Franklin Departs Monday for Pre-UFC 77 Seclusion

Bullock · #1 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 06:57 PM

from http://mmajunkie.com/2007/09/21/rich...-77-seclusion/

Quote:

Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin, who’s set to face Anderson Silva next month in UFC 77’s main event, held a media day on Thursday afternoon at the Team Jorge Gurgel Training Center in West Chester, Ohio.

J.T. Stewart, Franklin’s publicity manager, put together the media session since Franklin soon takes off for three weeks of isolation in preparation for his Oct. 20 fight. With UFC 77 coming to Franklin’s hometown of Cincinnati, the top-ranked middleweight contender said he needed the seclusion to best prepare for the fight.

Franklin’s destination isn’t exactly known. Other than saying he’ll be heading to “the Western states,” Stewart has been fairly tight-lipped about Franklin’s itinerary.

However, Franklin said fans should have no worries about his training. All of his coaches and training partners will be joining at him at some point during the excursion, and some good friends and fellow UFC fighters will stop by to help him prepare.

“I’ve probably put more effort into this fight than any other one,” Franklin said. “With (the fight) being in my hometown, it deserves that type of respect. Not to mention (Silva) is the one who took my belt from me, so we’ve got some unfinished business to take care of on Oct. 20… but it’s mainly just about winning/“

In October 2006, Franklin suffered just the second loss of his career at the hands — and knees — of Silva. It took the Brazilian striker less than three minutes to dispose of what was arguably the UFC’s most popular and marketable fighter at the time.

However, Franklin said that it’s not a matter of revenge or redemption. He just wants the victory.

“I’m fighting for myself,” he said. “I don’t really care about beating Silva because he beat me. I don’t care about getting the belt back, necessarily. I just want to win because I like to win.“

To do that, he said he needed to distance himself from the daily demands that were mounting in the weeks leading up to his fight.

“It’s not just the PR work that’s distracting,” Franklin said. “It’s the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s checking emails when I get up in the morning and having to return business phone calls. Quite frankly, when I leave town on Monday and wake up on Tuesday, the only thing on my mind is my fight.

“Everything else can fall by the wayside.“

Noob · #2 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 07:00 PM

I like this idea for Franklin. Won't necessarily make him a better fighter than Silva, and it may not change a thing in the outcome of the fight, but it's still a good idea.

Reminds me of what Forrest was talking about in the All Access show. 'Singularity of purpose' he called it.

Good call Ace.

jedibaker · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 07:02 PM

Does anyone know if he has watched the Silva fight yet? I know he hadn't watched it for a long time, and I assume he has watched it to prepare for this fighte coming up.

Noob · #4 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedibaker

Does anyone know if he has watched the Silva fight yet? I know he hadn't watched it for a long time, and I assume he has watched it to prepare for this fighte coming up.

He said he didn't watch it for a few weeks after the fight. Wasn't interested in it, I think he said.

I'm sure he has watched it since. I seem to remember him saying he did, but I can't recall for sure.

Bullock · #5 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noob

He said he didn't watch it for a few weeks after the fight. Wasn't interested in it, I think he said.

I'm sure he has watched it since. I seem to remember him saying he did, but I can't recall for sure.

I was at the UFC 68 weigh-ins and I saw Franklin in the front rows when they played the UFC 68 Countdown special that had the whole bit about Franklin getting beat and it showed the whole thing. So he's seen it. He may not have studied it, but he has seen it. I witnessed him seeing it, LOL.

tmlfan · #6 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 07:11 PM

I like the Idea also, focus on one thing, training and winning.

I hope he has a very good gameplan because I dont think you can wing it against silva and expect to pull out a win. Man I am getting pumped for this fight.

War Franklin

CHUCKtheCHAMP · #7 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 07:23 PM

war rich...imo he'l have his belt back oct. 20th...

Bullock · #8 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 07:24 PM

I hope so. I will be there live so I will be going apeshit if he wins.

kylewyzle2005 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 04:37 AM

i agree. i hope rich dominates and avoids the clinch that got his whole world fucked up last time. war franklin!

jedibaker · #10 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 12:10 PM

I wonder what watching that does to his mental state? I think that is a question I would ask him. I really like Rich, he seems like a decent human being and the whole leaving the teaching gig for what he likes shows good character, imo. Even if he looses, I hope he makes a good showing and doesn't let that past fight get in his head.