MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[Brutus]

Franklin ESPN.com

The road back to the cage after a devastating loss is a tough one, but it's also one Franklin has been down before.

It's fair to say that Rich Franklin's consecutive losses to Anderson Silva can be better put into context after UFC 82.

Silva dismantled Pride middleweight champion Dan Henderson in two violent rounds, stamping an iron fist over the middleweight division. And although Henderson fought admirably, Silva was simply on a different level as he showed an arsenal virtually unparalleled in MMA.

Silva conceded after the fight, however, that "Rich Franklin was my toughest test."

It was a huge compliment to Franklin, from whom Silva had taken the UFC belt and whom he defeated in the rematch months later. Losing to Silva was nothing to be ashamed of and such praise can be counted as a small victory in itself.

Still, Franklin is bitterly disappointed at the outcome of his fight with Silva in October 2007.

"It was very disappointing just because it was my second loss and it was a loss in my hometown," he said. "Those are the things that as a kid, you dream of; my opportunity came and I wasn't successful."

Although clearly frustrated with the losses, a level of acceptance can also be detected in Franklin's voice.

"I'd like to think that it was a mistake," he said of the outcome, "but after the second opportunity, I had to bow my head to Silva. Until I actually win a fight against Silva, hats off to him. He's the better fighter."

Franklin, right, is anxious to erase the memory of his KO defeat to Anderson Silva.
Franklin's edge over opponents is normally his intelligence. He lost that edge against the equally cerebral Silva.

"The problem with fighting Silva is that he is an intelligent fighter like myself," Franklin said. "When you're dealing with someone of his caliber, he is that much more of a difficult fighter to deal with."

Franklin may be bitter about what transpired that October night, but he isn't bitter toward the fighter he lost to. In fact, the postfight compliment Silva gave him has certainly given Franklin a boost.

Still, it was time to rebuild. But at 34, where is there to go? Franklin is not exactly young and, as a natural middleweight, it is unlikely he could make his mark in another division. Plus, it's hard to just get up and dust yourself off after a devastating loss like the one he suffered.

"I can't let myself hang on something like the loss, and you've got to keep moving on," Franklin said. "You need to do what you need to do in order to continue. That [loss] was in October and we're coming up on April."

B.J. Penn knows a thing or two about rebounding from devastating losses. He felt calling it a day was the last thing Franklin should do.

"I think that Rich lost to a great fighter in Anderson Silva," the multiweight champion told ESPN.com. "Rich is a tough guy, good striking, but overall, he's average. It's time for him to start getting really good in one area. I don't feel it's too late for him to do that."

For Penn, specialization is the key to Franklin's post-Silva career.

"For Rich, the best thing would be to start adding more weapons into his arsenal," Penn said. "If he wants to fight Silva again, he has to work on his wrestling takedowns and his grappling. Maybe it's time for Rich to go out and get his jiu-jitsu black belt."

With a fight scheduled with the crafty Travis Lutter for UFC 83, Franklin will embark on the second part of his career -- the part where he re-establishes himself as a potential champion.

Another victim of Silva, the 34-year-old Lutter is not a big striker, but he will present a number of problems for Franklin, particularly with his skills on the ground.

"This is one of those matches that I'm sure will be striker versus grappler," said Franklin. "I'm confident in my ground game, but the path of least resistance is to keep the fight standing, and that is what I plan on doing. The longer I am on the ground, the longer he has a chance to submit me."

And just in case Lutter thinks Franklin has lost his stomach for contact, he would be very much mistaken. Franklin's thirst for competition and victory is as strong as it's ever been.

"I haven't lost the fire or anything. I know I have at least a couple more years in me."

I was watching mma years before Rich Franklin stepped into the octagon w/ Ken Shamrock as a relatively unknown fighter and now he's talking about how he's only got a couple years left. Its strange to hear guys like franklin nad chuck, we all saw Randy call it the first time, say that they will be done in 2 or 3 years. I'm eaget to see who, if, anyone steps up to take the places of guys like these.

[hunterkiller]

I'm a big Rich Franklin fan. He's in a bad, bad spot right now. Anderson Silva has not 1 but 2 devastating wins over him and it looks like he will reign supreme for some time in that division. It would be hard for him to drop to 170, and to go up to 205, he would be smaller than them and Rampage has a stranglehold on that division. With only a few years left, I wouldn't mind seeing him go to a different organization and test the waters outside the UFC. I would also love to see a 3rd fight between the 2 but don't think the outcome would change any. Had Anderson Silva not come along, Rich would still own that division, Silva just came along at the same time and is just plain better.

[dbader08]

What B.J. said is 100% correct imo...

Rich is going to have to work on his ground game if he ever wants to beat silva..

Rich has good stand up and is a very big fighter at MW...but that can only get you so far...

he has been a very successful fighter when it comes to fighting average fighters or good fighters but Silva imo is the only great MW that he has ever fought...and he got destroyed twice by him...

maybe you can consider okami a great fighter...i'm not sure...but even okami would have beaten rich had he fought the whole fight like he did the 3rd round in their fight...and okami looked great against tanner, he actually came out agressive and put him away...

[killerinstinct]

He should go back to LHW. He may not be the best at that weight class, but one things for sure, he stands a better chance at becoming the LHW champ, than he does becoming the MW champ, so long as Anderson has the belt.

Plus there's some interesting matchups involving Franklin at 205. A Franklin/Chuck fight would sell a lot of ppvs and would be a good fight. A rematch with Machida would also be an interesting. I mean there's a lot of matches at that weight class that would be interesting.

[pa99ortiz]

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Franklin in the UFC. Has Rich ever considered switching camps and perhaps training at a facility like Xtreme Couture? Also good point dbader08, as stated by BJ Penn, Rich would have to work on his ground game if he ever wants to become champion again.

[Ramma]

It is a shame that with all the GSP/Serra hype, that Franklin/Lutter is lost amongst it.

I think BJ is right, he needs to get better in one area. Franklin is good everywhere, but not the best at anything. I disagree with Penn that Franklin should go for his BJJ BB.

Franklin has never been submitted, all 3 of his losses are TKO. I think Franklin needs to improve his stand up in the sense of defense, and adding weapons.

[dbader08]

his stand up is good and i can't see it getting too much better than it already is...

his ground game is what needs improvement...

...do you really think his best option is to stand with silva other than trying to work on his ground game and take silva down...even after we've seen him get absolutely destroyed twice standing up by him?

[CHUCKtheCHAMP]

rich imo needs to improve his wrestling and bjj...his stand up is decent but maybe his speed needs to improve as well...but if rich greatly improved his wrestling and bjj he coulod make another good comeback...

[dbader08]

AGreed^...

when you look at what rich needs to improve on, you need to look at A. Silva...thats the only fighter he hasn't been able to beat...

and he isn't going to beat him standing up...point being that his only real chance at ever beating silva is improving his wrestling and BJJ and beating Silva by taking him down and wearing on him...doesn't sound like rich but it's his only real chance if you ask me.

[The Natural994]

Shit, I mean if Franklin is going to beat Silva he is going to need to hope he catches Silva on his feet. Stylistically, it's just a horrible match up for Franklin.

Silva and Franklin both like to stand and we know how thats going to go every 99 out of 100x. Inspiring words from Penn...But, at 34, and Silva already being a bjj black belt...I think the only real weakness Franklin can exploit and work on against Silva is take down defense... But, once he gets him down, it's a matter of passing and not getting subbed which is a whollllllllllle other world.... He took Silva down somewhat easily in their second fight...But Silva never let Franklin even get close to any sort of gNp....and never let him get a chance to take him down again. I think against Silva you need to get him pressed up against the fence, use it to take him down, and by all means stay the hell away from that clinch.

That being said...I think a trilogy is inevitable. I see no way Lutter even comes close to stopping Franklin. From there, perhaps a Hendo v Franklin fight while Silva gets to avenge his dq loss to Okami....

Who knows though...We'll see....I mean there is clearly a mental block with Franklin against Silva. He panicked every time Silva went for the clinch in their second fight and when Silva was dancing avoiding Rich's punches and hk, it wasn't because Rich is that slow, it's because you can't throw punches and kicks that far away. He doesn't have the confidence to settle in and find his range like he does in all his other fights. He just can't get comfortable against Silva. It will be interesting to see if they fight again how Rich approaches it.