian Gives His Reason for Why He's Not Doing UFC Events - MMA Fighting

Kenny Florian discusses why he’s not on UFC telecasts anymore, his thoughts on Francis Ngannou and UFC 270, Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou, bitcoin advice, and more.
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[@Joric78]

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.” - Kenny Florian.

[@fredettaboutit]

“Quit copying and pasting man” - Kenny Florian

[@boblob3509]

@@fredettaboutit Kenny "The Dominator" Florian

[@CookiesDZN42]

@@fredettaboutit us

[@money.markets]

It's quite disgusting how the UFC treat their fighters/employees when they don't get their way.

[@johnnysanchez4996]

Idk. If I own a company and I’m in pinch and need you to do me a favor and you deny it, well then don’t expect me to do any favors for you.

[@money.markets]

@@johnnysanchez4996I'm not even going to comment on this specific situation, I was referring to everything that has happened before and continues to happen to this day, everyone knows the UFC's business practices are scumbag level

[@unknowned1113]

@@johnnysanchez4996 That favor they are asking is like, do an overtime work without pay.

[@johnnysanchez4996]

@@unknowned1113 You get paid to do the Ultimate fighter

[@jmill5995]

@@unknowned1113 who knows what the circumstances were

[@profightsinfo]

Always good to hear from KenFlo!

[@anthonyworkman2852]

I see your comments everywhere on the MMA side of KZbin

[@christinatorres1705]

Jhv

[@michaelsalazar5092]

great to hear from Kenny and glad that he is doing well. Always best to carry yourself like a pro

[@captaindeadpool2655]

I miss KenFlo. He's a legend.

[@coryspann5774]

Same and agreed! One of the first to truly see and believe in Conor since his debut days!

[@rageoid]

He's first rate on the PFL commentary !

[@Xivinux]

He also has a podcast with Jon Anik his analysis are always great

[@evils1de257]

Look on the bright side. He's still on a show

[@Real_Iceout]

Damn Kenny was such a warrior. Glad to see him doing well

[@wurble]

I really enjoyed Kenny being involved with the UFC when he retired from fighting. He always comes across as a very happy guy and always brought an element of fun to the broadcasts.

[@sriig]

Happy for him that he's landed on his feet at PFL. He was one of the first former fighters to completely and comprehensively transition to become full-fledged broadcast professionals (not just an expert "analyst"). And he deserves to eat good and come back for seconds in the MMA space after all the work he put in when there were only peanuts on the table.

[@jaymallo7859]

Kenny Florian is one of my favorite ppl in the MMA space. So much knowledge and just a class act.

[@mertalawiscious2873]

Me too one of the original TUFF 1;OGs ....Kenny tough as nails memba he was duking it with 185 rs and total class act a degree in communications

[@felixrcandelaria]

Love Kenny Florian!!!! I'll never forget when I reached out to him in 2012 after my knee and achilles surgeries. He offered some great words of encouragement. One of the nicest guys. He's fantastic on PFL and even better on Battlebots!!! If you havent seen Battlbots you need to!!!

[@mertalawiscious2873]

Had no idea he's doing BattleBots.....what channels that on

[@TheJeepxj17]

That's dope. Brandon vera did the same for me around 2010

[@beerok82]

Tombstone!

[@SFCJack]

@@mertalawiscious2873 Discovery every Thursday!

[@mertalawiscious2873]

@@SFCJack on directTv ? Know what channel number ....thanks ....

[@humzachudhary2056]

I love watching Battlebots and I also like seeing KenFlo on a regular basis because of that.

[@Discgolfdpt]

Hey Ariel, hope all is well. With the big controversy around fighter pay I think it would be cool to do a top to bottom breakdown on what the different variables are and how to truly analyze this situation. For instance I’m all for fighters getting paid more, but I don’t have a solid figure in mind of what “more” means at this point. There’s so many variables from PPV draw, the fighters record and appeal, how much revenue they make the UFC, and like Francis said - the structure of the contract. It’s difficult for me to land on a number or a formula when comparing it to the NFL, MLB or NBA since these are entities with higher revenue numbers that could contributed to the draw of players/teams. The other sports are also broadcasted almost entirely through subscription based models, not PPV deals. I would love to hear your breakdown on a formula or some criteria that would help me come up with a true number that I could hold some values around. Hope this gets to you, thanks!

[@TheRealMoneyMax]

Luke Thomas has done so many videos around this. I would suggest looking him up.

[@joeyreups11]

Ufc is now owned by Disney so now as you can see they are actively engaging in corporate greed and if they ever get sued they have Disney money behind them to bail them out of any situation

[@Discgolfdpt]

@@TheRealMoneyMax thanks man, yes I know Luke Thomas and will look up those vids. I think Ariel might have a unique perspective on thia

[@Discgolfdpt]

@@joeyreups11 they’re also very aggressive when it comes to filing their own suits it seems

[@jTech50]

50%, that's the fair number

[@ChanMorgan]

This was an absolute treat to watch. Happy to see Florian pop up in the MMA Hour.

[@timeones]

Its a damn shame kenflo isn't associated to UFC anymore the guy was on tuf, he had a great career and his fight iq is so high

[@EMAZINGERIK]

a freaking legend, would love to see more of Ken-Flo on your show!!

[@JonnySoJuicy]

really enjoyed the energy this guy brought. nothing but smiles, he was really a "face" of the commentary/analyst

[@iiiileather1419]

YES Legend! Ken Flo Florian! 2 days ago I was wondering about him and here he is! Florian was one of my favorites, along with Karo Parisyan (I was this close to competing with him in Judo back in the day) but Kenny was, in my opinion, the best in the world as far as having the fundamentals dialed and practiced. Such a legend

[@foyz1690]

Always great to hear from KenFlo 🙏

[@blockkid5592]

Cant wait to meet him in a couple weeks. So pumped!!

[@carlt9265]

Grew up watching all these guys this was peak ufc

[@stevemclaine6173]

Ariel must feel some sort of justification considering he got scape goated and screwed by the ufc and now he's seeing other guys get treated the same way!

[@nc3136]

Love watching him on Battle bots as well

[@joetzbz]

"I FINISH FIGHTS!!" - Ken Flo

[@Mc7673mc]

OG legend 🙏

[@carlt9265]

Top top fella love kenny i liked him working for the ufc

[@AceMcSch00ly]

Kenny is a legend and arguably the best commentator/analyst to transition from being a fighter to behind the mic besides Bas Rutten. Glad to see him on PFL with Couture & Vitor Belfort these days.

[@chadmorrislionsinparis]

gotta love Kenny Flo!

[@dannyrivas89]

The legend Kenny Florian 🙌

[@bobbycampos6576]

All KenFlo all the time is what we want and need! Kenny is the man and we need him back on the big show broadcast!

[@Asshat237]

Clearly that is not going to happen if you listened to the interview.

[@Jason22Douce]

Gotta love this guy

[@redsnflr]

Kenny egregiously plagiarizing LeeWylie in 2016 (& subsequent suspension) really took him out of the limelight & he ultimately left the UFC in 2018.

[@primal_god]

Yup. Irreversible damage done.

[@handy1014]

Glad to see Kenny is doing good in life. Let's go KenFlo!

[@MrGazzy]

Love the Anik & Florian podcast

[@FRLLI.]

Kenny was the first guy to show me that cutting an extreme amount of weight is possible 🤔😉🤣..I walk 6ft 183lbs and competed at 170until I saw him cut to 145 I never thought it was possible.... I then won my first amateur belt at 155 in Michigan in 2014.

[@vishnu2407]

That's awesome, man! It must've tough to cut so much though!

[@GMGBlackWhiteMUNGEY]

How bad is it to really cut weight?

[@pauljesustv]

Ken not a fan of the bank eh

[@PoopythePlumber]

Stupid thing to do in ammy mma

[@FRLLI.]

@@PoopythePlumber but it something I actually did...not hanging out in the comments acting like I know what I'm doing..

[@jjsavior]

Bro literally every ufc pundit is saying the same exact thing about Francis and boxing. When everyone says the same thing, with no deviation, tells you someone is pulling their strings. Funny how the story was completely different when THEY wanted Connor to do it.

[@thecasual4698]

Facts bro I'm glad you noticed too watch bisping and chael shut down the idea and saying francis would get destroyed as if anyone expects him to win the fight we just wanna see him finally get paid, he deserves it.

[@noljuan6963]

Sure he deserves to get paid but you guys honestly think he has a chance? It's not some conspiracy among UFC employees it's just a fact that Fury is a way better boxer

[@thecasual4698]

@@noljuan6963 yeah so was floyd over mcgregor and that didn't stop him.

[@flynndota1179]

Lol Ngannou didn’t land one punch against Gane. But u think he’s gonna get fury. Francis boxing is terrible if u didn’t notice Saturday

[@boblob3509]

But Francis would get destroyed in boxing. It’s not just ufc “pundits” saying that. If Francis wants to go and box and he can go and box, it’s not gonna work out

[@AB-kq9xm]

Wasn't there a plagiarism issue that caused ufc to end it with him? Anyway good to hear from him. Anik and Florian podcast is underrated.

[@MikeSmith-pn1se]

Yeah that's what I thought happened. But I agree I love the Anik and Florian podcast and battlebots that he also does commentary for!

[@Anonymous-sw5jx]

can you explain the plagiarism issue? What did he plagiarize?

[@ryandasilva604]

@@Anonymous-sw5jx basically stole someone’s article verbatim about something fight related at the time. They didn’t cut him after that, but he slowly stopped doing commentary. As he states here, he was slowly phased out and then basically cut after he turned down being a TUF coach. He’s probably better off, he’s a main voice of PFL, Battle Bots, owns his gym in Boston still, and does his podcast. I know he co-owned Meraki BJJ in Santa Monica before a falling out with his business partner. Pretty sure he’s on the east coast full time now. Who wants to see fights finished at 155?! Classic K-Flo, one of the good guys.

[@okayaero9525]

You think Ariel would be allowed on their podcast? Anik seems like his lips never leave Dana’s ass

[@user-kq8dg9op7f]

@@okayaero9525 it’s because there is something in his employment contract with the ufc that they can literally fire him for anything at anytime. He’s mentioned it before that’s why he has to stay so on point and do so much research

[@michaelromanowski280]

Nasty elbows!

[@dwick50]

Loved hearing Kenflo on Francis, less so on Bitcoin.

[@despizedicon]

Kenny is one of the first. Legit guy that is always funny and happy.

[@charlesgraham9954]

@ one of the best. Kenny dont call fights because he cant. people have done alot of complaining about him

[@thomasneedham1224]

Like who, and when?

[@connor8558]

Kenny is great!!

[@chrismiller7586]

Man KenFlo is a great talker. I was he could go back home to the UFC

[@AxaFin]

KenFlo sounds like me trying to convince someone to buy bitcoin. Just don't do it.

[@jTech50]

'it's separate from the existing financial scheme so it can be trusted' 2 seconds later 'you can trust it because all the bankers and financial schemers are now getting on board with using it'

[@Felix-np3lr]

I'm not sure if we should be taking financial advice from Kenny. He seems like a good guy, but it seems like he is just pumping up bitcoin. A balanced and diversified portfolio would make more sense to most people.

[@firehrt]

Informing people about the potential in Bitcoin. Love it. The little bit every week approach is a great way to get in too.

[@DuuudeMaaan]

I remember flipping the channels at a random hotel and was watching robot wars and Kenny Florian was broadcasting it! I was like hey it’s the UFC guy 😂

[@super-man1088]

Kenflow smart man 🥋🔥🙏🏻

[@Charles-bn4cd]

These interviews are just getting better and better. Ariel is a breath of fresh air to us HARDCORE mma fans! 💯

[@rageoid]

Solid BTC comments by KenFlo. I think of it as a scarce resource, upper limit on minting (21 million, it's closing in on 19 million presently). It is involved, number of variables, no guarantees. Volatile, yes. Long term play, IMO. KenFlo is great with the PFL commentary team !

[@RedSpicyFeast1010]

Kenny is really handsome

[@talbotdentureclinic9123]

Is that an Adelaide Crows jersey on the desk bro?

[@csp8490]

This guy is the best.

[@folu12]

The older I get, the more I hate the UFC. Fighters like Florian were part of the golden era that helped Dana build the UFC brand to where it is. This heavy-handed approach to handling fighters and employees who aren't in Dana's inner circle, is beyond unfair and is basically bullying. I hope in 5 years the UFC bankrupts because of the lawsuit, all fighters get compensation pay, and all other fight organisations can now proper in a market thats more even to play in without the UFC. Love MMA. Hardcore since 2008. Seen it all. But the UFCs practise is abysmal.

[@b.f.demolaye1987]

If you been following MMA since 2008 you've certainly not seen it all - there was a ton of history that went into building the MMA industry before that. If the UFC went bankrupt, there is no actual major league for MMA - so there would be no proper compensation for fighters with few exceptions. It's not like all their fighters are all of a sudden going to sign equal or better contracts with Bellator that can hardly get 5,000 live bodies to a show. Bellator, ONE, PFL pay 80-90% of their fighters peanuts; they decently compensate at most 2-3 fighters per division and the rest make less than first contract UFC fighters. The majority of fighters who are MMA only are far better compensated in the UFC than anywhere else. So who is out there that's all of a sudden going to have a multi-year PPV contract and be able to sell 20,000+ live tickets to an event? Nobody. The money and the market is not there for someone without the brand recognition of the UFC to be able to do these things; therefore pay fighters the money. Explain to me otherwise?

[@dr.loomis4221]

My brain shuts off when people talk about bitcoin or NFT's...shame in dominated the end of this interview.

[@savagelouie4498]

Im glad i heard him talk about bitcoin good knowledge

[@kodykindhart5644]

🤣🤣🤣

[@chriswheal8204]

crypto is great but guys like Kenny and Ben Askren only care about bitcoin which itself is pretty useless beyond a hedge against inflation. They don't actually know anything about crypto its really embarrassing to hear them talk about it.

[@BellybuttonGunk]

Ok boomer

[@recipoldinasty]

@@BellybuttonGunk lol, youre 2 years late, boomer…

[@MrJcologne]

The fight to make is Francis vs Wilder. That sells more than a Fury fight.

[@snoutyman]

K-Flo seems like a smart, good guy. Obviously I don’t know him, but I’m a good judge of character.

[@rioangel777]

I miss Kenny doing commentary at UFC

[@ImNotYourEnemy]

KenFlo! The greatest to ever pick fights 😉

[@snoutyman]

I remember him fighting BJ Penn.

[@civiSapper]

Another brutal comment I have but it feels right. Ken Flo was always dry in the octagon and outside. A Legend yes. But just Dry af in my opinion all the way around. I anticipate his time with PFL will be brief.

[@GKTorn.]

Everytime I see Florian I think about his sharp ass elbows lol. I remember him just ripping faces with those things.

[@androidaccount7743]

So petty how he got removed. He's a good commentator.

[@kageyoshi37]

For plagiarism?

[@androidaccount7743]

@@kageyoshi37 Nope, he pissed some people off by rejecting a tuf coaching role.

[@johnnysanchez4996]

Well if you work for me and I ask you to do a job and you deny doing it, I think I would let you go as well.

[@androidaccount7743]

@@johnnysanchez4996 He was hired as a commentator, not a coach. If it were simply the case, they would have just let him go by stating outright instead of giving some other reason.

[@peoples2296]

@@androidaccount7743 he was phased out of UFC commentary after the plagiarism scandal, he's conveniently leaving that out of the story.

[@drewking8066]

Kenny's actully 1 of the best analyst's UFC. Ever had

[@panspermiapancakes]

Kenny Florian was such a well-rounded and exciting fighter. It's a shame they can't clone this guy in his prime because he would easily be a top contender in today's UFC. He was ahead of his time.

[@MrSecondchancebro]

He was a top contender in his day.

[@richarddavies5674]

Dominick Cruz, Kenny Florian and John Anik would be perfect commentary. Swap out one of them for Rogan here and there for nostalgia sake

[@richarddavies5674]

Hmm. I've tried listening to Crypto stuff before but Kenflo has just opened my eyes a bit. Might have to actually try research it if it's so important

[@sayhitosteve2785]

To be, or not to be. That is the question. - Kenneth Florini

[@Loudgcoupe]

Ariel creams himself when someone has a fallout in the ufc

[@moorishbehaviors8929]

Who wants to see fights finished at 135....kenflo finishes fights!!!!

[@punisher246]

Kenflo needs to read up on modern monetary theory.

[@godclemson9294]

Mma needs Ken Flo

[@sammydavis8722]

I always wondered why he suddenly disappeared from the UFC broadcast.

[@puntsize]

Holy F, listening Kenny talk about Bitcoin was painful

[@rioangel777]

Kenny and Ariel look like brothers

[@franz_outside]

F.. the UFC, streaming for ever

[@MezztovenShort4DannY]

That's messed up, Kenny says no to being a coach for the Ufc and they pretty much blackballed him..Things need to change

[@redsnflr]

he also was suspended for egregiously plagarazing Lee Wylie

[@MezztovenShort4DannY]

@@redsnflr How did he plagiarize him, I didn't see an article nor a video on this. List your source

[@peoples2296]

@@MezztovenShort4DannY did you just start following mma? It was a huge scandal. There's even a meme of people writing famous quotes and saying they are from Kenny Florian.

[@MezztovenShort4DannY]

@@peoples2296 Fair enough, Still it's in the past, Everybody makes bad decisions here & there, Doesn't mean they got hold over their heads for eternity.

[@peoples2296]

@@MezztovenShort4DannY plagiarism is a massive no no in journalism. Every example of it I've seen has resulting in the journalist losing their job.

[@silence-humility-calmness]

is kenny related to big john macarthy? there is allot of similarity in how they sound, and there teeth look very similar

[@GrheghtsKn_Badman]

Why is ghislain maxwell on the wall?

[@christopherohare6276]

Best two at commentary imo is Kenny and Hardy and ofcourse UFC let them go

[@johnnysanchez4996]

Hardy was not that good.

[@nate-aungst]

NFL playoffs was on so PPV buys are going to be lower.....

[@hooligansway]

Well if it isn't old 4 score and 7 years ago, to be or not to be Florian.

[@jeremyjordan6786]

Damn I actually forgot Abt him.

[@mmadigest]

He finishes fights

[@groundzero4115]

Kenny Florini finishes fights!

[@georgemmak2224]

“Who wants to see fights finished at 155”????

[@marcossanchez5626]

Kenny Florian looks like Rafael lovato jr

[@newbluerugby]

Ariel never pushed the issue

[@baektpotato]

Ariel progressing his crusade against UFC.

[@user-kq8dg9op7f]

So smart of a guy. Sounds like cte hasn’t hit em yet. Crazy how no one mentioned how smart he is with crypto

[@benitohernandez935]

Kenny Florian is a great announcer. Don’t understand what the UFC was thinking.

[@cainslawyer8058]

It's physically impossible to hate this man

[@yaakw]

Kenny and Aeriel look like twins.

[@sayhitosteve2785]

"Dana White was never my friend" -Kenny Florini

[@johancruijff335]

Kenny is good dude. Money is been influence by thoe most rich people, its a monopoly.

[@kroniclemma]

He’s busy on BattleBots

[@texazsouth]

"Kenny Florian quit copying pasting" Dom Cruz 😁

[@JeromeKyng]

I think Kenny should cut Francis and Ciryl some slack on their wrestling. I don't think he should have said the wrestling was cringe. After all, these guys are not Cormier and Khabib. These guys are strikers with minimum wrestling skills and they did the best they could with the wrestling they've learned in training. And as you can see it's not much. As time goes on they'll become more proficient at wrestling, but it won't be to the level of a fighter who's main strength is wrestling. That takes decades!

[@ronniehaley729]

Ken flow why you leave UFC? They wanted me to do that show but I was busy so they let me go, I was just to busy Why did nobody sign you right away? Ken flow - not sure , I have a gym business but I wasn't busy, I would rather worked was not that busy

[@wisdomveritas6281]

Kenny Florian trying to explain Bitcoin is like Bill Gates trying to explain jiu jitsu ,just stop talking bro and stick to what you know because maybe to people who don't know anything about Bitcoin you might sound like you have some knowledge but to experts you have no clue on what Bitcoin is. Just stick to what you know...fighting.

[@qazwsxedc12345678991]

Kinda funny how no one can say anything good about the ufc . From the pay to the treatment . From fighters to other employees never anything good

[@johnnysanchez4996]

Well you’re kinda stupid if you’re going to bash the company you work for.

[@lewchootrain]

That’s dumb. Kenny should stand his ground on that. They hired him for his commentating, not if he can be a side coach for a TUF show. UFC needs some internal changes

[@FAIRWEATHER_MUSIC]

Legend. Let's be honest, we expected a stand up fight. That was not only expected but it was seemingly obvious that was the build up... In the end, we were all confused at first and still impressed. No knock out or power punches so it was still a bit of a let down. A rematch will be great!

[@BigOunce___]

Kenny’s MMA analysis is Scripture… Same for Ariel as an MMA reported. Legends Past Present Future

[@swisscheese8628]

Meaning scripture that someone else wrote?

[@dr.loomis4221]

He probably stole that analysis from someone else

[@BellyRoll2OP]

Kenny looks GREAT for 45