Kenny Florian Replaces Stephan Bonnar for UFC Q&A in Nashville

Kenny Florian (James Law/HeavyMMA)

Fighter also filling analyst role for FX, Fuel broadcasts

Kenny Florian has a busy week lined up.

The three-time UFC title challenger will be back in what has become familiar territory for him this week in Nashville, Tenn. – behind the microphone. Florian will replace Stephan Bonnar at Thursday’s UFC Fight Club fan question-and-answer session prior to the weigh-ins for UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller. UFC officials confirmed the switch to HeavyMMA, though no reason was given for Bonnar dropping off and Florian filling in.

But the timing is good for Florian, who will be in Nashville to fill the analyst’s seat on the FX broadcast for Friday’s card. As reported Monday by MMA Junkie, Florian will fill the color commentary role for the UFC’s broadcasts on FX and Fuel TV, next to play-by-play man for those cards, Jon Anik, a former ESPN anchor who was hired by the UFC in October.

Florian made news earlier this month when he said he is considering retirement. The Massachusetts native last fought in October, a five-round decision loss in a title fight against featherweight champion Jose Aldo. Florian, a Season 1 middleweight finalist on “The Ultimate Fighter,” has competed in four different weight classes in the UFC. In November, he told HeavyMMA he planned on taking some time to build his body back up before returning at lightweight, where he has spent most of his career. But a back injury while lifting weights has kept him from training, and doctors have recommended he hang up the gloves.

For now, he’ll keep plenty busy with FX and Fuel TV broadcasts – Nashville on Friday for a card headlined by Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller, and Fuel TV on Feb. 15 for a card headlined by Diego Sanchez and Jake Ellenberger. And in between, he’s been the co-host of Fuel TV’s new “UFC Tonight” weekly half-hour news show alongside Todd Harris.

Thursday’s pre-weigh-in Q&A with Florian will take place at the Bridgestone Arena, which also hosts the live fight card Friday. The weigh-ins will take place at 4 p.m. Central time. The Q&A session with Florian starts at 2 p.m. Though the question-and-answer session is restricted to members of the UFC’s Fight Club, doors for the general public will open for the weigh-ins at 3 p.m. The first fighter will step on the scale shortly after 4 p.m.

Additionally, for those making the trip to Nashville for the event, fighters from the main card, including Guillard and Miller, also will take part in a Wednesday open workout session, which will be open to the public. Wednesday’s workouts will take place at Ed Clay’s Nashville MMA Academy, 490 Allied Drive in Nashville. The workouts start at noon and also will feature a guest appearance from Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller will be the promotion’s first live card on the FX cable station in the new seven-year network deal with Fox, which owns FX. It is also the UFC’s first trip to Nashville since a Fight Night card in April 2009. The four-fight main card airs live on FX at 9 p.m. Eastern. Fuel TV will broadcast the six-fight preliminary card starting at 6 p.m. Eastern.