"I got an autograph for you from UFC fighter Rich Franklin?? U want it??" That was the text message i received from my friends girlfriend about 2 hours ago. After calming myself down and sending a few inquiring messages of my own, I packed my little sister and two little cousins into my vehicle, and sped down to the restaurant where she worked, in hopes of intercepting the man himself before he could finish his lunch in peace and quiet. When i arrived at the new little restaurant, on the outskirts of my hometown which contains a minuscule six thousand people, it didn't take long for me to find him. Sure enough, there sat the former champ himself, enjoying a quiet meal with two others. I couldn't believe it.

I shuffled up, made a someone awkward entrance, and he then proceeded to shake my hand. My life had more or less been made. After shaking myself out of the fan stupor, I soon confirmed that Rich was as down to earth and friendly as many others have stated before. I asked him how his shoulder was doing, inquired about his up coming bout with Kung Le (his responses being 'its doing great!' and 'ya! just signed the fight!'), and then got some quick pictures taken, my trio of little ones included. I collected my autograph, my phone, and myself, and sat down to our own lunch, beaming for the entire meal.

Why he decided to stop in our quaint little town i don't know, but it was a brief experience i wont soon forget.