Despite Move to Light Heavy Rich Franklin Is Still the Gatekeeper for Anderson Silva's Middleweight Belt
by Kid Nate on Jun 11, 2009 7:16 PM EDT
in MMA News
Email
Print
I don't think this fight makes sense for either fighter as a catchweight bout at 195lbs, but I'm glad we're going to get to see it. After his second loss to Anderson Silva, the UFC asked Franklin to move up to 205lbs. But ever since they've treated him as a kind of supplement to their 185lb class, having him fight top 185lb contender Dan Henderson at 205lbs in what was essentially a title contention eliminator fight for two divisions -- Henderson at middle and Franklin at light heavy. Franklin lost that one so now he's once again gate keeping for the 185lb belt against former light heavyweight Wanderlei Silva who is expected to get a title shot against Anderson Silva with a win.
For Wanderlei's part, hasn't the man earned a come back fight after going 1-4 in his last five fights? I guess when you're making the big money, you've got to fight the tough guys.
I can understand why they do this. Franklin vs Silva is a perfect fight to headline a European UFC -- compelling but irrelevant, would be a decent 2nd fight on a mid-tier U.S. card.
And if Wanderlei can blitz Franklin the way he did Keith Jardine, they just might have themselves a very marketable fight for middleweight champ Anderson Silva. I have no doubt that Anderson would not coast through a fight with a former team mate turned enemy like Wanderlei. And Wanderlei won't give that option either.
If the fight were held at 205lbs it would make perfect sense for Franklin. In fact it would be a bit of a "get over" fight that could begin to establish him in the division. If he beats Silva the way he's battered so many middleweights, Rich Franklin will be on his way in the Light Heavyweight division.
Its a good thing that Anderson Silva won't fight Lyoto Machida even for the 205lb belt. Because if Anderson destroys Forrest Griffin, he could easily be a threat to anyone at 205lbs and would once again threaten to run Franklin out of another division.
Photo by Tracy Lee via Combatlifestyle.com
19 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
well said , it is a strange fight to make but still it is a fight people want to see .lets hope for a good fight.
btw isn’t Wanderlei 2-4 in his last 6 fights ?
good catch
thanks!
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
I believe the reason Zuffa decided to have the fight at a 195lbs catchweight was Franklin was unwilling to cut to 185 and Silva didn’t want to fight at 205 because he was planning to move to middleweight. So in that sense the catchweight is at least understandable.
But I agree it would have been better if the fight was in an actual weight class.
yeah I understand that
I just think it would make more sense in one division or the other.
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
Wandy
is a HUGE draw who can produce exciting fights one after another after another. Win or lose we see fireworks. Dana and company must truly believe neither can win a title in either weight class. They both are popular even tho some skills have diminished.
The UFC will continue to cycle once great fighters (now good) to keep PPV revenues and salaries up. These fighters will now become a bridge from former greats to current greats. This will give casual fans the oppertunity to see the older fighters and introduce the new stars.
As much as I am looking forward to this fight, it doesn’t make much sense to me. I can see it being thrown together as a ppv draw, to a certain extent, but beyond that nothing. If Franklin loses, it will set him back a bit, but a couple of nice wins at 205 and he is right back in the mix. If he wins, it doesn’t catapult him forward much. As for Wandy, a win is huge, but may be hard to come by. He decides to drop to 185 and they throw this at him, a guy who was a huge 185 and is now a 205. The win may get him a shot at Anderson, which would be awesome, but a loss could be the end.
This just seems a huge risk for a great marketing opportunity of Silva vs Silva. Combine that with Maia/Marquardt, and I am really stunned by what the UFC has in line at 185. Here are 3 potential contenders being put out there and the possibility of only 1 making it through. Don’t get me wrong, both fights are awesome for us, I am just questioning where the UFC goes at 185 if Wandy loses combined with either Nate or Damien losing. Who gets the next shot after the Nate/Maia winner?
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
yes..
although i’ve also said that about ProfX vs McFedries and Arlovski vs rogers.
by Anton Tabuena on Jun 11, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, me too…
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Jun 11, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Its a good thing that Anderson Silva won’t fight Lyoto Machida even for the 205lb belt. Because if Anderson destroys Forrest Griffin, he could easily be a threat to anyone at 205lbs and would once again threaten to run Franklin out of another division.
youre right..i never thought of it like that before..
ohh come on now
Its a good thing that Anderson Silva won’t fight Lyoto Machida even for the 205lb belt. Because if Anderson destroys Forrest Griffin, he could easily be a threat to anyone at 205lbs and would once again threaten to run Franklin out of another division.
machida vs silva would be a matchup of argubaly the two most skilled fighters ever. it would be legend.
to say you’re glad it’s not gonna happen might be a good coping method but that’s about all it is.
and machida vs franklin would be just as brutal as silva vs franklin
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
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.
