Florian’s Second Wind

In the five-round bout, Florian cut Sherk with an elbow but had no answer for the Minnesotan’s relentlessness in the cage and lost a unanimous decision. It was a turning point in his career. Sherk, a well-oiled machine known for his non-stop pace and physicality, wore down Florian in the 25-minute match. With that, his eyes were opened.

“I learned a lot of things,” Florian says. “I learned that I was not training like a professional athlete. Since then, I’ve been training year-round to get my technique better and my body stronger. I’ve been able to build up my skills and build up my arsenal.”

A new fighter emerged from the ashes of defeat. Florian has been nothing short of dominant since, as he has rattled off six consecutive victories against opponents with a cumulative 120-39-3 record. Only Roger Huerta went the distance with him.

“He’s come a long way since his loss to Sean Sherk,” DellaGrotte says. “He has not had much trouble with his last six opponents.”

When the call came to face Penn, Florian was expecting it.

“After that experience [against Sherk], I knew the opportunity would come again,” Florian says. “I knew it was going to take a lot of work, but I knew I was capable of getting back here. It’s definitely rewarding, and I’m very thankful they’ve given me another opportunity.”

Chance of a Lifetime, Take Two

In Penn, Florian faces an uphill climb. The Hawaiian remains one of the sport’s most complete fighters, his incomparable ground technique paired with crisp boxing skills. Florian understands the scope of the test placed before him.

“He’s someone who’s well-rounded, who’s dangerous in all phases,” he says. “He’s definitely my biggest challenge to this point in my career.”

Florian, who moonlights as a television analyst for ESPN and the Versus network, left no stone unturned in his quest to unseat Penn from the UFC lightweight throne, a position he has held now for some 20 months. He trained alongside top Japanese featherweight Hatsu Hioki and one-time opponent Din Thomas in advance of UFC 101. More importantly, he spent a pair of week-long stints in Montreal with UFC welterweight king Georges St. Pierre, the only man to defeat Penn twice.

“Georges St. Pierre is one of the best athletes I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” Florian says. “That goes for any of the professional athletes I’ve worked with. He’s one of the hardest-working guys and one of the most humble guys. He’s super technical and very, very skilled.”

Florian plans to foster his relationship with St. Pierre long after his showdown with Penn.

“I learned a lot training with him, and I wasn’t training with him because I’m fighting B.J.,” he says. “I trained with him to become a better martial artist, and it’s something I’ll do again when this fight’s over.”

For all his gifts, Penn remains a bit of an enigma. Criticized throughout his career for a lack of focus and commitment, he holds a mediocre 5-5 record in matches going three rounds or longer and has never won a bout that went past the fourth round. Could fitness factor into Florian’s favor?

“It’s possible,” he says, “but I’m expecting B.J. to be ready to go five hard rounds.”

A victory against Penn would cement Florian’s place in the sport and all but hush those who question whether or not he belongs in the same cage with the top fighters in the world.

“It would validate all the hard work I’ve put in,” he says. “I sacrificed a lot to get to this point. It would mean I’ve gotten to a point where I’ve surpassed someone I’ve always considered a legend.”

DellaGrotte has seen Florian’s focus and intensity deepen in preparation for Penn.

“This is a fight we’ve looked forward to for a long time,” DellaGrotte says. “He knows when he’s in deep water and when he needs to start paddling. A lot of people get caught up in the title shot, but he’s really focused on beating B.J. Penn. He wants to be known as the guy who took B.J.’s crown.”