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HeavyMMA.com chats with Kenny Florian

Nov 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - UFC's KENNY FLORIAN, left, of Boston, MA., kicks JOE STEVENSON, of Victorville, CA., in their UFC Lightweight bout Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV. Florian won with a first round tap out Photo via Newscom

Dennis Melnik of HeavyMMA.com recently sat down with UFC fighter and top contender Kenny Florida, who says he isn’t afraid to adapt.

Kenny Florian’s philosophy is simple: “If you don’t adapt in this sport, you’re going to die. You’re going to lose.” There was a time Florian thought he had all the answers. He was on a six-fight wining streak that earned him a shot at UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn.

The last time Florian lost was his first chance at glory, when Sean Sherk defeated him in a unanimous decision at UFC 64. He learned a lot from that loss. The problem was Florian thought he had learned it all. He entered the Penn fight determined to “kill the master” and that’s when complacency came to collect. ‘The Prodigy’ dismantled ‘Ken-Flo’ in four rounds of fighting, putting him at a crossroads and forcing him to completely reevaluate his entire regimen. When Florian responded with two straight dominant victories in later UFC matches, Dana White noticed. While condemning Diego Sanchez for leaving the lightweight division for a return to welterweight, the UFC president cited Florian as an example of learning from failure.

Read the full article here.

2010 College Football Week 1 Top 25 Primer

GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 04:  Quarterback Kellen Moore #11 of the Boise State Broncos looks over to his sideline in the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 4, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Here’s a quick run down of the top 25 action in college football for Week 1. (Dear sweet Heaven…football is back.)

San Jose State at. No. 1 Alabama, 7:00PM ET
After winning the national championship last season, Alabama looks to defend without Heisman running back Mark Ingram for their opener. They shouldn’t have any problems with a Spartans team that is 0-8 against the spread in their last eight road games and 0-5 ATS in their last five games on grass. The Tide, meanwhile, are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games in September.
Odds: Alabama –37.5 (51.5)

No. 5 Boise State vs. No. 6 Virginia Tech, 8:00PM ET (Monday)
The highlight of the Week 1 schedule won’t be played until Monday night, but it’s shaping up to be an incredible bout. The Broncos are 5-0 ATS in their last five games in September, while VA Tech is 5-0 ATS in their last five games overall. The over is also 5-0 in the Broncos last five games on fieldturf and 4-1 in the Hokies last five games at a neutral site.
Odds: Boise State –1.5 (51)

Miami (OH) at. No. 4 Florida, 12:00PM ET
The Tim Tebow-less era starts in Gainesville this afternoon when the Gators host MAC opponent Miami of Ohio. The Redhawks are 0-5 against the spread in their last five games in September, while Florida is 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
Odds: Florida –38 (54.5)

No. 5 Texas at. Rice, 3:30PM ET
Out is Colt McCoy and in is talented youngster Garrett Gilbert. The Longhorns are 4-0 against the spread in their last four meetings with Rice and 8-2 ATS in their last 10 vs. Conference USA. The Owls are just 1-7 ATS in their last eight games against the Big 12.
Odds: Texas –31 (56)

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UFC 123 set for Auburn Hills, Michigan in November

INGLEWOOD, CA - MARCH 17:  UFC Champion Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson (L) attends the IFL Fight Night at The Forum on March 17, 2007 in Inglewood, California.  (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for IFL)

Nate Lawson of HeavyMMA.com downloads the news that UFC 123 is heading to Auburn Hills, Michigan this November.

UFC 123 now has a venue, according to UFC president Dana White.

MMAFighting.com reported the news earlier today that the November 20 event is set for Auburn Hills, Michigan and will take place at The Palace at Auburn Hills.

UFC 123 features a light heavyweight match up between two former champions in Lyoto Machida and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, along with a welterweight contest between Matt Brown and rising prospect Rory MacDonald. Neither fight has been made official by the promotion, but are anticipated to make the card nevertheless. No other fights have been rumored yet.

The event will be the first UFC event to be held in Michigan since 1996 and the second UFC event of November.

Read more mixed-martial arts articles at HeavyMMA.com.

Dana White invited to speak at Oxford

NEW YORK - MARCH 24: Dana White, president of the UFC, speaks at a press conference for UFC 111 at Radio City Music Hall on March 24, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

From HeavyMMA.com:

UFC president Dana White has been officially invited by the Oxford University debate club to speak in to its members on October 13.

Officials from the promotion made the news available earlier today.
White joins a rather exclusive list of speakers invited to the club, including several past presidents and other famous individuals such as Malcom X and Albert Einstein.

“Anyone who knows anything about me knows I always speak my mind and am very passionate about what I do, and the Oxford Union was founded on exactly those principles,” White stated in an official press release. “I’m looking forward to meeting the students, and I know they have a reputation for asking tough questions and expecting straight answers from their guests. That’s exactly what they’ll get from me.”

White’s visit to Oxford University comes just a few days prior to October 16’s UFC 120, which is set for the O2 Arena in London, England featuring a middleweight contest between Michael Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama, along with a welterweight tilt between Carlos Condit and British superstar Dan Hardy.

Check out more articles from HeavyMMA.com.

Breaking down BJ Penn’s legacy

PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 08:  (L-R) Lightweight champion BJ Penn battles Kenny Florian during their lightweight championship title bout at UFC 101: Declaration at the Wachovia Center on August 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

E. Spencer Kyte of HeavyMMA.com discusses BJ Penn’s legacy following UFC 118.

Heading into his second meeting with Frankie Edgar, fans and critics anticipated a more focused, more aggressive B.J. Penn to step into the cage. They believed their first fight was perfect storm of Edgar fighting a strategic battle on a night that Penn looked off, and that the man widely considered the greatest lightweight of all-time would show the skills that earned him that distinction in the first place.

Nothing changed.

Penn looked very much like the fighter who stood across from Edgar in Abu Dhabi; glossed over and searching for answers, Penn was once again beaten to the punch, taken down and dominated en route to his second consecutive lose to the new ruler of the lightweight division.

Read the full article here.

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