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The former high school teacher and UFC middleweight champion seems to have nowhere to go.
Longtime mixed martial arts veteran Rich Franklin has competed in three different weight classes and has beaten or at least fought every recognizable name between middleweight and light heavyweight.
He doesn't seem to fit in any title picture at the moment and with more and more legends slowly fading, does Rich Franklin have anyone left to fight?
Does any opponent out there intrigue you enough to place money down to watch?
Is it time to fold or go all in for "Ace?"
Franklin made his debut into the shark infested waters of the UFC back in 2003 when he would defeat UFC Hall of Famer Evan Tanner decisively at UFC 42. He would then go on to face and dismantle Edwin Dewees at UFC 44 later that year.
Franklin would make his next fight against future UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. "The Dragon" overwhelmed Franklin and knocked him out at 2003 Inoki Bom-Ba Ye.
Franklin returned at UFC 50 and began his ascension up the rankings with wins over Jorge Rivera, Curtis Stout, UFC legend Ken Shamrock, Evan Tanner (again), Nate Quarry and David Loiseau.
Franklin was set to defend his title against easily his most feared opponent ever in international star Anderson Silva. The hardcores knew about Anderson Silva and other then a win over Chris Leben he was a relative unknown to a large amount.
The blazing muay thai of Silva proved to be far too much as he decimated Franklin in front of the widely stunned crowd in "Sin City."
The dominant run at middleweight was over for Franklin.
"Ace" got back on his saddle and defeated Canadian prospect Jason McDonald at UFC 68 in his home state of Ohio and then dispatched of Yushin Okami.
Franklin would get another shot against Silva and a chance to be UFC middleweight champion. The fight took place in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, at UFC 77.
The partisan crowd cheered frantically for Franklin hoping to see the hometown kid beat the impressive Anderson Silva.
Just like their first encounter Silva proved to be that much better and deadlier then Franklin. His technique was on a whole different level then anyone we had seen in the 185-pound ranks. The hometown crowd watched as their hero was stopped once again by the dangerous striker.
The truth is that he could seem to beat anyone at 185-pounds but not his arch rival in Anderson Silva. His war path could still be paved today until it bumps into Silva.
Franklin decided he wanted to play his hand in the light heavyweight division. This was attributed to the Silva losses and a hate for the weight cut to 185 pounds.
He would beat up Matt Hamill and lose by close decision to Pride FC legend Dan Henderson.
One for taking challenges, he faced another Pride FC legend in Wanderlei Silva at a catchweight of 195-pounds. He would go on to beat the ''Axe Murderer" by decision.
He would once again headline a UFC PPV at UFC 103 in Dallas. This was the promotion's debut in the "Lone Star State" and held an explosive main event.
Franklin fought UFC/Pride FC legend Vitor Belfort at a catchweight of 195-pounds. The weight class was starting to catch steam with Joe Rogen and some MMA pundits wondering if a super middleweight division should be instituted.
The bout showcased the "The Phenom" as he went into the shootout guns blazing. He would knockout Franklin in fashion earning himself a shot Anderson Silva a year later which he lost.
The Ultimate Fighter Season 11 would start with coaches Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. As the season was drawing to a close Ortiz suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw from his main event fight at UFC 115 against "The Iceman."
Franklin joined the foray as the replacement to face Liddell and even be coach for the last episode.
The UFC debut in Vancouver, BC, Canada, had its UFC 115 card headlined by two of the most dominant champions of their time. The fight lasted one round of guts and glory as Liddell seemed to have found his groove, even using a takedown rarely seen.
With a mere five seconds left in the round Franklin had knocked out Liddell with a short right. Franklin had done this with a broken arm and on short notice.
Franklin had fought four former champions in his past five fights. He was 2-2 between 205 and 195-pound fights and was getting a chance to inch closer into the stacked light heavyweight picture.
He would face popular fighter Forrest Griffin on the heavily stacked UFC 126 card. The fight was billed as two guys with very similar fighting styles but the main factor was not who was the best mixed martial artist.
Griffin used his huge body to bully Franklin out of the title hunt for the immediate future. Franklin was devastated and now sits at a fork in the road.
Does he venture back to 185-pounds and become the measuring stick? Or does he just wave around the giants of the light heavyweight division?
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