Rich Franklin to 205 lbs.?
Posted by Adam MorganMonte Cox was recently a guest on MMA Weekly Radio and told them that Rich Franklin is considering a move to 205 lbs.:
“Rich has to make a decision,” Cox told MMAWeekly Radio. “We’ve certainly considered going to 205 and seeing how he does up there.”
“He’s fought almost everybody in the 185-pound division,” said Cox. “There are some guys that he could fight, but if he beats them it knocks them out of title contention. And nobody is looking to see Rich and Anderson Silva 3 right now, including me.”
“It’s one of those deals where he’s such a big star, which helps. He’s loved everywhere he goes, a big ovation in Canada and all that. But he’s not helping the 185-pound division right now by beating everybody up in it,” commented Cox.
“We’ve talked about going to 205 and how would he match up with some of those guys, with a Forrest Griffin or a Keith Jardine. I think there’re some really good fights. There’s a whole bunch of 205’s that I think would be interesting.”
He continued, “In the end, we do what the UFC wants. If they want us to try 205, we’re up for it. If they want to keep us at 185, then we’ll do that too.”
This could be a good move for Franklin. He has clearly established himself as the second best middleweight in the UFC and almost nobody, including Franklin himself, wants to see him fight Anderson Silva for a third time. He’s fought at 205 lbs. before and had success there and there are big money fights for him in that division. Just for example, Chuck Liddell vs. Rich Franklin is a fight that would draw a lot of interest from hardcores and casual fans alike.
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I like how realistic they are about Rich Vs Silva 3. I am a huge Franklin fan and I simply don’t want to see it, he would get smashed again…everyone knows that.
Rich is such a great fighter, it’s nice to know he’s not just going to be a gate keeper for Anderson Silva. Def
I wouldn’t be suprised if we saw Anderson Silva vs Rich Franklin 3, but way down the road once Silva’s reign has ended.
I’m not sure LHW is a good idea. With the questions about his chin there are lot of guys who could and probably would ko him and he sure as hell can’t wrestle with Rashad or Matt Hamill. I think the only guys he can beat in the LHW division in the UFC will do nothing for his career.
I remember when Franklin was a LHW when he fought Shamrock, and he dropped down MW, he a natural 205 fighter…So it makes sense but it’s just as stacked there also, I think he doesn’t want to fight Anderson anytime soon..mentally Anderson is in his head…his nose can’t take another Muay Thai clinch for sure from him….
Just recently Rich said he didnt want to move up- said since dropping down he felt comfortable there. Im smelling the UFC putting these thoughts into his head. It makes sense but I wonder if Rich is being pushed into something he doesnt want to do, which in turn could effect him mentally.
It’s Cox who’s talking about Franklin moving up to 205, and his remarks dont’ sugges that UFC is pushing it. If moving up keeps Franklin in the game, I’m all for it.
It’s Cox who’s talking about Franklin moving up to 205, and his remarks dont’ suggest that UFC is pushing it. If moving up keeps Franklin in the game, I’m all for it.
” Im smelling the UFC putting these thoughts into his head. ”
Did you read the quote? Cox said there isn’t anything left for him where he’s at.
I think Rich’s best move would be to leave the UFC, assuming he could make the same money.
He is clearly 2nd best at MW and I think he would do ok, but probably not challenge at 205, a very deep division.
I have no desire to see Franklin/Silva 3 anytime in the next couple of years. So, I guess he is kind of stuck, career wise.
I really like Franklin and think he is a great ambassador for the sport. I have full confidence that no matter what move he makes, he will continue to train hard to be the best he can be.
Unfortunately, I just don’t see him holding a belt ever at 205 or at 185 either, if Silva is around. He could be the face of any other promotion, but it probably wouldn’t hold the prestige of the UFC.
Best of luck to him, it must be a difficult time for him trying to find the best direction to go.
he’d do fine at 205
u guys over analyze shit too much lol
I think this a very good move on his part ,The MW is shallow with no one being able to get past Silva and the fact that UFC is cleaning house and Ortiz is leaving will make much better fights in the LHW division which is their best division now since the word is that WEC will be taking over the lower weight classes
“Cox said there isn’t anything left for him where he’s at.”
**
“theres nothing left”- i.e. there isnt money to be made. because the UFC isnt interested in paying for those fights.
I would love to see Rich fight at 205! He is one of my all time favorite fighters and I certainly want to see him fight for several more years, and at 185 there really isn’t anyone left, to me it makes sense.
I’m on board with this.
When is Okami/Silva going to be announced? The UFC has been dodging this for way too long.
Could a rematch with Machida be far behind if Machida beats Tito????
Is Franklin still fighting?. I’ve lost interest in the MW division and its lack of talent. The only truely good fighters in the MW are Maquadt, Silva, Franklin and Okami (Dan Henderson dosn’t count because I think he wants to fight LHW). As for Bisping…lets see what happens between him and Leben.
MW like HW is not the UFC’s division, most of the best fight elsewhere (Lindland, Kang, Lawler, Filho, Miller, Misaki, Le, Shamrock, Jacare, Sakuraba, Rua, Trigg and the list goes on). In my opinion the MW division would be a lot better off if Lyoto made the cut, along with henderson making a comitment to the division. As for Franklin…don’t let the UFC ruin your career by putting you somewhere you don’t belong.
What do you mean is franklin still fighting? he just beat the shit out of lutter, and proved he’s got one hell of a ground game getting out of that arm bar. I actually would like to see franklin silva 3. maybe third times a charm!
P.S. he would do very well at LHW!
“he would do very well at LHW!”
Against who? I don’t think he dropped to MW for nothing.
Dan Henderson vs Franklin at MW would be interesting to guage his lilkelyhood of success at LHW. As for Franklin vs Rampage, Shogun, Wanderlei, Thiago or Forrest…I may be wrong but I think he would get killed as he did against Lyoto (who walks around at the same weight as Franklin most of the time).
@#18: Frankling actually didn’t do badly at 205. He only lost to Machida and that was early in his career. I believe he has said he feels very comfortable at 185 now but if there is no chance of regaining a title at that weight in the forseeable future, taking a fight or two at 205 to test the new waters a little might be a good idea.
Maybe a rematch with Machida at 205 would be good to see. They were both early on in their careers and both have similar skill sets (wrestling being the weakest for both I think). But the MW division is so empty as it is.
Maybe Dana wants Franklin in the UFC and MW is going to WEC?.
The bottom line is he needs to get used to the fact that while he is one of the best in the world he will not be a champion for at least a long while in either weight. I don’t see him beating Rampage or Liddell and we already seen him fight Lyoto. With that being said however he could at least have an interesting title run and fight at LH.
there isnt anything left period, he cant be a champion in his division, or at 205, or i doubt that he could move down and beat gsp, he realizes this and probably wants out so he can leave and go fight somewhere else just so he can be a champion again ,he just wants to wear a belt around his waist.
Franklin should cut to 170 and fight GSP.
HAHHAHA.
BTW, I would LOVE to see Franklin/Silva 3. Its incredibly awesome to watch some overhyped ’star’ get beaten down.
i think franklin should wait and see what happens with silva/okami. if okami pulls it off, which i think he can, he can easily step back into title contention since he already holds a victory over him.
I don’t see Rich as overhyped. He only lost to two guys and they’re both among the best in the world. He may not champion again but he has nothing to be ashamed of.
Hey fightfan, you sure changed your tune of who franklin could potentially fight! You went from inferring that he had no one to fight to saying he could fight henderson and machida! Sounds like a good start to me!
Franklin should fight Kimbo. LOL.