Florian excited to be fighting BJ Penn

Kenny Florian believes BJ Penn will be an even bigger threat to him following the lightweight champion’s defeat to Georges St Pierre.

Penn, who lost his welterweight fight against St Pierre at UFC 94, will fight Florian this summer.

Florian told The Sun: “I’m excited to be fighting BJ Penn – he’s the best fighter in the world at 155lbs.

“I’m looking forward to being able to test myself against the best. It’s a great opportunity for me.

“I’ve trained with him and I’ve had an opportunity to learn from him. The first time I ever watched a UFC fight was when he took on Jens Pulver at UFC 35.

“BJ was an inspiration for me to go out and compete in mixed martial arts. He is the master.

“He has been doing things in Brazilian jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts that a lot of us dream of doing and this fight gives me the chance to show him how far I have come as a fighter, so it’s very exciting.

“I think he’s even more of a threat now he’s lost to St Pierre – but that’s what I want.

“I want to face the best competition that I can possibly face. I want to face the best BJ Penn, the hungriest BJ Penn and the most well trained BJ Penn.

“When I come back after a loss, I come back 10 times better and with way more intensity – so I expect the same from BJ.”

Tags: DREAM, Jens Pulver, Kenny Florian, UFC