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[The Iceman]

CINCINNATI — Saturday's Ultimate Fighting Championship event at Cincinnati's U.S. Bank Arena exposed the massive talent gap between Anderson Silva and the sport's other middleweights.

Former champion Rich Franklin was considered the man most likely to defeat the shockingly well-rounded Brazilian striker.

He didn't.

Instead, the 16,054 fight fans who packed Cincinnati's riverfront venue (and the millions more who watched on pay-per-view) witnessed a similar – though slightly longer – version of Silva and Franklin's first fight from 12 months prior. Working from the clinch and delivering a brutal series of knees and crisp punches, Silva (20-4) dropped Franklin and forced a referee's stoppage for the second-round TKO victory.

With the loss, Franklin falls to 22-3.

Soon after the main-event fight came reports of the 33-year-old's possible retirement.

Those reports were premature.

"Rich still has a lot left to accomplish in this sport," said J.T. Stewart, Franklin's publicity manager. "It's too early for him to even consider retirement at this point."

Likewise, UFC President Dana White – the fight executive who strategically blueprinted Franklin's rise to the top – says he'll be there no matter how far Franklin may fall.

"Rich Franklin will always be a part of this organization," White said. "He's one of the team players here in the UFC, and he's going to be here forever."

Despite the job security, Franklin's unlikely to get another title shot anytime soon. With two losses to Silva, Franklin's unlikely to get a third. He'll need the belt to change hands. But after Silva's performance on Saturday, the thought of anyone beating Silva seems downright absurd.

White, though, remains optimistic.

Among the names he tossed around in a post-UFC 77 press conference was Thales Leites (12-1), a submission specialist with four straight victories in the UFC. He also mentioned recent UFC signee Ricardo Almeida (8-2) and the talented, though oft-injured, David Terrell (6-2).

The most impressive of the bunch, though, is Dan Henderson, a two-time Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler.

However, White would first need Henderson to agree to a contract extension — not to mention an equally difficult task of convincing the fighter to drop from the 205-pound division to 185 pounds.

"I want to head butt the guy every time I talk to him," said White. "He could be a force at (185), and it'd be a great match-up (with Silva). But he's very hard-headed."

http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/con...207inside.html

[TravelinMonty]

It just sucks for Franklin that the division is so thin.

[Gmunit]

Originally Posted by TravelinMonty

It just sucks for Franklin that the division is so thin.

its not Franklin's fault that he and Anderson are so much better than the rest of the pack (a few guys are arguable, but for the most-part, i mean)

[johnny Boom]

I can see the middleweight division being very stagnant for awhile. There's alot of talent there but no one with enough to stop Silva. The guy right now is unbeatable. Maybe Henderson moving down to fight Silva is the only way for the belt to be taken since I don't see any of the current middleweights doing it.

[Paytheplayer]

I like Franklin a lot, but when you have to hope for someone to beat the champ so you maybe have a chance, I dont think you're really a champion. Yes it happens sometimes when someone just has your number, but in that case, you're obviously not the best in your division. I mean even if Hendo moves down and DID take the belt from Silva, then what? Franklin wins a couple, gets a shot and even if he beat Hendo, Silva gets a shot at him again? It doesnt seem too deserving if you wait for someone to beat him then try to steal the belt from the guy who did it. Overall the whole situation just seems to not stack up in Franklins favour. Even a move to LHW seems ridiculous seeing how stacked that division is. Mind you, I would love to see Franklin vs. Chuck, Wandy, Rampage basically any of the top 10 in the division, but how realistic is it for him to be a top 5 in the division? I think his best move is WW but it might be a tough task seeing as hes a huge 185er. But itd be great to see him match up against Hughes, St.Pierre and Serra. But regardless here's hoping the besr for Rich.

[Warchief]

There will be more fights coming. This won’t be his last fight in the UFC, that’s for sure…. He has been knocked down off the top of the ladder but he’ll work his way back up. He’ll recover. You’ll see a lot more of Rich in the future, that’s for sure.”

J.T. Stewart — the publicity manager for Rich Franklin — refutes claims that surfaced after his second brutal loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 77 this weekend that he would retire from the sport.

http://ufcmania.com/2007/10/22/manag...ely-to-retire/

[TN94z]

That is good to hear. I am a huge Franklin fan and want to continue watching him fight. The only problem is I don't think he can beat Anderson.

[The Iceman]

Originally Posted by johnny Boom

I can see the middleweight division being very stagnant for awhile. There's alot of talent there but no one with enough to stop Silva. The guy right now is unbeatable. Maybe Henderson moving down to fight Silva is the only way for the belt to be taken since I don't see any of the current middleweights doing it.

I love the idea but Henderson won't move down. UFC should have been signing new talent for that division

[Jem7dbk]

Originally Posted by TN94z

The only problem is I don't think he can beat Anderson.

I'd say thats a safe bet at this point.

[Hierophant]

I want to see more of Ace in the octagon.

But its silly if he's sitting at home right now thinking, "Man, I felt so prepared for that fight when I sparred with Joe Riggs. What happened?"

Change camps, and try again!