Rich Franklin vs Vitor Belfort to Headline UFC 103 at 195 Pounds
by Kid Nate on Jul 31, 2009 4:31 PM EDT
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The biggest news to come out of Dana White's exceptionally over-hyped press conference today is signing of Vitor Belfort vs Rich Franklin to headline September's UFC 103 in Dallas.
Rumors have long swirled that Belfort would be returning to the UFC. Dana White openly spoke of his desire to bring Belfort over even before Affliction's collapse.
The match makes sense as a much needed headliner for UFC 103. Belfort has name value with UFC fans and the acquisition of Affliction's highlight reels gives them plenty of fresh "Phenom" to hype on Spike TV. A Rich Franklin vs Dan Henderson rematch was not only a fight few wanted to see, but it had the potential to mess up a Dan Henderson vs Anderson Silva rematch for the 185lb belt.
After Henderson's "Declaration of Hen-dependence" win over Bisping, there is a good deal of marketability in that fight.
Meanwhile, Rich Franklin is doing just what they said they didn't want him to do -- serving as a gatekeeper for Anderson Silva's 185lb belt. Henderson passed the test -- even though he fought Franklin at 205lbs. Wanderlei Silva didn't quite pass the test -- at 195lbs -- but he did well enough to stay on the fringes of contention. Now Belfort, who turned down a 205lb match with Gegard Mousasi at Affliction: Trilogy will move back up to his old fighting weight, presumably just for this one fight. And if Vitor KTFO's Rich Franklin, we can expect a title shot at 185lbs to be in his future.
Even if he loses, unless Franklin destroys him, a rematch with Wanderlei Silva likely looms as a very marketable "senior circuit" match for Belfort.
It makes sense that the fight would be at 205lbs since Franklin has been preparing for a light heavyweight fight and its relatively short notice. Its easier for Belfort to not cut weight than for Franklin to shave off the muscle he's been putting on. Even when he was fighting at 185lbs regularly, Franklin was undergoing notoriously brutal cuts to make weight.
UPDATE: From Rich Franklin's Twitter feed:
Just found out i will b fighting vitor at a catch weight of 195 as per his request.
This makes sense given Vitor's refusal to fight Mousasi at 205lbs. More confirmation that Rich Franklin is the gatekeeper of the middleweight division. And hey, if he's headlining PPVs and putting on great fights, there's no shame in that.
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Must be a Freudian slip…how ironic is it that if Silva beats Griffin, he’ll be Top 5 in the division that Franklin moved to to AVOID Anderson?
That is pretty funny, actually. Still personally hoping for Anderson vs Machida before all is said & done.
Keep Swillin',
Bruz
They said they’re not gonna stand for “friends” or training partners saying they don’t wanna fight each other & that the best fights WILL get made…
So I’m hoping for the Silva vs GSP superfight first (they both cleaned out their respective divisions – but now we gotta wait for Silva vs Henderson 2 & Silva vs Maia/Marquardt – no complaints from me on either of those, tho!)… Machida’s got a ways to go before clearing out the 205 lb division, but if Anderson beats Forrest he jumps up towards being a top contender anyway
Keep Swillin',
Bruz
Overhyped?
Reading all you guys’ tweets, it seemed like a lot of news for one press conference. From Fedor, to Japan, to Tito, multiple fighter signings from Affliction’s ashes, and Vitor vs. Franklin at 103? That seems to be a lot of on-the-record info from the UFC for one day.
A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who
sure but he built it into something so big
that a network deal featuring Fedor vs Brock vs Tito vs Belfort at the same time would be the only way to live up to the hype.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
The M-1 call was overhyped. This one not so much.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
You mean WE built it into something so big. The only reason people are let down is because they paid too much attention to the media hype and the Fedor situation.
"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate
by Kaleb Kelchner on Jul 31, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh dear, just saw you warned a guy for putting words in your mouth…sorry if my statement (the whole, you mean thing) was over the line.
"You guys are jerking eachother off with some pseudo deep bullshit." - Kid Nate
by Kaleb Kelchner on Jul 31, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions
not at all.
Farthammer said I only cared about Vitor was because he was in the UFC. That’s patently bullshit. I’m the furthest thing from a UFC apologist. We leave that to Subo and Logic.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
Oh, is that what I am?
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 31, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 31, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
put some smileys in there
if you want to fuck with me.
it’s been a long day.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
Fair enough. I just hate smileys – it makes me feel like a 12-year old. Or Supremacy.
Just know that 90% of my comments are jokes. The other 10% are my feelings on a fight or a subject. But I would never insult someone in a non-joking manner over the internet.
BOOSH
We leave that to SuPreMaCy
I don’t think they’re actually going to let him kill me... And if he does kills me, book sales will really go up. Boom…win-win, bitch.- Forrest Griffin on Anderson Silva
by ufc4 on Jul 31, 2009 5:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Fedor vs. Brock vs. Tito vs. Belfort
BATTLE ROYAL!!! That would undoubtedly live up to the hype.
"He hit like a bitch."
tito actually has a chance in that one
Wait for Fedor and Belfort to die in the explosion caused by fighting Brock. Its the Decision win of battle royals!
Exceptionally overhyped?
Hype and disappointment are standard with all of Dana’s announcements. He’s never really said anything earthshaking during any of his announcements.
But onto the fight; Vitor never did well at 205, which is why he moved down to middleweight. I have a feeling he’s going to disappoint and leave us wanting the “old vitor” once again. 185 would be a totally different story, which is the weight he should stick at.
by cyke on Jul 31, 2009 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
What changed?
Nate,
Back when Vitor KOd Lindland, you had a post mocking the “Vitor is back” notion
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/1/26/736669/the-old-vitor-belfort-is-b
Now you’re quite excited about Vitor vs. Franklin. What has changed your opinion in the interim, given Belfort hasn’t fought since?
your reading comprehension is weak
My analysis of Franklin vs Belfort is all about marketability.
Belfort’s always been marketable — when he’s winning.
The point of my old post was that the performance vs Lindland was exactly the kind of quick and easy flash KO win that made people over hype Belfort in the first place.
Here’s the point of my post:
1. is the ‘old’ Vitor back?
2. did the move down to 185lbs unlock his potential at last?
3. will Vitor re-sign with the UFC and fight Anderson Silva?
4. Could Vitor be the man to finally dethrone Silva?
Quick answers: 1. yes, he never left. 2. maybe, too soon to tell. 3. possibly and 4. no.
Where’s the contradiction?
Here’s what I said I’d like to see from a “new” Vitor:
I’m not impressed by the return of the “old” Vitor — the guy who gets quick wins over opponents who charge right into his wheelhouse.
I’m eager to see a “new” Vitor — a fighter who can sprawl and evade takedowns, a fighter with a strong enough guard to not just survive but be a threat off his back, and most of all a fighter with the heart to go into the championship rounds hurt and still be a formidable offensive force.
Ironically he showed a lot of that against Terry Martin, a much more impressive win for Vitor IMO than the Lindland victory.
And Farthammer, putting (stupid) words in my mouth is a bannable offense. Consider yourself warned.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
Ok
It seemed to me that he was joking, but I don’t see any smilies. I could be wrong.
Oh, AnonymousA. You went for a while without fucking up.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 31, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
oh....well i see you point for getting mad.
being acused of something im not gets under my skin too.
i really hate how they are using Franklinm right now.
It is sadly funny that he is fighting at 205, but gatekeeping for 185.
by Razreshat on Jul 31, 2009 3:33 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
this is one of those fights where i dont know who to go for....
1) i like rich, he is a good guy and i dont want him to lose his last fights and to be a gatekeeper(which is what is gana happen to him)
2) i want vitor to fight anderson, but if he losses to rich, what then, how meny fights does the have to win to get anouther shot at the title
at this point
I’m pulling for Vitor since Rich seems to have no career momentum at the moment. If they let him face some contenders at 205 and he does well, then I’ll start pulling for him again. 185 is in desperate need of marketable opponents for Anderson Silva. Its hard to forgive Rich for not getting KO’d by Wandy. LOL
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
haha, thats not very nice:)
and your right, 185 is in dire straights and vitor is a perfect challange who is somewhat well known in the general puplic and is no push over.
Potential Timeline
1. Anderson vs Griffin at 205
2. Vitor vs Franklin at 205
3. Henderson vs Anderson for 185 title
4. Vitor vs Wanderlei at 185
5. Maia/Marquardt vs Anderson for 185 title
6. Anderson vs Vitor for the 185 title
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
by Blackout612 on Jul 31, 2009 4:04 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
"4. Vitor vs Wanderlei at 185"
as much as i like both fighters, how much fun would it be to see wanderlei get some payback by bumrushing vitor into oblivion?
I’d be a liar if I said I wouldn’t love to see that happen. I miss Wanderlei.
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
I just hit a tin can with a fire axe for old times sake.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
I just hit atintomato can with a fire axe for old times sake.
Fixed.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 31, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Vitor vs Wanderlei at 185
That could be a really short fight.
I like using semi-colons; they make me feel smart.
As much as I love this match
isn’t it just weird that winning a match at 205lbs would make you a top contender in the 185lb division?
It helped Henderson.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
by Derek Suboticki on Jul 31, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
Stupid UFC.
Nick Diaz over Frank Shamrock at MW – 04/11/09
Nick Diaz over Scott Smith at MW – 06/06/09
Nick Diaz vs Jay Hieron Strikeforce Welterweight Title Fight Slated for August 15th.
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
by Blackout612 on Jul 31, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
WW = 170. MW = 185. Both catch-weights were 180. That makes him a contender at 170? Cool. Now I know you..
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
ok
but if you do MMA math, now bear with me, 180 is 2/3 of the way to 170. And he fought some pretty high ranking (in the Strikeforce promotion) fighters. So Diaz get’s some leeway into the Welterweight division.
But really it’s all about marketability for the promotion. Who else do they have that can really sell a welterweight title?
Revisit the original comment
You’re the one that said it would be weird for Vitor to gain cred at MW for winning at LHW. I personally think Diaz/Hieron and Vitor/Franklin are great fights.
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
I also said i love this matchup
and by my pic you may notice I’m a Diaz fan.
But I just think it’s more credible for Diaz to get contendership of the Strikeforce welterweight title with his catch weight wins than for Belfort to get a shot at the UFC middleweight title for beating just deafting Franklin. Especially since the UFC has quite a few contenders in that division right now.
Jumping to conclusions
My point is to illustrate that you’re probably setting up camp on one side of the fence, and it seems I’m right. I didn’t say you don’t like the match-ups (i specifically said that I do), but you’re making subtle stabs at the validity of the fight, even though it’s quality matchmaking and Vitor will have no problems whatsoever returning to 185 and potentially being a contender there. What makes you think he’s getting an automatic title shot if he wins this fight?
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
The article said a win over Franklin would land Belfort a title shot at the Welterweight belt which I don’t is deserved.
Umm
Welterweight? Real good..
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
Pretty much
They called it catch, but both were contested at 180.
"The reason a rabbit outruns a fox is because the rabbit is running for his life and the fox is running for his dinner."
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