UFC on Fuel TV 6 Recap: The End of Rich Franklin Era
Posted on November 12, 2012, 06:43 PM by Andreas Hale
You can't help but to love Rich "Ace" Franklin. The former math teacher turned MMA fighter has had a great career and the portfolio to prove it. Victories over the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Chuck Liddell, Yushin Okami, Evan Tanner, Ken Shamrock and Marvin Eastman coupled with some sizzling knockouts of Nate Quarry and the aforementioned Liddell make Franklin one of the more decorated fighters in MMA. We can't forget that if it wasn't for some guy named Anderson Silva, Franklin's middleweight title reign could very well have lasted much longer than the two he had before The Spider became the best fighter in the world.
For all that he's accomplished, it was hard to see Franklin laying face down on the canvas after a Cung Le punch flatlined the former champ. At this point in his career, Ace has to put some serious consideration into calling it a career at 38. A look at his last seven fights is evidence that perhaps the time has come for Franklin to hang up the gloves.
After starting his MMA career at 26-3, with his only losses to Silva (twice) and Lyoto Machida, Franklin has gone 3-4 with knockout losses to Le and Vitor Belfort. Le's looping punch that sent Franklin crashing to the canvas was a shock because we hadn't seen the middleweight look so helpless. Even the loss to Vitor Belfort could be forgiven considering the lethal weapons that the Brazilian has connected to his arms. But the Le punch just didn't appear to be something that Franklin couldn't withstand.
Realistically, the loss signals that Franklin has come to the end of his rope. Sure, there are still some competitive fights out there but we don't want to see Franklin go out like Chuck Liddell did. With The Iceman, we all saw the signs. The Rashad Evans knockout gave us a tap on the shoulder, the Shogun Rua screamed in our ear and the Franklin knockout was the one that said "please retire before you get seriously hurt."
Ironically, Franklin was the one to sweep the remnants of Liddell from the UFC. And now Le may be the one that punctuates the statement that says "Hey Rich, time to go home."
We wouldn't be surprised if Franklin continues his career and comes up with some big wins. You know, because he's Rich Franklin. But to see him face plant in a heap is a visual we don't need to see again.
Comments
Rich franklin simply got caught. he threw a leg kick with his hands down....
Rich won't retire on this loss. he will watch the tapes and get back in camp to redeem himself. Rich was looking solid until he got caught.
agree completely, its easy to say 'oh, he went 3-4', but if you look at those fights, the other losses came against a much bigger forrest and a split against hendo that loads of people thought he won
just to put it in perspective, after he lost to jones lyoto machida was 1-3 in his last 4 with the win coming against a fading couture, but i didnt hear people saying machida should hang it up
a dragon doesn't retire, it just weathers storms
I find this article ridiculous. Vitor is a monster and getting caught on the chin while coming forward with a clean solid hook would take most people out. If he gets KO'd in his next fight, I might have to agree, but as of now I think he's still a competitive fighter
Agreed. That said, Franklin has gotten rocked a lot lately. Wandy almost had him finished too.
For those about to rock...we salute, you.
One thing no one has mentioned is that Rich looked a bit gaunt in this fight. I wonder how his cut went. He may have had a bad cut or just be too old to cut weight. Personally, I think he just got hit with a very clean and well timed punch but you have to wonder what other factors came into play. If I were in his shoes I definitely wouldn't retire after that fight but another KO or two would convince me.
Rich was caught plain and simple.. He looked awkward throwing that kick and made the most basic mistake of not covering up when he threw a kick. I don't think he will retire BUT it wont surprise me either if he did retire either way the man is a warrior.
Don't agree with this article, I'd put Franklin in top 15 maybe even top 10 of MW.
Guy is a beast and still has a decent chin, yes he goes out on solid clean punches but so do most people.
Franklin could still content for a title if he just tightens up those mistakes he occasionally makes
Top 5 Keith? Are you on crack?
Seems that you are.
I get the feeling someone is underestimating Le's punching.
Bad idea
That Fuccccin' Punch was VICIOUS and would've probably KO's 9 out of 10 MMA fighters... it was Fucccin' BEAUTIFUL! I feel like a lot of reporters are downplaying the force that was behind that punch. Cung had the kitchen sink behind that punch! It was perfect... that does not mean Franklin is a washed up fighter! He just got punched HARD !!!!
I must have been sleeping the whole Rich Franklin era because I either missed it or it never existed
You're living under a rock!! Franklin was the Middleweight KING before Silva!
I think the Ace still has some shit to give MMA,some win's would be the way to go,it's just hard to say that Rich is dune when he realy has given a lot to the sport.And this thing with GSP and the Spider jeessuuss this is a joke how in the hell do you expect GSP to fight a guy that easily walks around at 220-240,when GSP walks around at 170-180,its a god dam joke.If this is allowed to take place,you will surely know that it has nothing to do with sport,only Fu...king money,now that to me is sad!