Per Rich’s website. www.richfranklin.com

Spoke with Monte (my manager) Saturday evening and that conversation eluded to the fact that Kampman may be out. Monday,I was told he would be replaced with a top 10 opponent, and Okami was presented as the likely possibility. Later that day we found out Okami signed. From my end, the contract remains the same, and I’m still excited to fight June 16th in Belfast. My camp will make some changes in my training as well as develop a new strategy to approach this fight. However, I was and will continue preparing a fight…not a person.
Posted by Rich

This would be a very good fight, franklin being a big middle weight, might pose some problems for okami who counts on his strength to dominate fighters.

Im not trying to take anything away from Okami, or Japanese fighters for that fact. But when you face someone that walks around at 185 against someone that walks around at 200-210lbs, the bigger, stronger fighter is normally the victor. Franklin is going to be as aggressive as ever in this fight, and the coming fights… Good luck with Okami overcoming Franklin’s really deep fighting talents.

This fight would have been Mike Swick vs. Franklin but Okami beat the hell out of Swick. Swick’s punching speed and Franklin’s tendency to stand up would make have made things more interesting. Okami is going to try to muscle Franklin into the GNP but he’ll get GNP’d instead. Okami should train 100% on the head kick because that is his only shot.

True more size usually does indicate more strength but I know from experience… not always. I have seen smaller guys out lift much bigger guys, so even though size is a good indicator its not an absolute.

Yea, Swick would of made for an awesome fight as well, but too bad he LOST! Okami and Franklin should be a great one to watch. GO Franklin

AWESOME! Now the fight is actualy worth watching. Kampmann would have been destroyed.

Looking forward to this fight, Im a big supporter of Okami so its good to see him get this match…

This would be a very good fight, franklin being a big middle weight, might pose some problems for okami who counts on his strength to dominate fighters.

Okami is a big middleweight also…and the way Franklin was thrown around the oct by Silva better train hard for this boy he is strong!

This is a totally different fight for Rich to train for, but like mania said the winner will be undoubtably numero uno contender…..this will be an exciting fight, they are both big strong 185, Rich has the better standup, Okami has the better wrestling gnp….I think Rich can keep it standing, and pick Okami apart like he has done to many before, I give it to Rich tko 3rd round…..Side note, depending on the severity of kampmanns injury, this sets up Swick vs Kampman…i think that would be an awesome fight

nice they took a fight that didn’t mean jack and not only made it very interesting but made it a legitimate #1 contender match.
they must’ve noticed how unhappy everyone was

nice they took a fight that didn’t mean jack and not only made it very interesting but made it a legitimate #1 contender match.
they must’ve noticed how unhappy everyone was

i agree, this card just got better. its still weak but at least its free on spike. its pretty much just another ufn.

Side note, depending on the severity of kampmanns injury, this sets up Swick vs Kampman…i think that would be an awesome fight

Now that you mention it, hell yeah that would be a good fight. My assessment of both of those guys (Swick and Kampmann) is great talent, but a bit undersized. If they fought than I think it truly would be a 185lb fight.

I think this is the best thing that can happen.

I love this fight. Okami should have been fighting Rich in the first place! I agree that the card is still weak as hell but its mainly the fault of the UFC putting on so many shows. It worked out nice that Okami was ready to go but other than him their was really no body else to fight. Swick already said that hes dropping to 170 which is smart on his part. If he had a hard time with Okami than Rich would have TKO’d him in the first!

this is def a better main event than rich vs. kampmann…this card is weak, but not because there aren’t good fighters on it, there just aren’t many good fights, so maybe we’ll get to see some nice highlight reel KO’s or subs, theres forrest, mcdonald, tyson griffin, ed herman, undefeated jake obrien, these guys are good and this is like a showcase card for these guys who all could use either more recognition or a highlight style W, its free so there’s not much to complain about it, forrest needs a big win after the loss to the dean, mcdonald needs to get back on the winning track after getting moved up to a fight with franklin and losing, tyson griffin is coming off a loss to frankie edgar is a very exciting fight that he was supposed to win so he needs to get a W, ed herman is always fun to watch and jake obrien needs to win over some more fans and prove he can be exciting in victory too, i’m kind of looking forward to watching these guys…as for rich vs. okami, thats about as good as it gets right now in the mw division, so what more can you ask for there???

Keep an eye on this guy:
http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=8592
Marcus Davis from season 2 of TUF has really run off a nice string of wins ( 8 ) since losing to Snowflake Guillard. I think he’s ready to start climbing the ladder in the 170lb division.

Yeah, the switch to Okami is much better. I want Okami to win, but I don’t think he will.

Now here is my jerk question for the UFC know it alls.

Why does Rich Franklin have to do two non-title fights in order to be the #1 contender, When Matt Hughees has to fight someone who isn’t even in the UFC top 10 (Chris Lytle is awesome, don’t get me wrong). Kinda messed up, don’t you think? Especially since the welterweight division is stacked with talent, while the middleweights pale in comparison.

I know the answer is… to sell tickets.

Yeah, the switch to Okami is much better. I want Okami to win, but I don’t think he will.

Now here is my jerk question for the UFC know it alls.

Why does Rich Franklin have to do two non-title fights in order to be the #1 contender, When Matt Hughees has to fight someone who isn’t even in the UFC top 10 (Chris Lytle is awesome, don’t get me wrong). Kinda messed up, don’t you think? Especially since the welterweight division is stacked with talent, while the middleweights pale in comparison.

I know the answer is… to sell tickets.

You are talking about a fighter that is 41-5 and totally dominated his several reigns are UFC title holder, compared to a fighter that only had the belt for what? 3-4 defenses?

People are too quick to judge, Hughes is one of the GREATEST fighters that has ever lived…. period. This guy deserves EVERYTHING he has gotten…

call me crazy but i think this will be a easy night for franklin i thin k he can stuff his take downs and out muscle him… but i want okami to win because i dont like franklin he too nice its seems hes just way too fake i dunno both great fighters though

I just want to say that this will not be a career ender/breaker to the loser of this fight. If Frankilin loses, then to hell with all those “he’s washed up” or “he’s past his prime” commments. Rich Frankilin is one of the best MMA fighters in the world and of all-time and by no means is his career “over” if he loses this match. He will redeem himself.

If Okami loses this fight, he has nothing to worry about in terms of how this will impact his career. He’s like 25 and has a bright future ahead of him and has a lot of fight left in him as well. By no means is his career “over” if he loses. He too will redeem himself.

BTW, which one’s a better stroyline in case Silva wins at UFC 73? Okami getting a well-deserved rematch and winning the proper way, i.e. no DQ, or Frankiln trying to avenge a loss to Silva? I think they’re both good storylines.

You are talking about a fighter that is 41-5 and totally dominated his several reigns are UFC title holder, compared to a fighter that only had the belt for what? 3-4 defenses?

People are too quick to judge, Hughes is one of the GREATEST fighters that has ever lived…. period. This guy deserves EVERYTHING he has gotten…

Agree’d. Hughes deserves a sooner title shot than any X champ. And yeah this is a lot better. The two top contendars actually fighting for title shot. Nice.

dazzle, im just the opposite of you, i want rich to win and think it will be a hard fight for him…too nice??i dont get that….luppers, good summary, Hughes dominated welterweight for what like 5 years, he deserves a title shot until he is no longer capable of competing….Not to mention Rich would rather have a couple more fights to prove he deserves a shot again, Hughes has already earned it regardless of what anyone says

Yeah, the switch to Okami is much better. I want Okami to win, but I don’t think he will.

Now here is my jerk question for the UFC know it alls.

Why does Rich Franklin have to do two non-title fights in order to be the #1 contender, When Matt Hughees has to fight someone who isn’t even in the UFC top 10 (Chris Lytle is awesome, don’t get me wrong). Kinda messed up, don’t you think? Especially since the welterweight division is stacked with talent, while the middleweights pale in comparison.

I know the answer is… to sell tickets.

Yeah, Luppers pretty much summed it up. But to add, Franklin also asked to not get a shot right away. He talked about needing to strengthen his MT and BJJ.
Hughes should have had an immediate rematch, he is one of the all-time greats, love him or hate him, you have to respect his accomplishments. Rich, well, not many great UFC 185ers at the time, so his title defenses are pretty suspect. If he does regain his title, then he will have fought or will need to fight Okami, Kamp, Nate, Silva, and a slew of Pride 185ers in the future. Only then can you start to call RF one of the great MW’s. Can you imagine Ryo vs Franklin? Holy shit.

I think this is a better match by far… Okami is big enough to compete with Franklin, but Kampman was too small. Okami is strong! We heard Swick mentally defeated after the first round with total shock in his voice…“he’s too strong” I’m surprised with this match. I gues the UFC only wants 1 185 lber to be in top title contention.

Awesome!!
Everyone talks about how well rounded Rich is. Here is an opportunity for us to see if it’s true if it goes to the ground. Okami stand up is not that good, but he was killing my boy Swick when he got him trapped on the ground. Rich is as strong as it gets at 185 lbs, I see a TKO in second round or early third by Rich. But It should be a great fight.
I love this match up.

mtu…funny you mention chonnen, i was just watching his fight at Bushido with Ricardo almeida…do you know where Almeida is now…did he did die or get injured or something??

i agree, this card just got better. its still weak but at least its free on spike. its pretty much just another ufn.

Franklin is going to throw bombs on Okami and Okami won’t be able to take him down. Okami is like McDonald and this won’t be much more than Franklin standing over Okami on his back, pounding away until its stopped.

I’d like to see Swick against GSP at 170. I like both of them.

Okami is no McDonald….hes a lot stonger with better wrestling and better striking

Martin Kampmann, with all due respect to him and his supporters, is not much of a fighter in my humble opinion. The Franklin fight would have been the end for him … I think he got lucky in his previous fight and will not last long here on out anyway. Remember I posted this here when we don’t see much of him again :).

I’m glad it worked out this way. The Okami fight is a much tougher fight for Rich, and at the obvious better for the sport and fans. This fight was going to have to happen sometime, and Okami is a better fighter than Kampmann. This made the card better in my opinion. I still feel the card is missing another big fight

They should throw in Vera/Kongo or something like that. They probably won’t just because Forrest is fighting.

yeah stafo…what if tyson griffin fought someone like huerta, and obrien vs vera, thatd be cool

i think i like this fight better than the one originally scheduled.

Franklin is going to throw bombs on Okami and Okami won’t be able to take him down. Okami is like McDonald and this won’t be much more than Franklin standing over Okami on his back, pounding away until its stopped.
I’d like to see Swick against GSP at 170. I like both of them.

I agree, I think this fight will not go much differently than the Rich/Jason M. fight did. Rich should not have much of a problem. Although I do think this will be better than Kampman, at least Okami is a actual contendar right now.

Okami is no McDonald….hes a lot stonger with better wrestling and better striking

Okami is exactling McDonald, just traded a little Jui-Jitsu technique for wrestling and strength.

They should throw in Vera/Kongo or something like that. They probably won’t just because Forrest is fighting.

Like Joe Rogan said, “somebody PLEASE kidnap Kongo and take him to wrestling camp for 6 months”. I really hope I don’t see Kongo again until maybe October. Dude is an awesome striker but without the other tools in his tool box, he looks like a tool out there. Asserio Silva just took him down at will. With more broad training, he will look like a big-ass version of Anderson Silva and possibly be the next dominating heavyweight. I’d like to see Kongo and a Tim Sylvia sans baby fat pound each other for the title.

yeah stafo…what if tyson griffin fought someone like huerta, and obrien vs vera, thatd be cool

 Yea those would also work great. I mean it’s a free event so it’s a good deal, but after what was put on the table for 70 they got to live up to that hype. Rem. Forrest was supposed to fight Machida up until he was diagnosed with staf. We for sure would of got got to see Machida fight if he would of fought Forrest. Instead it got thrown out. 72 needs one more to top it off. I don’t think there gonna give it to us Dude time is wasting and event is right around the question.

yeah stafo…what if tyson griffin fought someone like huerta, and obrien vs vera, thatd be cool

Yeah, Vera needs another fight to stay on the radar screen and then we would see if that O’Brien guy really has anything or if Heath Herring just sucks.

Yeah, the switch to Okami is much better. I want Okami to win, but I don’t think he will.

Now here is my jerk question for the UFC know it alls.

Why does Rich Franklin have to do two non-title fights in order to be the #1 contender, When Matt Hughees has to fight someone who isn’t even in the UFC top 10 (Chris Lytle is awesome, don’t get me wrong). Kinda messed up, don’t you think? Especially since the welterweight division is stacked with talent, while the middleweights pale in comparison.

I know the answer is… to sell tickets.

To add to what everyone else said, for all we know Hughes wasn’t supposed to get this title shot, Diego was, but Diego screwed up.

People think that there is a set format for who gets title shots, but really its an extremely liquid process based on who is where in the title picture. Every single fight among top five fighters alters the title picture for the next year. You generally have to have three legitimate title contenders at a given time, because if you only have one, once he gets his shot there is nobody available for the next shot.

Hughes is getting his shot because Diego choked and St. Pierre lost, and Serra vs. Koscheck is a disaster of a title matchup. Franklin has to wait because Marquardt didn’t screw up his chance.

mtu…funny you mention chonnen, i was just watching his fight at Bushido with Ricardo almeida…do you know where Almeida is now…did he did die or get injured or something??

Man, good question. Check out who he’s beat:
http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=11
Ricardo has stopped fighting, and is focused on his school in NY and his job as an asst coach for Renzo’s NY Pitbulls of the IFL. Ricardo got his BB from Renzo, so guess who stops by his school all the time?

If you want call him yourself. His number is available on his website, so I’m not posting anything private.

609-888-2121

Ricardo Almeida on the upcoming battle between Nate and Silva ( RA is the last man to have beaten NM ):

These two guys are very well-rounded. Both have great stand-up, both are Black Belts in Jiu-Jitsu. I see this fight very evenly matched. Nathan is really big guy for middleweight and Anderson is one of the most technical guys I have seen. I think we will see a long technical fight…but it’s MMA [and] anything can happen.

Full interview:
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=3814&zoneid=13

I can see Okami taken this. He’s looked strong in all his fight and could G’n’P his way to a W.

I wonder why this fight wasn’t the first choice. These two guys are clearly the top of their division in the UFC.

In many respects, this will be a much tougher fight for Franklin. Okami has immense strength for a Middleweight. He has very solid and dynamic stand-up and will trade strikes with anyone. His real strength is the devastating ground and pound he unleashes on opponents. As evidenced during the Swick fight, Okami is very difficult to escape from once he has position on the ground. He tends to wear down opponents towards the end of fights due the energy expended trying to escape his guard.

This was the most logical choice i thought in the first place…this is going to be a sick fight, but i see Franklin taking this with a TKO…Swick who was getting dominated by Okami had rocked him a few times with straight arm punches to the chin and Franklin is a hugeee 185er so i think Franklin will win his 2nd straight unless it’s in the clinch where Okami is extremely strong and well we all know what happened to Franklin when he gets caught in one of those :S

mtu….thanks for the info man, thats crazy

… Okami has immense strength for a Middleweight. He has very solid and dynamic stand-up and will trade strikes with anyone…

Everyone except Swick that is… and wisely so. Otherwise, Okami has only fought TV show guys in the UFC. I would not make that statement quite yet until he fights a second gold level dude.

I hope we see a rematch for the title between rich a anderson

the winner deserves a title shot. i see rich winning in the first or second round. okami deserves to be their but could not finish swick so i dont see him beating rich. id rather see franklin vs swick