What does this win do for Rich? Who's next?

Knowing what we know about Chuck (he's completely done) how impressive was this victory really? Im not trying to take anything away from him, i thought he looked pretty good actually. Im just wondering what you guys see in his future? I like the fact that he is back with Gurgel in Cincy, that's where he belongs. Who would be a good opponent for Rich in his next fight?

Forrest or Thiago when he gets done with this nobody he has to fight

Forrest vs. Rampage

If not Rampage vs Thiago

If that happens Franklin vs. Forrest

Or Franklin vs. Machida so what it already happened

i actually like the idea of a Franklin Machida rematch but i dont think Rich has earned that fight yet.

oggy420 wrote:

i actually like the idea of a Franklin Machida rematch but i dont think Rich has earned that fight yet.

agreed would be nice maybe one more good win for rich.

Hasn't earned that fight? Are you kidding? Rich is good enough to fight anyone at 205 except Shogun (since he's champ).

Little Nog is the logical next move. Rich has earned a shot based on all the times he has come through for the UFC when they needed them. Reward him with a winnable fight that would vault him into title contention.

Farmer1906 wrote:

Hasn't earned that fight? Are you kidding? Rich is good enough to fight anyone at 205 except Shogun (since he's champ).

Everyone knows this is a "what have you done for me lately" sport and Rich is still not top 10 at 205 imo while Machida is unanimously considered #2 in the lhw class. And it's not like the 1st fight between them was close.

Anyway wasn't it posted somewhere on this site that the winner of this fight was to face Forrest next?

Oggy where is the precident for this high standard of yours that has Rich Franklin unable to fight Machida? How many names are on the "ok to fight Machida" list? Dana a couple months ago proclaimed Couture was in the title hunt after he mopped up Mark Coleman. Rich is a former defending MW champion and huge name. Rich could be thrown in with any LHW with no issue from about anyone.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Oggy where is the precident for this high standard of yours that has Rich Franklin unable to fight Machida? How many names are on the "ok to fight Machida" list? Dana a couple months ago proclaimed Couture was in the title hunt after he mopped up Mark Coleman. Rich is a former defending MW champion and huge name. Rich could be thrown in with any LHW with no issue from about anyone.

Exactly

Rich needs to look for the paydays and forget about a title run. I would like to see Rich face Couture,Forrest,Rampage or Ortiz.

Ali_1748 wrote:

Rich needs to look for the paydays and forget about a title run. I would like to see Rich face Couture,Forrest or Ortiz.

I can agree to that, but if he beats Forest or Couture in his next fight then one more big fight and he's got a title shot.

I just don't see Rich being able to compete with the top 4 guys.

Ali_1748 wrote:

I just don't see Rich being able to compete with the top 4 guys.

Probably not, but you never know. That's why they fight.

Farmer1906 wrote:

Ali_1748 wrote:

I just don't see Rich being able to compete with the top 4 guys.

Probably not, but you never know. That's why they fight.

I like Rich but I would hate to see Shogun,Lil Nog or Rashad knock him out. A fight with Forrest Griffin would be a crowd pleaser in my opinion.

I thought I heard that the winner of the Chuck vs. Rich fight was set to take on Forrest before the fight even happened?

NoRegret wrote:

I thought I heard that the winner of the Chuck vs. Rich fight was set to take on Forrest before the fight even happened?

Don't think that was a fact, but I hope it happens.

This fight was pretty unimpressive for Rich. Chuck was more or less tooling him. Kicked him hard enough to break his bones. Rich hitting that desperation shot on an incoming Chuck was his savior, he was on his way down. Bones or Bader or another guy around that 8 to 12 range was be warranted.

GDPofDRC wrote:

This fight was pretty unimpressive for Rich. Chuck was more or less tooling him. Kicked him hard enough to break his bones. Rich hitting that desperation shot on an incoming Chuck was his savior, he was on his way down. Bones or Bader or another guy around that 8 to 12 range was be warranted.

Tooling him, how do you work that one out ? Apart from Chuck being able to lure Rich into a brawl it was pretty even.

Chuck made Rich look worse because he was being an aggressive wildman fighting with a ridiculously aggressive style. 100% fullpower haymakers non stop running forward at full speed the whole fight.

It was working quite well. He rocked him good three times, Broke his are with a kick, dumped him with momentum. In the last ten seconds Rich was in a bad place and pulled out a Robbie Lawler right on the button, good for Rich, I mean real good for Rich, it looked like he was about to find the bad end he manged to give Chuck.

GDPofDRC, you have to be a huge Chuck homer to see it that way.

I see it that Rich didn't look good but did manage to land the money shot out of know where, real good for him.

dont get me wrong, i have mad respect for Rich. I mean look at his stats....
28 wins, 15 (t)ko, 10 submissions, and his only losses are against Vitor Belfort, a debatable split decision loss to Dan Henderson, Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva a couple times.

It does not do much IMO. I still consider him to be over the hill, or if not over the hill...passed up and not a real contender in eitheir 185 or 205.

Don't get me wrong. He's an excellent fighter and still relevant, but i doubt we'll see him on any champions radar unless Dana wants to burn a title defense while building somebody else up.