Would Rich still be MW champ is Anderson wasn't around???

Since the 1st Anderson loss he fought
McDonald - W
Okami - W
Silva - L
Lutter - W
Hamill - W
Henderson - L (razor thin loss but if it is a title fight Franklin has a 4th and 5th round to beat a Hendo who looked like he was out of gas)
Wand - W
Belfort - Sept 19th

Plus he would have probably had to face Marquardt and possible Cote & Leites.

I think by this point Dan and Rich would have fought a trilogy with Dan winning 2 of 3.

I think Rich would take Hendo in a rematch, in a 5 rd fight Rich would have beat him the first time.

Dan or Nate would have beat him by now.

I could see him losing it to Hendo and regaining it by now.

Either Dan Henderson or GSP. GSP would've probably moved up if Anderson wasn't champ to test himself.

So GSP would beat Franklin?

Yep. Pretty easily I recon.

Not so sure Franklin get's beatin eaily by GSP - he's a big Middleweight with great takedown defense. I would have GSP favored, but I think that it would be pretty close.

I don't know? I think Rich is one of the best fighters around and definately one of the smartest. But Hendo is powerful and well knowledged. Marq is just effing great! Maia would even be a threat to Rich. Unfortunately for Rich Anderson is the best fighter in the world today. I know the Fedor lovers think he is unbeatable, but I don't think Fedor would do much better than Forrest. Silva is to fast, powerful, and agile for almost anybody to threaten him. I can see him losing, but only to a guy like Lesnar, Carwin, possibly even Rogers. They just have so much size and weight on him. Clearly they won't be having an even match up in speed, but muscle and weight would possibly make up for what is lacking.

If Rich fought the Nate Marquardt post Silva loss, Marquardt would probably win the fight.

you are correct Sir.

I think a Nate and Franklin fight would be epic, but I'm not so sure Marquardt wins it. I'd like to see him face Wand after Wand gets an easier fight at 185 first. Wand needs a win like nobodies business.

With the exception of Jardine and Bonnar

Uh, no. Hendo all the way. Hell, Hendo won a round with Anderson, I can't think of anyone else who did that. In the UFC anyways

ohiovol62 wrote:

Uh, no. Hendo all the way. Hell, Hendo won a round with Anderson, I can't think of anyone else who did that. In the UFC anyways

Why point to a common opponent when you can look at head to head?

Farmer1906 wrote:

ohiovol62 wrote:

Uh, no. Hendo all the way. Hell, Hendo won a round with Anderson, I can't think of anyone else who did that. In the UFC anyways

Why point to a common opponent when you can look at head to head?

Ok. Well Hendo won that one too. And IMO it shouldn't have been a split decision. Just pointing out the fact that Hendo was hanging in there with Anderson while Franklin didn't.