What does Rich have to do to get another title shot & the MW Division?

Top of the mountain: Andy Silva
#1 Contender: Chael Sonnen
Top Contenders: Munoz v Weidman, Lombard v Boetsch, Bisping, Franklin, Stann, & Belfort.

Obviously if Sonnen wins, Franklin working his way back up becomes much simpler because Rich isn't 0-2 vs Chael. But this also creates an opportunity for Andy v Chael 3 if fight #2 is close or controversial which would tie up the MW title some time.

I would expect Munoz & Lombard are the closest to getting the next title fight. Munoz for his 4 fight win streak with a chance for 5 v Weidman. Lombard for being Bellator champ and a highlight reel every fight. They may even have to fight each other to settle things especially if Andy/Chael goes to a rubber match.

After that I could see a mini tourney between Bisping, Stann, Franklin, and Belfort (unless they still want him to fight Wand, In that case the 4th fighter could be the lose of Andy/Chael.) The only fight that wouldn't make sense between the 4 fighters is Franklin v Belfort II with Franklin v Stann or Franklin v Bisping available. So say Franklin runs the gauntlet and beats a Bisping & Belfot after taking out Wand on short notice. Would anyone want to see Anderson Silva v Rich Franklin 3 for the title?

Now the only fighters I excluded from this conversation was the SF guys. In the next year or so I wouldn't be shocked to see Kennedy, Rockhold, & Jacare join the UFC and throw a wrench in some of these plans.

Edit: Forgot about Belcher. He's in the mix too. I'm loving the MW division right now. Very deep lots of good match ups to make. Joe Silva needs to avoid wasting a top guy vs Le at this point.

I don't think anyone will have any interest as long as Andy Silver is at the top. He needs to be rooting for Chael

I'd make Franklin-Belcher next though in the not too distant future. Rich talks about how he's getting older and wants one last run so enough of the one fight a year stuff. Belcher-Ace in Octoberish

Unless Chael wins next month I don't see Ace getting another MW shot.

I suppose there's a chance Bones could run out of opponents but I don't see Ace being able to earn a shot, not after the way Forrest handled him.

Ali wrote:

Unless Chael wins next month I don't see Ace getting another MW shot.

I suppose there's a chance Bones could run out of opponents but I don't see Ace being able to earn a shot, not after the way Forrest handled him.

So if Rich TKOs Bisping, Belfort, & Lombard he still doesn't get another chance?

Farmer1906 wrote:

Ali wrote:

Unless Chael wins next month I don't see Ace getting another MW shot.

I suppose there's a chance Bones could run out of opponents but I don't see Ace being able to earn a shot, not after the way Forrest handled him.

So if Rich TKOs Bisping, Belfort, & Lombard he still doesn't get another chance?

Nah there's no need to see Ace vs. Silva again.

Farmer1906 wrote:

Ali wrote:

Unless Chael wins next month I don't see Ace getting another MW shot.

I suppose there's a chance Bones could run out of opponents but I don't see Ace being able to earn a shot, not after the way Forrest handled him.

So if Rich TKOs Bisping, Belfort, & Lombard he still doesn't get another chance?

like thatll happen lol

killerofchicken wrote:

Farmer1906 wrote:

Ali wrote:

Unless Chael wins next month I don't see Ace getting another MW shot.

I suppose there's a chance Bones could run out of opponents but I don't see Ace being able to earn a shot, not after the way Forrest handled him.

So if Rich TKOs Bisping, Belfort, & Lombard he still doesn't get another chance?

like thatll happen lol

It is definitely not likely, but not impossible.

At this point in time I think Franklin would at east be favored in 2/3.

Vitor already TKO'd Ace.

Ali wrote:

Vitor already TKO'd Ace.

haha, this!

he has to win at least 2 more fights at 185, after Chael loses to the Spida RIch needs to fight Chael.

killerofchicken wrote:

Ali wrote:

Vitor already TKO'd Ace.

haha, this!

He caught him right behind the ear, I'd love to see a rematch. That could go very different.

Vitor beats Rich 9 out of every 10 fights.

OU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

Ali wrote:

Vitor already TKO'd Ace.

haha, this!

He caught him right behind the ear, I'd love to see a rematch. That could go very different.

Wandi was a pubic hair away from finishing Ace, I don't see how it will go any different.

freakzilla wrote:

Vitor beats Rich 9 out of every 10 fights.

I disagree. I think Rich just got caught, just hit on the wrong spot. I think Rich takes atleast 3 out of 10 vs Vitor.

Ali wrote:

OU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

Ali wrote:

Vitor already TKO'd Ace.

haha, this!

He caught him right behind the ear, I'd love to see a rematch. That could go very different.

Wandi was a pubic hair away from finishing Ace, I don't see how it will go any different.

He took that blitz and was still alive and ticking. I see Ace is still as underrated and under appreciated as ever.

OU wrote:

Ali wrote:

OU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

Ali wrote:

Vitor already TKO'd Ace.

haha, this!

He caught him right behind the ear, I'd love to see a rematch. That could go very different.

Wandi was a pubic hair away from finishing Ace, I don't see how it will go any different.

He took that blitz and was still alive and ticking. I see Ace is still as underrated and under appreciated as ever.

I love Ace but Vitor's just too talented a striker for him.

Ali wrote:

OU wrote:

Ali wrote:

OU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

Ali wrote:

Vitor already TKO'd Ace.

haha, this!

He caught him right behind the ear, I'd love to see a rematch. That could go very different.

Wandi was a pubic hair away from finishing Ace, I don't see how it will go any different.

He took that blitz and was still alive and ticking. I see Ace is still as underrated and under appreciated as ever.

I love Ace but Vitor's just too talented a striker for him.

I disagree. I would love to see them go at it again. No doubt in my mind Vitor just caught him and a rematch would be far more competitive.

freakzilla wrote:

Vitor beats Rich 9 out of every 10 fights.

. Disagree. I'd say rich wins 3 or 4 out of ten.

Rich is pretty good against southpaws from Brazil

bobbitt15 wrote:

Rich is pretty good against southpaws from Brazil

I'm sure there is a very high % of fighters who would have problems with Vitor and Anderson. But Rich vs Vitor 2 would be a competitive fight.

OU wrote:

Ali wrote:

OU wrote:

Ali wrote:

OU wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

Ali wrote:

Vitor already TKO'd Ace.

haha, this!

He caught him right behind the ear, I'd love to see a rematch. That could go very different.

Wandi was a pubic hair away from finishing Ace, I don't see how it will go any different.

He took that blitz and was still alive and ticking. I see Ace is still as underrated and under appreciated as ever.

I love Ace but Vitor's just too talented a striker for him.

I disagree. I would love to see them go at it again. No doubt in my mind Vitor just caught him and a rematch would be far more competitive.

you and farmer are fucking crazy. vitors speed would kill ace every single time just like it did when they fought. fucking forest made rich look slow, vitor would run laps around him, even at his prime, ace has no chance against the speed of belfort

Farmer1906 wrote:

freakzilla wrote:

Vitor beats Rich 9 out of every 10 fights.

. Disagree. I'd say rich wins 3 or 4 out of ten.

negged this weak sauce

also factor in that rich was a cumshot away from getting stopped against wand... yeah

Yeah everyone calling Ace fans crazy with Vitor on your fav fighters list doesn't do much for me. You can claim we are homers but it goes both ways. You are fucking crazy if you don't think Ace vs Vitor 2 would be competitive and Ace has a legit chance to beat Vitor. Look at who Rich Franklin has been fighting compared to the list Vitor has. Sure Ace has been hit on the button before but he lost a very close dec to the hard hitting Hendo and fights legends only. His career is very comparable to Vitor's. That man never gets his respect. Fuck you haters.

killerofchicken wrote:

also factor in that rich was a cumshot away from getting stopped against wand... yeah

Oh shut up, he took it and dominated the next round. Not many men can take those shots and live to tell about it. You can't do MMAth, doesn't work. H-Bomb has no effect on Ace but older Wand almost puts him away, MMA is crazy that way. A>B>C so A>C math doesn't work in MMA.