Florian rises to challenge after defeat

That wasn’t the case just three years ago.

With a chance to win the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight belt, Florian was soundly defeated by Sean Sherk in October 2006.

“I felt on the physical side I wasn’t ready. The technical side I certainly wasn’t ready, and in many ways the mental side, too,” Florian said of his first title shot. “I don’t think I was aware of how much time and effort it takes to really be a champion. It was that experience that really taught me about that.”

He thinks the lessons he learned that night will help him take the lightweight belt from BJ Penn in the main event of UFC 101 on Saturday at the Wachovia Center.

“I’m thankful for that (loss). I would love to be (able to say) right now I’m undefeated, but it’s definitely made me the fighter I am today,” Florian said.

The fighter he is now is one who has looked impressive in reeling off six straight wins since the loss to Sherk. Only once in those six bouts has he been taken to a decision.

“I remember those losses every single day: the Sean Sherk loss, the Diego Sanchez loss (before that). That’s what pushes me every single day in training,” Florian said. “I don’t want to experience that again.”

He hasn’t had to yet. Florian’s winning streak includes victories over Roger Huerta and Joe Stevenson, and the 33-year-old Massachusetts native has been improving each time.

“I haven’t been 100 percent satisfied with all of my performances (lately),” Florian said. “Each fight (since the loss to Sherk) I feel like I’ve been gaining momentum and getting more and more comfortable in the octagon.”

Florian will need to be at his best to beat Penn, who has lost just once at 155 pounds in his career — against Jens Pulver more than seven years ago — but is coming off a loss to middleweight champion Georges St. Pierre.

Florian conceded that Penn has been the best 155-pound fighter in the world but said it is time for his reign to end and Florian’s to begin.

He stresses, however, that he is not seeking redemption for the opportunity he missed out on three years ago.

“I see it as a new opportunity,” Florian said. “I don’t see it as a second chance. I see it as another first chance.”

Florian turned to mixed martial arts after playing soccer for Boston College.

He always had loved martial arts, but once he committed to MMA, he immersed himself in the sport. He opened a gym, Florian’s Martial Arts Center, with his brother Keith.

Florian appears to be setting himself up for another MMA career with the potential to last far beyond his years as a fighter. He has done regular work as an analyst.

He hosts an MMA show for ESPN on the Internet and has served as a guest commentator on a UFC pay per view and a World Extreme Cagefighting broadcast.

Florian said the extra work doesn’t detract from his focus on his primary career.

“I’ve been training for a long time. I always fit in my schedule for training,” he said. “That’s always my first priority, so that’s never been a problem.”

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.