Kenny Florian officially retires from MMA

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(Three-time UFC title challenger Kenny Florian)

During Wednesday's The Ultimate Fighter Live Finale former UFC title challengerKenny Florian officially announced his retirement from the sport. The36-year-old fighter will continue to work with the UFC as a broadcaster, but hewill no longer compete.

Florian earned a spot in the UFC after finishing second at middleweight on thevery first season of "The Ultimate Fighter." He eventually droppedall the way to featherweight.

At UFC 64, he fought Sean Sherk for the vacant UFC lightweight title, but came upshort after five rounds. Florian also faced B.J. Penn for that title, but wasfinished in the fourth round. In his last fight, Florian dropped down andchallenged Jose Aldo for the featherweight title, but once again came up short.

"Kenflo" holds victories over former Pride FC champion Takanori Gomi,Clay Guida, Roger Huerta and Joe Lauzon. Between 2007-2008 he went 6-0 andpositioned himself as one of the best lightweights in the division.