Florian responds to Cruz dig
Keny Florian: “I talked to Dominick Cruz and he apologized to me. He said his emotions were running high and I get it. When I was fighting, you get emotional.”
Former UFC middleweight, welterweight, lightweight, and featherweight Kenny Florian, is currently suspended by FOX after he used notes he had transcribed from a YouTube video without attribution. Ironically, the video itself also used content without permission.
After beating T.J. Dillashaw, once and new UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz took a dig at Florian, and who had predicted a Dillashaw win.
“Kenny Florian, stop copying and pasting, man,” he quipped. Florian was scheduled to be part of the UFC Boston coverage, but was suspended at the time of the remark.
Afterwards, Cruz explained that the dig was not mean spirited.
“I gave Kenny a little bit of a tough time, but I love that guy,” Cruz said on the FS1 post-fight show, as transcribed by Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. “He’s got a good brain for the sport. I was just throwing a little jab at him, because he’s my friend and it was funny. But nothing but respect for Kenny, because he is a good guy.”
“It was friendly fire. I like Kenny. He didn’t pick me in the fight. He gave me really no chance in this fight, so it was just a little poke. Nothing big. He’s got great hair.”
On his Anik and Florian podcast, the Florian explained that Cruz was regretful about the gibe.
“I talked to Dominick and he apologized to me,” said Florian as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMA Fighting. “He said his emotions were running high and I get it. When I was fighting, you get emotional and you almost take it personally. Dominick is such a competitive dude that he took it personal.
“I picked T.J. and the only reason I picked T.J. was, yes, not only is he a great fighter, but Dominick hadn’t competed in so long. With all the injuries, that’s why I went with Dillashaw.”
“It was nothing personal and that’s why I hate working with some of these guys because you do become very friendly. You respect guys and how could you not respect someone like Dominick Cruz? I also had worked with T.J. a bunch of times, as well, so that’s what makes this sport tough.
“Picking fights is probably my least favorite thing to do. You don’t want to offend anyone and I’m sure Dominick was probably offended by that but listen, the best revenge is getting the win and that’s exactly what he did.”
“I think, to be honest, the only reason the fight was close in my opinion was because of the injury to Dominick Cruz. His leg. Clearly he was not able to plant on that leg as the fight went on and later in the fight. He just couldn’t move in the same manner and because of that, T.J. was able to land more shots.”
“I think the guy most deserving [of the title shot] is Dillashaw. Listen, I love Urijah Faber, I really do, I just don’t see that fight being close between he and Dominick. I just don’t, if I’m being honest. I think the last fight [at UFC 132 in 2011] was semi-close, but really it was just Urijah scrambling his brain to try to find out where Cruz was going to be in that cage.
“It’s going to be even worse this time around. Urijah really hasn’t changed that much. I don’t think he’s changed too much from the WEC days. Cruz just continues to get better. I don’t think there’s anyone else at 135 pounds who is close besides T.J. Dillashaw.”
