UFC 99 Results: Rich Franklin Decisions Wanderlei Silva in Three Round Battle

by Kid Nate on Jun 13, 2009 5:49 PM EDT in MMA Events

3622505771_5b9614804e_medium Rich Franklin took a unanimous decision victory over the legendary Wanderlei Silva.

It wasn't the epic slug fest that Wanderlei Silva and the fans wanted, but it was a good back-and-forth fight with lots of action from both fighters both standing and on the ground.

In a fight between two former champions at the cross-roads, Rich Franklin came out and seized the center of the ring, using his range and southpaw stance to keep Silva on the outside. Franklin scored first with a straight left. Silva began moving forward, throwing looping rights. Franklin responded with kicks and overhands as Wanderlei tried to counter and fired with highkicks.

Silva caught a kick and took the fight to the ground. Franklin held guard as Silva looked to score from the top. Franklin fought back to his feet and Wanderlei dropped for a guillotine attempt. Franklin seized the advantage to score from the top, cutting Silva. After they returned to their feet, Silva waded in but neither man scored. After the round, Franklin told his corner he thought he broke Silva's nose.

In the second, Silva pushed forward as Franklin moved and countered, forcing Wanderlei to miss. As they exchanged, Franklin consistently scored while Silva missed, even dropping Silva with a jab. Silva visibly slowed as the round progressed and Franklin began to pick him apart. But then around the one minute mark, Silva caught Franklin with a hard right that buckled the American. From there the Axe Murderer went for the kill but Franklin was able to fend him off despite eating a couple of hard shots. Franklin then dropped Silva briefly with a high kick as they exchanged, preserving his claim on the round.

Silva looked exhausted as the final round began. Both men high fived in the middle to start the round before trading sloppily. Franklin scored several times as Silva stayed in the pocket. As the round wound down, Silva pushed forward and forced Franklin against the fence. After some exchanges in the clinch, Wanderlei roused the crowd and continued to stalk the elusive Franklin. But he wasn't able to force the definitive exchange he wanted so badly until the final minute when he drove Franklin against the fence only to be taken down by the American. Wanderlei stood up and they ended the fight with Franklin throwing punches and Silva throwing elbows towards his back.

UFC 99: The Comeback coverage

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Comments

I will repeat what I’ve said earlier, main event fights should be 5 rounds.

http://andheneverwilldies.ytmnd.com/

by monkeyfightclub! on Jun 13, 2009 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

I fear for the life of any man who’s reach is less than Wanderlei’s.

I thought the fight was competitive, and I actually thought Wand was gonna lose quick, because he looked a little sickly when hitting mits backstage and even during the walkout. Beats me, but he was game, and did better than I thought he would if Rich was to win.

by Kaleb Kelchner on Jun 13, 2009 6:16 PM EDT reply actions

Wand’s reach isn’t actually that bad, he just uses it poorly by squaring up and throwing mostly wide hooks.

At UFC 92 they listed his reach at 74" with Rampage at 73".

by bigweeze on Jun 13, 2009 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I’m not so sure Silva lost that last round. But it’s redemption for Franklin for the BS loss against Hendo.

by bigweeze on Jun 13, 2009 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

This fight was the first fight I ever recall Silva ever touching gloves at the start of the first round and the start of the third round. I found it strange that he did that.

http://andheneverwilldies.ytmnd.com/

by monkeyfightclub! on Jun 14, 2009 12:29 AM EDT reply actions