Kenny Florian, UFC Fighter

The phrase band in Boston actually meant something when it comes to USC because the USC was banned in Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts until very recently. The commonwealth. Changed the laws and allowed day. Establishment of a state commission to regulate MMA fights and suddenly it was possible that you were gonna get to see a UFC card. In the city of Boston wallet happens this Saturday UFC 118 takes place at the TD garden and one of the highlights for local fans of UNC. Is our next guest who is that not only at -- born and -- guy in a Boston College guy as well. But up pretty big star in the world of mixed martial arts Kenny Florian joins us online -- Michael how --

I get lucky I don't do well.

Did you ever believing your wildest dreams given the law and estate that you were gonna get to do what you do in your home state at some point --

You know what at that I like you know I start my career obviously you're -- the -- Or surely regulators thought the Euro. In and out -- officially regulated and haven't quite. In the big -- year. Art. I never would lead on the probably in years ago let alone ought to -- it started.

I'm not a base -- your fighting in Massachusetts of riding a Boston. I'm amazed that you started off your your career post college. Doing one sort of thing and you wound up doing what you -- right now tell people what you're doing to say when you work. When he three years old -- three -- four years old out of college you were doing what.

Outlook or act or any. Physically it's currently eight where we -- currently. In the -- short on the financial side though. Would -- with management project and every single language out there or. Things like prospectuses and financial documents or one K plans for companies. And -- it's a plate.

And you're working with you're -- with you know price Waterhouse Coopers Arthur Andersen and he's he's got a company's right.

Yeah -- prize fidelity -- of all the ones back yeah.

So that imagine this folks. The guy in enough financial services can kicked around but you don't know I -- it.

Quite -- Google. Exactly.

Did anybody did anybody know. What's your passion was when you would join us in your 24 when he -- anybody know that you were you were secretly into this Brazilian judges you took so.

Yeah I my my actually my bosses actually work. For all former wrestlers at Harvard and and they actually got into this sport -- well though it was quite that they understood obviously by accident. And obviously a lot of my coworkers. Knew that what it was about 530 said he was ordered out the -- ago you know the karate or whatever -- I was -- but --

Is it safe to say that it was here infatuation with a Royce Gracie that got you into this business to begin with.

Absolutely you know I was always it's the martial -- that -- you know martial arts are executed. Arm and you know my body UST the first I've backed government not very different or. Still there's no holds -- the -- this skinny Brazilian guy -- straight he would dismantling these giant. And it -- by -- in and out. That that was really a real light -- playing out -- This. This guy who was just we equipped with pure technique and make -- that it brought the collection just. Are amazing in the it and from that day you know on our Brothers and I we were just so treat.

Now a year your dad has a completely different profession. I don't know if he wanted to follow in his footsteps what is your dead. Think of your profession now on to tell people what your dad does.

Yeah yeah yeah propagate. -- Baptist -- And you know it's Hugo medical school of like of medical school. And love martial arts by certainly it did not -- area. As an export or -- any kind of -- You know my parents. It wanted to play hockey convict would you violent about younger go. That'd be good idea. You know it's the biggest -- she knows that it page paper are a testament to agree art and -- doctored and myself and -- realized that achieved certain amount of success but it bears they're great supporters. And not let you out -- my -- Plans has plans to -- a lot of China China China pushed up out of the game.

Now we're back let's talk review before it you have an audience here because I wound up. We wound up talking about I thought we we start -- talking about fighting. And it really wasn't about fighting -- wound up talking about god and spirituality -- So people look at the USA US UFC fighters they say yet yet whatever. Where did it's it's not fighting for you if it is higher calling isn't.

It is an -- I get. Don't -- Either of the training aspect alone you learn so much about yourself there's. There's an escape. One you know from being what we're able train. And I really feel -- action on the train it it's just about their Q it is that this searched or. -- perfection and and and that's what about from I don't. The demise of fighter all -- really is there's fighters out of war martial artist. Of course I -- that rise but is it that searched for her perfection every act and really tries. Expect to look a it to that level.

I think that if we look to the scouting report for Kenny Florian we talked about the jujitsu background in the strength the you have there. We also talked about elbows which. You throw to very great effect. Have you ever been hurt doing this year your fifteen of forest a pro is anybody ever hurt you.

How are they actually you know lot. That the worst. It is. A -- should know it twice actually. -- Action in my life. I like well -- in the that fact got effective. It's got -- here. Not that would have been. So. At least play soccer. Mixed martial. -- much.

Up professional wrestling is at the garden on Monday if you were participating in professional wrestling. They you know they they give you a little setup bout for the hometown fans they'd be an easy one.

And it that -- that way yeah I mean you get to face a guy who's undefeated gray Maynard. Who you'll admit is the toughest fight you've ever faced I mean they didn't exactly give -- a cup -- here.

Now they get at all you know it that would happen that way you know I'm not in the note to speed up guys in just get a that would in my record actually out on the net that he's the best the world -- and know that. -- out there I think that prop guy. I really -- as good as he said the biggest challenge -- or spotlight this. Hopefully it up despite my career. And I think it's it really it's coming at a at a great time a train Braveheart. How great fights and exodus some novel. Camps in preparation to despite so I'd already.

before met you I don't know anything about Brazilian jujitsu. Didn't know anything about USC's so. That led me on a search for it what is it what is Brazilian jujitsu. -- going on -- looking at YouTube looking at example that. This really trying to find out what it isn't listening to your description of it. So if you had to you explain it to somebody like me. What is it.

You know I don't like get out it. But it RC a -- I understand registered to vote yet but it it is all -- it -- eight. Art similar to Hugo or. Outright except to do. -- Armed law. Law like law. And you basically. Use language wait. And strategy to defeat your pocket and lot of it on. I think background we. Body weight your body -- or report. And -- not leopard and a -- like act like like art like leg. Is it really isn't it the art and it's an art that is so he it looks at it it's.

Now I don't want to oversimplify it but it is very reasonable. For example if you have at a hundred a 160 pound guy taking on 8240. Pound guy. And and that a 160 pound guy could win. The Brazilian jujitsu because it's all about leverage and and your your ability. To operate on the floor.

A 100% correct it means is they are able to utilize. About a 160 pounds against let's say arm of that 240 pound -- get your body position. And -- their whole body weight against just that -- And you know practically basically it.

I'm curious if folks who court considering the possibility of going Saturday to watch you work. If if all they know about UFC is is the wild wild west old days. Where you know it it seemed unregulated and non controlled. What's the difference between that and what they would see Saturday at the garden.

You know you're you're going to see and it and again this is oh -- I think the most well it's we world I actually believe that. That that you're gonna be. Dynamic fight. Its site -- there's an energy. What you go to low life like but -- is unparalleled. It's -- And you know it all for -- your experience for other sports you know that I thought of myself I love watching technique but he'll be energy and excitement it's still not picked. You know in my opinion compared to. It's part -- by USC. And I got out of the excitement that the bank and the up part of its board. And and energy I think it's it's you're basically kinetic chests. Thank human genetic.

I don't wanna get crass and I won't we have a -- who who asked a simple question. You can you make a living doing that's.

absolutely you know. Absolutely. It is rare. -- just a regular guy starting out -- in need to make it to the people. You see -- parallel. You can make it extremely good living yourself. You know -- it has created. That millionaires. And a lot years and I'm very like. Very well. You know what I'm just. You -- yes it's extremely well.

One thing we didn't mention is that you have a gem can anybody come to your job.

Absolutely. -- our Q I have a chip on my brother eat -- book on what martial arts and aren't. And we actually that we have 98%. Of that dispute -- regular guys we have doctors lawyers. On guys is coming in at wanna learn. Thank -- to do it and mixed martial arts market themselves to get worked out and you know what are your goals are we have. -- and women children. At and that's really what we what we -- really expect to. At the regular person that reacts -- attention it's like actually it did it --

A lot of in -- very humble with this a lot of people famous people. We're following you on Twitter who asked you about your career. And what numbers. Shane Victorino is a big fan of -- Do you reel from Cypress Hill as big fan of -- and -- lot of people following him it -- like for you.

It -- you know it's great -- that. There's a lot of -- lead to lower into the sport. You know which -- now and it is huge supporter of mixed martial arts like by eight. On my application on or rewards will be there. And or respected what we view it and it got it right. Here. Other guys are obviously well we. -- it's it's always it's strange but it's very it's critical because you know. Buying these guys. Or. -- it straight straight.

You got a lot on the line tomorrow night because Dana White has said. The winner of your fight against gray Maynard will get a title --

Yes yes you know it it's exciting but at the -- target -- help -- to help because. Every bite at it -- important does not want like I wanna -- and other wanna. And dice it it's still about what I technically fit it when despite outsider I. Now -- just. -- forget that you know like I worry about remain muted. And that whatever comes out that. I gotta take care at first but it is very exciting very satisfying. I'll make them the most out of that that are out.

Next time we have you -- to gonna have to here's some of these. Impersonation and impressions that you supposedly do have heard about this.

Opt opt opt I -- yeah idea but not a absolutely expect at a.

there I did it tell people like some -- some of the impressions that you deal one of the big ones you you get mistaken for certain actor who is.

Ben -- that that anyway Arroyo even. Ordered. That they're a bit.

Well folks or at the garden on Saturday night for UFC 118 when they hear the drop kick Murphy's cranked up they'll know you're headed for the ring.

Yeah CA out I'm excited it is gonna be I agree I went on the deal. There cheap one might have been a whole. And their hold on the biggest -- a player you know whatever it is -- like the deal on.

Getting good like TI I loved reading about -- the piece that Michael didn't I'm kind of fascinated now to see how things work out for you Saturday night. -- you take care. That is like Kenny Florian will be fighting against gray Maynard Saturday as part of the USC won eighteen card. He's have a remarkably intelligent articulate athlete I say that because. Most people's preconceived notions of what a mixed martial arts fighter is about probably don't coincide with what they just.

I don't know anything about it and -- about it until talking head and then. And talking to him made me follow it more in -- he introduced me to BJ Penn and all these other characters not not literally introduce me put. I was figuring I got into that world -- start paying attention to it after talking and so obviously a -- and quantum reforms we can.