Coming Soon: Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson

by Kid Nate on Apr 28, 2008 2:49 PM EDT in MMA News

Gotta read Dave Meltzer's Yahoo! columns closely because there are always little nuggets in there. In this case its news about upcoming Welterweight and Middleweight mega-matches:

New welterweight champion St. Pierre was offered a title defense with Jon Fitch, but felt his hands were damaged in his win over Matt Serra in Montreal and he couldn't be ready in such a short period of time. Franklin, who also fought in Montreal, was offered a match with Dan Henderson, but felt after such a hard training camp that he wouldn't be able to peak again so soon. Both fights are expected to take place later this year.

Franklin/Henderson is a really smart match. Both guys lost convincingly to Anderson Silva and in Franklin's case, he won't be getting a third rematch. Henderson needs at least 2 or 3 impressive wins to get another shot, and beating Franklin would be a great start along that road. It's also a very good chance for Franklin to show that even though he can't beat A. Silva, he's still a top middleweight.

Meltzer also reveals that Anderson Silva was contacted to rescue the UFC 85 card but couldn't for some ominous sounding reasons:

Silva recently underwent an undisclosed operation and hasn't given UFC a timetable on when he'll be available to fight. There is an issue regarding a potential fight with Roy Jones Jr., since UFC refused to allow the match and didn't like him talking abut it. But Silva has continued to talk about Jones as an opponent, largely to the exclusion of everyone else.

He also has some speculation on who Chuck Liddell's next opponent will be:

Liddell, meanwhile, hopes to be back for a show in September. His likely opponents would either be Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, who he was originally scheduled to face in London before Rua had surgery for a torn ACL, or more likely whoever wins the May 24 match between Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine.

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Re: Coming Soon: Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson

What event were they asking GSP/Fitch and Franklin/Henderson to fight on?

by Tha Realness on Apr 28, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Coming Soon: Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson

Nick's correct: UFC 85

by Kid Nate on Apr 28, 2008 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Coming Soon: Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson

UFC 85 I'm thinking.

by Nick Thomas on Apr 28, 2008 3:22 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Coming Soon: Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson

Henderson by baby making hips.

by DirtyML on Apr 28, 2008 3:41 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Coming Soon: Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson

hendo franklin.....that's an awsome match. I feel kinda bad ofr them, and kinda for us, because in a world without silva, this'd be for a belt, and too bad for us, it'd be 5 rounds if so.

by aej on Apr 28, 2008 3:44 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Coming Soon: Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson

This may be one of those 'Do Or Die Fights' for Dan Henderson. If he were to lose, that would be three in a row. Franklin too, would be in a bad position with a loss. But I think the UFC would still keep him.

by bloodyelbowReader on Apr 28, 2008 5:54 PM EDT reply actions