Rich Franklin Looks to Return in December: 'I've Always Said 185 Is My Home'

Rich should be fighting at 185 and stop wasting his time at 205.

He isn't a title threat in either weight class so it isn't that big of a deal. There's a lot cooler big names for him to tangle with at 205 on his way out the door

Id rather see him fight at his natural weight of 185 where he has a better chance of winning, he'd be top 5 at MW IMO, just don't put him up against Vitor

Not a title contender at either weight, but I think Rich could take Tito, and his fights are almost always entertaining.

Why was Hamill a different fighter then? He's never really changed as a fighter. You could easily say he was on the downside of his career when he beat Tito, because his next two fights were losses. Anyway, Rich finishing Hamill and losing a decision to Forrest, trumps losing decisions to both Forrest and Hamill -- and Tito was hardly hanging with Forrest in their last fight. Tito got owned, despite what Dana wanted.

OU wrote:

I wonder if after Okami beats Spider if they will allow him back at MW? IMO he could still be the #2 MW in the World. He may not be anymore but he was for years. WAR ACE!

I do agree somewhat, he'd be very very good still, top 5, but there's Sonnen I could see that going either way, but Vitor would probably end badly everytime.

boomer sooner wrote:

Not a title contender at either weight, but I think Rich could take Tito, and his fights are almost always entertaining.

Why was Hamill a different fighter then? He's never really changed as a fighter. You could easily say he was on the downside of his career when he beat Tito, because his next two fights were losses. Anyway, Rich finishing Hamill and losing a decision to Forrest, trumps losing decisions to both Forrest and Hamill -- and Tito was hardly hanging with Forrest in their last fight. Tito got owned, despite what Dana wanted.

Forrest did not own Tito, it was a close fight.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Hamill was a different fighter then and Ace was better. Tito hangs with Forrest every time they fight, and Forrest manhandled Franklin.

LOL 29-28 on all 3 scorecards is getting manhandled? It was a competitive fight.

bobbitt15 wrote:

He isn't a title threat in either weight class so it isn't that big of a deal. There's a lot cooler big names for him to tangle with at 205 on his way out the door

+1

More interesting fights at LHW for Ace.

Yeah but if he fights at MW he could probably earn himself a title shot if Okami or Sonnen ever beat Anderson for the title. At LHW he will never be good enough for a title shot.

freakzilla wrote:

Yeah but if he fights at MW he could probably earn himself a title shot if Okami or Sonnen ever beat Anderson for the title. At LHW he will never be good enough for a title shot.

Never say never. Injuries could happen and Bones is likely to go on a tear in that division.

Rich is a top 15 LHW and a top 5 MW. Dude is still legit, too legit to quit.

OU wrote:

Rich is a top 15 LHW and a top 5 MW. Dude is still legit, too legit to quit.

This. Franklin will never ever get a shot at the LHW title. At MW he is still a chance. Dana is a douche if he is forcing him to fight at LHW.

freakzilla wrote:

OU wrote:

Rich is a top 15 LHW and a top 5 MW. Dude is still legit, too legit to quit.

This. Franklin will never ever get a shot at the LHW title. At MW he is still a chance. Dana is a douche if he is forcing him to fight at LHW.

What do you mean "IF" Franklin already said it his self. Also what do you mean "Dana is a douche if"? Dana's a douche period lol

Well you can understand Dana wanting Rich to go to LHW. No one was interested in Spider vs Ace 3(except me) and the UFC didn't want Rich sitting there knocking off future title contenders. Which is exactly what he would have been doing. So instead they gave Rich some very nice names and kept him headlining events. He did well enough that he was getting into the mix at LHW and a win over Forrest would have put him close to a title shot. But losing that fight in that division is a big set back.

If it wasn't for Dana, Rich would never be able to tell his grandkids he ended the career of Chuck Liddell with a broken arm

bobbitt15 wrote:

If it wasn't for Dana, Rich would never be able to tell his grandkids he ended the career of Chuck Liddell with a broken arm

Yeah I know and if it wasn't for Dana the sport wouldn't be were it is today........ he's still a douche

bobbitt15 wrote:

If it wasn't for Dana, Rich would never be able to tell his grandkids he ended the career of Chuck Liddell with a broken arm

With his weaker arm!(Ace is a lefty)

freakzilla wrote:

boomer sooner wrote:

Not a title contender at either weight, but I think Rich could take Tito, and his fights are almost always entertaining.

Why was Hamill a different fighter then? He's never really changed as a fighter. You could easily say he was on the downside of his career when he beat Tito, because his next two fights were losses. Anyway, Rich finishing Hamill and losing a decision to Forrest, trumps losing decisions to both Forrest and Hamill -- and Tito was hardly hanging with Forrest in their last fight. Tito got owned, despite what Dana wanted.

Forrest did not own Tito, it was a close fight.

Ignored the larger point, but whatev...and Forrest was touching Tito up. It was getting pathetic. Tito basically got a takedown in the second round and opened a cut before Forrest swept him. I had it three rounds to none, and I wasn't the only one that called it that way. Forrest made Tito look bad.

I had it 29-28 Forrest but it was close.

freakzilla wrote:

I had it 29-28 Forrest but it was close.

It wasn't even close to Tito, he said as much after the fight. The second round was the only toss up because he got a takedown, but Forrest still did well that round.

not close at all IMO

Well the judges had it by split decision and I thought it was close too.

well the judges gave Sanchez the win against Kampman!!! so you can't always go by that

freakzilla wrote:

Well the judges had it by split decision and I thought it was close too.

Yeah but one judge also had it 30-27, so take it for whats it worth.