Rich Franklin

[grhunt]

Seeing that Anderson Silva looks to be staying at the top of the 185 division where does that leave rich? Does he win a few fights and get another crack at anderson, does he become a high level "gatekeeper" for the MW division, or does he go to the WEC to give their MW division greater talent and give the organization more marketability, or does he move up in weight and try his hand at 205? The guy is one of my favorite fighters and i don't want him to be passed over at 185 because anderson has his number. What does everyone else think?

Personally I think a move to the WEC is the best road for him, i think he would punish Filho for the title and reign supreme over there for a while and then come back to the UFC. Rich is a company man so i think anytime he wanted back dana would oblige.

[POINDEXTER]

I think he will fight 2-3 more fights and if he wins in a commanding fashion and if Silva stays in the division then they may fight again. Don't think the outcome will be much different though. If Rich cant fight for and win the title in 3-4 more fights then I think he retires and moves to the front office.

[2mcgrath]

yeah i think he will fight a few more fights and may try again,but then again he may go back to 205 but ethier way i guarantee he will never leave the ufc.i dont know if he will be a gate keeper or not because alot of people would have trouble getting by him

[Brutus]

If Rich Franklin is the gatekeeper @ 185 then there wont be any competition for A. Silva. I really dont see too many people getting past Franklin. He is still a fucking stud @ 85 he just ran into a complete buzzsaw in silva. Franklin vs Filho sounds interesting but he'll never head to the WEC IMO. there just aren't great matchups for him until he gets to the title shot.

[XitdiesXtodayX]

I really doubt Franklin would even consider moving to the WEC.No point in taking a huge step down in competition when the only man to really handle him the last few years his Silva.Plus we still havent got to see Henderson vs Franklin which to me would be one of the best match ups this year if it happens.

[mmasince91]

Originally Posted by Hunchbacked Lemur

If Rich Franklin is the gatekeeper @ 185 then there wont be any competition for A. Silva. I really dont see too many people getting past Franklin. He is still a fucking stud @ 85 he just ran into a complete buzzsaw in silva. Franklin vs Filho sounds interesting but he'll never head to the WEC IMO. there just aren't great matchups for him until he gets to the title shot.

Ya I don't see Rich as a gatekeeper and if he was thats one badass gate keeper. I think Franklin will hold a belt again at 185 just not until Anderson loses the belt.

[2mcgrath]

Originally Posted by XitdiesXtodayX

I really doubt Franklin would even consider moving to the WEC.No point in taking a huge step down in competition when the only man to really handle him the last few years his Silva.Plus we still havent got to see Henderson vs Franklin which to me would be one of the best match ups this year if it happens.

i agree i would love to see that fight,that has fight of the year written all over it

[grhunt]

I want to see rich rise to the top again and a fight with henderson is going to be amazing. i never saw rich being a gate keeper but i just through the idea out there and a move to the WEC was something that i saw for him just getting a belt, after i thought about it he needs to stay in the UFC he has no reason to leave. Rich is a stud at 185 his only loses have come from the hands of Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida he has many more great fights left in him and i can see him getting the belt back eventually as long as he doesnt run into any of andersons knees.

[Brutus]

Originally Posted by grhunt

I want to see rich rise to the top again and a fight with henderson is going to be amazing. i never saw rich being a gate keeper but i just through the idea out there and a move to the WEC was something that i saw for him just getting a belt, after i thought about it he needs to stay in the UFC he has no reason to leave. Rich is a stud at 185 his only loses have come from the hands of Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida he has many more great fights left in him and i can see him getting the belt back eventually as long as he doesnt run into any of andersons knees.

Also, his loss to machida was at 205 so the only real loss he's had at 185 was to silva. He's not a gatekeeper, he's not a WEC guy, he's kinda just a fighter that is stuck in a fucking frustrating spot. It really suck to me because the guy can really do no wrong in most peoples eyes. he's a class act in victory and defeat and IMO MMA could benefit from having more guys like him. I hope to see him at the top of the hill again but things look grim at the moment. maybe if the UFC makes that 195lb class he could capture that belt but we'll have to wait and see.

He's one of the best in the world and no, my opinion is not biased because he's one of my favs.

[kalebarker]

Originally Posted by Hunchbacked Lemur

Also, his loss to machida was at 205 so the only real loss he's had at 185 was to silva. He's not a gatekeeper, he's not a WEC guy, he's kinda just a fighter that is stuck in a fucking frustrating spot. It really suck to me because the guy can really do no wrong in most peoples eyes. he's a class act in victory and defeat and IMO MMA could benefit from having more guys like him. I hope to see him at the top of the hill again but things look grim at the moment. maybe if the UFC makes that 195lb class he could capture that belt but we'll have to wait and see.

He's one of the best in the world and no, my opinion is not biased because he's one of my favs.

I agree completely. The guy is great in victory and especially in defeat after his last fight. I loved how he told his home crowd to stop booing and that Silva was a geat champ. Franklin should never leave the UFC.