Franklin Non-Committal on Move Back to Middleweight
Brian Knapp Sep 8, 2009
Persistent rumblings that middleweight champion Anderson
Silva could make the 205-pound division his permanent home have
many wondering how such a move could affect the career path of
Rich
Franklin.
Franklin -- who will square off with Vitor Belfort at a 195-pound catchweight in the UFC 103 main event on Sept. 19 -- moved to light heavyweight, in part, to escape the considerable shadow Silva has cast over the 185-pound division. Might he consider a trip back to middleweight if Silva rises?
“I don’t know,” Franklin said during a conference call for UFC 103
on Tuesday. “I haven’t really thought about that. I’ll entertain
that kind of thinking when I cross that path.”
Franklin, who turns 35 in October, believes such a move could be construed has him “trying to dodge a bullet.” The former high school mathematics teacher twice lost to Silva, having surrendered the middleweight crown at UFC 64 after the Brazilian launched a nuclear attack on his head and body with some wicked knees. He lost the rematch in similar fashion a year later.
“I’m not a big 205-pounder,” he said. “I’m going to be dealing with weight issues and probably strength issues. A lot of these guys are taller and wide than me, but I’m willing to try and tackle it.”
Other highlights from the conference call included:
• Franklin said the decision to contest the Belfort fight at 195 pounds was the Brazilian’s. “This is something Vitor requested. If the UFC has exciting fights at 195, I’m willing to drop to do what I need to do,” said Franklin, who defeated Wanderlei Silva at a 195-pound catchweight in June;
• Belfort still trains at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas and plans to return to the middleweight division, win or lose against Franklin. “I’m fighting at 185. That’s my weight division,” the former UFC light heavyweight king said;
• Franklin welcomes the role of ambassador for the UFC and believes the promotion uses other fighters in a similar fashion. “All my fights recently have been in new places. I do feel like I’m being put in an ambassador’s position, and I’m not the only athlete they’re doing it with,” he said;
• Belfort views Franklin as a well-rounded foe. “Rich is a very tough opponent,” he said. “He’s good at everything. I respect Rich in every situation. I have to make sure I don’t play his game.” The 32-year-old Brazilian will carry a four-fight winning streak into the match;
• In light of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s decision to chase a role in the upcoming “A-Team” movie, Franklin said he had no current interest in pursuing acting any further. He appeared in “Cyborg Soldier,” alongside Tiffani Thiessen, in 2008. “My focus right now is with fighting. You’re not going to see me as Face or something in the A-Team movie,” Franklin said;
• As he prepares for his first appearance inside the Octagon since a split decision loss to Tito Ortiz at UFC 51, Belfort admits the emotions associated with the bout are heightened. “Now, it’s so huge,” he said. “There are so many opportunities for everybody. I’m excited to fight against the best fighters in the world. That’s my goal.” Belfort has not won a match inside the UFC since 2004;
• Franklin reiterated his interest in “exciting fights” and called the idea of another title run “a great Cinderella story before I retire.” He also addressed the change in opponent from Dan Henderson, a man who defeated him by split decision at UFC 93, to Belfort in wake of substantial fan backlash. “I’m primarily interested in putting on fights fans want to see. The fan reaction to [the announced Henderson rematch] was less than excited. Even if I want that fight again, if the fans don’t want to see it, I’m not going to push for it,” Franklin said.
Franklin -- who will square off with Vitor Belfort at a 195-pound catchweight in the UFC 103 main event on Sept. 19 -- moved to light heavyweight, in part, to escape the considerable shadow Silva has cast over the 185-pound division. Might he consider a trip back to middleweight if Silva rises?
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Franklin, who turns 35 in October, believes such a move could be construed has him “trying to dodge a bullet.” The former high school mathematics teacher twice lost to Silva, having surrendered the middleweight crown at UFC 64 after the Brazilian launched a nuclear attack on his head and body with some wicked knees. He lost the rematch in similar fashion a year later.
An undersized 205-pounder Franklin admits competing against the
modern breed of light heavyweight has become a difficult
proposition.
“I’m not a big 205-pounder,” he said. “I’m going to be dealing with weight issues and probably strength issues. A lot of these guys are taller and wide than me, but I’m willing to try and tackle it.”
Other highlights from the conference call included:
• Franklin said the decision to contest the Belfort fight at 195 pounds was the Brazilian’s. “This is something Vitor requested. If the UFC has exciting fights at 195, I’m willing to drop to do what I need to do,” said Franklin, who defeated Wanderlei Silva at a 195-pound catchweight in June;
• Belfort still trains at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas and plans to return to the middleweight division, win or lose against Franklin. “I’m fighting at 185. That’s my weight division,” the former UFC light heavyweight king said;
• Franklin welcomes the role of ambassador for the UFC and believes the promotion uses other fighters in a similar fashion. “All my fights recently have been in new places. I do feel like I’m being put in an ambassador’s position, and I’m not the only athlete they’re doing it with,” he said;
• Belfort views Franklin as a well-rounded foe. “Rich is a very tough opponent,” he said. “He’s good at everything. I respect Rich in every situation. I have to make sure I don’t play his game.” The 32-year-old Brazilian will carry a four-fight winning streak into the match;
• In light of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s decision to chase a role in the upcoming “A-Team” movie, Franklin said he had no current interest in pursuing acting any further. He appeared in “Cyborg Soldier,” alongside Tiffani Thiessen, in 2008. “My focus right now is with fighting. You’re not going to see me as Face or something in the A-Team movie,” Franklin said;
• As he prepares for his first appearance inside the Octagon since a split decision loss to Tito Ortiz at UFC 51, Belfort admits the emotions associated with the bout are heightened. “Now, it’s so huge,” he said. “There are so many opportunities for everybody. I’m excited to fight against the best fighters in the world. That’s my goal.” Belfort has not won a match inside the UFC since 2004;
• Franklin reiterated his interest in “exciting fights” and called the idea of another title run “a great Cinderella story before I retire.” He also addressed the change in opponent from Dan Henderson, a man who defeated him by split decision at UFC 93, to Belfort in wake of substantial fan backlash. “I’m primarily interested in putting on fights fans want to see. The fan reaction to [the announced Henderson rematch] was less than excited. Even if I want that fight again, if the fans don’t want to see it, I’m not going to push for it,” Franklin said.
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