Some would call Kenny Florian one of the greatest UFC fighters of all-time, while others would say he's a choke artist who wilted in high-pressure situations.

The only thing that's for certain as Florian announced his retirement on May 31 is that he goes down in MMA history as one of the most polarizing figures in the history of the sport.

Florian became a fan favorite for convincing victories over legends like Takanori Gomi and legitimate contenders like Clay Guida, but left much to be desired when the lights were shining brightest.

Many will remember his time in the octagon for his three losses in championship bouts.

Add "KenFlo" to the surprisingly long list of great professional athletes that never won a championship, which includes notable names like Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Barry Sanders, Dan Marino, Ted Williams and hundreds more.

Much like Malone, Florian made it to the "Big Show" three times, only to be denied on each occasion.

Mixed martial arts is an individual sport, where the onus is on just one person to will their way to victory.

Florian came up short in his first title bout, a unanimous decision loss to Sean Sherk at UFC 64 in 2006. Three years later, he was submitted by B.J. Penn at UFC 101, in a battle for the UFC Lightweight Championship. After another two years went by, he dropped down to the featherweight division and got a title shot against Jose Aldo, but lost another unanimous decision that went to the judge's scorecards.

Despite his multiple title defeats, Florian leaves a solid legacy on the sport. Not many fans realize that Florian is one of the top 20 winningest UFC fighters of all-time, retiring with more league wins than legends like Royce Gracie, Vitor Belfort and Evan Tanner.

Nine of the 11 fighters who tallied more wins than him are former UFC champions.

Whether you loved or hated Florian's in-the-cage performances, most fight fans would agree he was always one of the classiest individuals in the game. He always showed the utmost respect towards his opponents, and served as one of the main "faces of the organization" when the UFC worked its way into the mainstream sports landscape in the mid-2000s.

Luckily, the 36-year-old has a bright future ahead as a broadcaster and analyst. He's well-spoken, and his mind is as sharp as his elbow strikes.

"The Mailman" always delivers, and so does "KenFlo."

Eric Holden is a lifelong UFC fan and supporter of the sport of mixed martial arts. Follow him on Twitter @ericholden.