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[UFC Fann]

Yeah Henderson better not lose this one by gettin caught by a submission. Would hate to see his confidence/rep go down. Need to show the casual fans whats up with Hendo and how he rolls ! IMO I wish the UFC didn't put Henderson in title matches for his first 2 fights. Would have liked to see him whoop some ass before gettin those chances because now its do or die for him pretty much.

[neonatural45]

Can't believe no one has suggested that Franklin is ducking Henderson, how many fucking times was he offered to fight him? What, UFC 88 doesn't give him enough time to train either?

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by neonatural45

Can't believe no one has suggested that Franklin is ducking Henderson, how many fucking times was he offered to fight him? What, UFC 88 doesn't give him enough time to train either?

Has he actually been offered that fight and turned it down? What was his stated reason for doing so?

I don't see Rich as being someone to duck anyone, man. Anderson Silva rearranged his face for him and he couldn't wait to go back in the cage with him for a second helping.

[neonatural45]

Originally Posted by Diegonightmare

Has he actually been offered that fight and turned it down? What was his stated reason for doing so?

I don't see Rich as being someone to duck anyone, man. Anderson Silva rearranged his face for him and he couldn't wait to go back in the cage with him for a second helping.

No one in the UFC ducks someone who is the champ, most fighters only duck guys who have a good chance at beating them but they wouldn't gain any ground by winning (if that makes sense) . Rich is still #2 middleweight to the casual fan, and he doesn't want to risk getting owned by Hendo, and if he beat Hendo that wouldn't get him any closer to Silva.


He got offered to fight Hendo at 85 in the main event, and at the July 19th event. For both fights he said he didn't have enough time to prepare.

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by neonatural45

He got offered to fight Hendo at 85 in the main event, and at the July 19th event. For both fights he said he didn't have enough time to prepare.

Well for July 19th I agree with him. Vera also turned down a huge fight there, which is reasonable. And Wandy also turned down the fight there.

The UFC pulled the "Silva vs. Irvin" event out of thin air very close to the date of the fight...I don't blame anyone for not accepting an offer to fight there if they weren't already in great fighting shape.

How long before 85 was he offered the fight? I know there was a chorus line of fighters that had to pull out of that event for varying reasons...was Franklin offered a fight close to the date to try to fill one of those? If so, again I think that's reasonable. You don't just step in to fight a guy like Hendo - top 5 MW on anyone's list - on short notice if you don't feel like you're in shape.

I'm not really trying to defend the guy - I like Franklin and Hendo basically equally. I'm just interested in this because I hadn't really been aware of it as keenly as you clearly are.

[Dr. MMA]

Originally Posted by neonatural45

Can't believe no one has suggested that Franklin is ducking Henderson, how many fucking times was he offered to fight him? What, UFC 88 doesn't give him enough time to train either?

he was offered the july 19th event?

and Franklin is one of those guys that always wants a full training camp for his fight especially against high calibre fighters like Hendo. He wants to peak at the right stages. It's too harsh to say that he's ducking Hendo.

plus he wasn't offered the UFC 88 fight.

[neonatural45]

Originally Posted by Dr. MMA

he was offered the july 19th event?

and Franklin is one of those guys that always wants a full training camp for his fight especially against high calibre fighters like Hendo. He wants to peak at the right stages. It's too harsh to say that he's ducking Hendo.

plus he wasn't offered the UFC 88 fight.

I am not saying that Rich is afraid of Henderson, just that it is very fishy that this fight hasn't happened and that I am suprised no one is calling Rich a pussy. Does it not seem fishy for the UFC to offer this fight twice then all of a sudden switch Hendo's opponent to Palhares for no apparent reason? That sounds like a replacement to me.


Didn't Hendo accept both the UFC 85 fight and the July 19th fight too? It's hard to judge considering I haven't heard a word out of Franklin in a long time

[Dr. MMA]

Originally Posted by neonatural45

I am not saying that Rich is afraid of Henderson, just that it is very fishy that this fight hasn't happened and that I am suprised no one is calling Rich a pussy. Does it not seem fishy for the UFC to offer this fight twice then all of a sudden switch Hendo's opponent to Palhares for no apparent reason? That sounds like a replacement to me.


Didn't Hendo accept both the UFC 85 fight and the July 19th fight too? It's hard to judge considering I haven't heard a word out of Franklin in a long time

I don't know if the fight was ever offered for July 19th. I think it was a speculation started from a website of a possible Hendo/Rich main event. However, it was never offered. It was definitely offered for UFC 85 but Rich turned it down because he felt that he couldn't do two hard training camps back to back and have enough time to peak.

Did Hendo even comment on that one though? Can anyone confirm any of this, possibly with a link or something?

[neonatural45]

Originally Posted by Dr. MMA

Did Hendo even comment on that one though? Can anyone confirm any of this, possibly with a link or something?

There is a video in the vids section where he confirms that he was ready to fight at UFC 85, but that interview was probably done before the UFC decided to do a July 19th event

[Ramma]

I am w/ Dr. MMA on this one.


Franklin just fought less than 2 months ago. Being given a few weeks notice to prepare for Hendo and Hendo to prepare for Franklin is silly.

The guy would be fighting two completely different fighters back to back w/ having less time to prepare for the more dangerous fight.

In all honesty, that is a risky fight for Hendo more than it is for Franklin.

Franklin is coming off a win. If he loses to Hendo, no big deal. It is the 3rd person he has lost to in his career, all of which being top 10 fighters right now. If Hendo loses to Franklin, after just getting stopped by Anderson and losing to Rampage, don't be surprised if the UFC gives him the boot (which is completely unfortunate).

This would be an opportune moment for Franklin to fight Hendo because Hendo has all the pressure.

Saying Franklin is ducking Hendo is just plain silly.