Ever the company man, Rich Franklin talks about the consequences of his catchweight bouts in an interview with the National Post:
"I took the Belfort fight because Dana called and asked me, even though I wasn’t quite where I needed to be physically or mentally. Now, I’m not making excuses, that’s just the nature of the fight game," he says. "But now I’m taking some time off and probably won’t fight again until April or May. I need to rest and relax and recover a little bit and I also hate prepping for a fight in the wintertime. Cincinnati can get pretty cold and I hate running and working out when the temperature is always zero."
"The UFC asked me to fight the catchweight fights to help Silva and Belfort make the drop down to 185 pounds," says the 35-year-old. "But now I’ve lost my ranking at 185 and 205. It’s crazy — I can headline a card and not be top-10 ranked."
"I just want to fight the top fighters in whatever division I’m in," he says. And then, as if recognizing the cliché he’s just offered, he adds, "Even if I put together a couple of wins at 195 I’m not sure that helps me at 205 in terms of getting big fights. I need to get in there and mix it up with the light heavyweights so I can work my way toward a title shot."
This Fan Shot was promoted to the front page by Nick Thomas.
More at nationalpost.com
-- photo via Glenn Dextras for National Post
about 2 years ago
Scott Haber
24 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
I can understand silva needing the help to get down to 185, but wasn’t belfort already fighting in affliction at middleweight?
by kanodogg on Nov 27, 2009 1:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Did you forget Belfort trying to put weight on last minute to fight Fedor in august?
by CliChe Guevara on Nov 27, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions
Did you forget Vitor refusing to fight Mousasi at 195 because he wants to stick to MW?
by John Nash on Nov 27, 2009 5:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He said Mousasi has not big enough name to change weight class for him.
by dancingChicken on Nov 28, 2009 3:58 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah but really dude, you think he put on 10’s of lbs of usable weight in like a week when the fight wasn’t a done deal?
by kanodogg on Nov 27, 2009 5:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He didn’t try to put weight. It was something like 4 days notice. He eased with dieting.
by dancingChicken on Nov 28, 2009 3:56 AM EST up reply actions
I want to fight the top guys damnit!
well, as long as it’s not cold outside.
by Nick Thomas on Nov 27, 2009 1:25 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Well it's not like you can run inside
by ufc4 on Nov 27, 2009 6:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He may not be Fighter of the Year, but he does deserve some sort of recognition. Three times when the UFC has needed a main event, Franklin stepped up – Hendo, Wandy, and Vitor. All tough fights, all took their toll on him. Rich deserves to be treated very nicely by Dana & Co. for his willingness to do what they need. Keep fightin’, Franklin.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Nov 27, 2009 3:38 PM EST reply actions
Don’t act like he just did this out of the kindness of his heart, I’m sure he was compensated very well. Probably a bit more than he was making as a math teacher.
by ufc4 on Nov 27, 2009 6:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Oh, I agree. I hope he was well-compensated. It’s just he doesn’t have to do every little thing Dana & Co. wants, but he does. It almost cost him an eye and he got the back of his head dribbled like a basketball. He deserves some extra $$$.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Nov 27, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions
Rich Franklin Adverse to Cold
“…Cincinnati can get pretty cold and I hate running and working out when the temperature is always zero.”
Having just watched Rocky IV, I have zero sympathy for Rich.
That’s right, I just compared a real fighter to an character in a movie.
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
They filmed that in above zero conditions. Rich is talking about brutal cold in the winter when you can get frostbite on your lungs from running.
Keep firing Assholes!
In Idaho, it's illegal to f--- a porcupine. You know why? Because someone tried it.
I believe Brett's comment was filmed in sarcasm land.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
by jemaleddin on Nov 27, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
where the laughter from this
echoes all the way to reality
"he's the best punchy face man in the buisness"
by blubber_guard on Nov 27, 2009 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
I mean, I actually did say “…I just compared a real fighter to an (sic) character in a movie.” That actually got posted, didn’t it?
Because I see it on my computer and I figured everyone else did as well, but apparently not.
...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
I can hear you typing but all I see is BLAH BLAH BLAH.
Or something. I’m not sure.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
What would you know about the cold noober? :)
by ufc4 on Nov 27, 2009 6:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
