Rich Franklin won't be making any assumptions against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99 on June 13

by Jesse Holland on Mar 5, 2009 11:41 AM EST

Quoteworthy:

"Wanderlei is very dangerous. You can't discount all that he did in Pride. Those knees and his aggression are legendary in this sport and that's what I am going in against. You saw what he did to Keith Jardine in, what was it, 36 seconds? He can do that in a heartbeat if I let him. I don't expect him to go for any takedowns, but I learned the hard way not to underestimate anybody in any area. I really thought that, before I fought Anderson Silva, that because I was bigger I would be stronger and in my sweet spot in the clinch. I made an assumption and what happened, happened. I won't be making those assumptions again."

-Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin tries to remain grounded heading into his fight against former PRIDE smashing machine Wanderlei Silva. "Ace" will be headlining UFC 99 from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany on June 13 as part of the promotions first event ever held in the land of Berliner Kindl. Both Franklin and "The Axe Murderer" are coming off losses but Silva, who is 1-4 in his last five fights including three by knockout, may have the most to lose. Wandy has his back to the wall with nothing to lose -- and that may make him more dangerous than ever. Train hard, Mr. Franklin.

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Comments

reading porn? now thats the way to prepare for a fight

by tonydanza on Mar 5, 2009 11:42 AM EST reply actions

i never knew ppl read porn??

anyway i hope wandy gets back on track… he is a class act and more exciting than franklin and i’d rather see him win than franklin although i do want franklin to do well at 205…. this fight is completely irrelevant!!! it should not be happening

by ufcaddict on Mar 5, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions

silly, but entertaining match up!

Lets see Rich Franklin vs. A brazilian named Silva, formerly from chutebox, with devestating clinch game and Knees! Where have I seen this fight before? Im going with Wanderlei!

Hope Rich flies his plastic surgeon out with him to germany!

by john on Mar 5, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

I hope his surgeon is in his corner.. lock and load.. ready..to sew his body back together.

by PhilQNY on Mar 5, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

I like the matchup, and I think it makes a lot of sense given where Wanderlei is in his career. And Franklin too for that matter, I find it hard to see either guy fighting for a title in their new divisions anytime soon. I am a big fan of both guys, but I think Wanderlei’s days as the “Axe Murderer” may be done, and I don’t see Rich being a real title contender unless Anderson retires and he moves back down to MW. But both guys are very intelligent fighters with tremendous work ethics, so I don’t want to count them out just yet. I don’t expect to see them in title fights anytime soon, but hopefully they’ll both surprise me.

by GregC on Mar 5, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions

Rich " Cabbege Patch " Franklin.

by PhilQNY on Mar 5, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions

As much as I like Wand the guy is just raw, straight-forward power and aggression. Franklin has all the tools to capitalize on that.

On a side note, I felt like Franklin subconciously held back in the Hendo fight. Mainly because of all of the press that had Rich stating how much he hated filming TUF mainly due to the seclusion and chaos. He always said he’d go if the UFC wanted him to but if the choice were left to him he would never go back again. He may still not have won but tHat’s why I say he held back agaist Hendo. I had to get that offf my chest.

by Machine on Mar 5, 2009 1:23 PM EST up reply actions

I’m against you agin John. Rich will make Silva look silly. He’s long, has great footwork, and counter punches form odd agles. Wandy’s clinch isn’t near the level of Anderson’s. I pick Rich winning every round. I appreciate that you make your calls clearly before the fights. Makes it a little more entertaining to watch knowing where guys on here stand.

by Punch You in the Ovaries on Mar 5, 2009 1:57 PM EST up reply actions

i am gonna have to go with ace on this one.

by NM on Mar 5, 2009 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

yea john, i get the comparison, but Anderson’s striking and Wand’s are far different. Rich got picked apart and brutalized b/c anderson is so accurate and technical. Wand’s looping punches will be a problem here. Rich UD.

by Crowls on Mar 5, 2009 3:46 PM EST up reply actions

I’m with punch…

I see Rich taking a UD here. He is the better fighter from the outside and will keep his distance, jab, kick and counter his way to a decision.

A la Bisping Leben.

Its a shame tho because i am a big fan of both fighters and as is common, i don’t want either to loose.

They should have given Wand a tune up fight at M/W, someone like Cote (when back) or even Lambert. He needs a win more than the Hoff needs a drink!

by Nick J on Mar 5, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

HOld on BOys!

My prediction above wasnt based on who I actually think will win…it was based on who I am rooting for. Rich’s chances are a lot better than I gave him credit for in my above post, but that was just cause I was having some fun. Actually I expect Rich to be the favorite…. I have no idea which way I am picking on this one….but I know where my hearts at….Always Root for wanderlei unless he fights Rampage!

by john on Mar 5, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions

Fair enough john. My heart is with Jardine, but I think that fight could go either way.

by Punch You in the Ovaries on Mar 5, 2009 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

I know Rich has some great skills but I think Wanderlei is going to come after him with some serious agression. Rich isn’t a one punch KO type of guy and I think if he pins Wandy against the cage he could put him down but I really see Wandy using his strength to just put it to Rich and force feed him some knees.

Looking at Wandy’s fights from the past 3 years…it’s obvious that he’s not what he once was but it’s obvious he still has many exciting fights left in him and I like to think he has the ability to make one more run at a title. It’s hard to blame him for his record because just like Hendo…he’s fought nothing but the best since he came to the UFC.

by Buster Bluth on Mar 5, 2009 6:38 PM EST up reply actions

Punch, my words exactly….Fair enough John

by Crowls on Mar 5, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

Buster, this “one punch ko power” thing is gettin a little crazy now. Why do we have to debate whether a guy has it or not so often. Rich put Nate Quarry out with one punch. Anyone in this game can have “one punch” power if it lands on the right spot.

by Crowls on Mar 5, 2009 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

i respect franklin’s arsenal so much that my mind picked him to win this fight…but my heart is really rooting for wand..and you know what? wandy’s clinch maybe far from the spider’s but his aggression is more like a bullet train…i will go with wandy all the way even if he fights rampage or a gorilla for that matter

by gaara on Mar 5, 2009 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

Being from Cincy I have to root for Franklin but Wandy back in Pride is one of the reasons I got hooked on this sport. Both Fighters are full of tremendous abilities and it’s going to be a WAR no doubt.

by BK on Mar 5, 2009 7:59 PM EST up reply actions

So will Franklin ever get a win over a name fighter? Will the UFC ever cut him coz 2 losses in a row. I don’t see him winning this unless he develops crazy KO power.

by NameNotRequired on Mar 5, 2009 8:05 PM EST up reply actions

Unless you don’t consider Evan Tanner, Yushin Okami,Jason Macdonald,Matt Hamill,Travis Lutter, and Nate Quarry (just to name a few) Nobodies, Then no he won’t beat a Name Fighter.

by BK on Mar 5, 2009 9:34 PM EST up reply actions

Yushin is the only one there that doesn’t get beat up on the regular.

by NameNotRequired on Mar 5, 2009 10:18 PM EST up reply actions

You could apply your “Name Fighter” comment to a lot of fighters… Some are current champs.

by BK on Mar 5, 2009 10:25 PM EST up reply actions

Thats an old picture of him visiting the TUF house or something, I remember the post on Mania.

by Nokimono on Mar 5, 2009 11:47 AM EST up reply actions

Training with Mach Sakurai in Seattle

by Jesse Holland on Mar 5, 2009 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

reading porn?

by tonydanza on Mar 5, 2009 11:42 AM EST reply actions

I don’t think it’s porn. He borrowed Tom Brady’s copy of Attractive Woman magazine.

by PW on Mar 5, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

Stun Gun signs 4 fight contract extension!

by john on Mar 5, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions

Franklin by decision. Wand has come to the end of the road. Great career…

by OJR on Mar 5, 2009 11:43 AM EST reply actions

I’d hate 2 see either one lose.

by Nokimono on Mar 5, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed. Both of them have had such great careers. I see Franklin pulling this off. I’m w/ OJR, and it’s time for Wandy to take it easy and run his gym. I’d hate to see him take too much more damage in the cage.

by LJ on Mar 5, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions

wandy could end up giving him his second permanant
black eye

by The Philicutioner on Mar 5, 2009 11:52 AM EST reply actions

I don’t think so OJR. I think Wand has alot of fite in him.. The level of competition is so much greater in the UFC than in pride per weight div. I feel this fite can go 2 ways. Either Wand knocks his head off by early storm/brawl or Rich keeps light on his feet.. takes him to the ground and controls on ground and outboes Wand and wins decision. Either way its going to be a very interesting and exciting fite. Glad to see UFC creating dream match ups more and more….. big difference from other shows who protect their star fiters.

by fistoffury on Mar 5, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions

please at least try to spell right next time..

by gaara on Mar 5, 2009 7:48 PM EST up reply actions

Still a good fight but man Wandy sure looks done….. but I will be rooting for him…Rich can lose and still be a force but a loss for Wandy will really be the end.

by Robert(1) on Mar 5, 2009 11:55 AM EST reply actions

i will root for both guys!!
but i personally think that franklin will keep wanderlei to distance and probably get a tko in the 3rd round or win by decision…
but i am hoping to see a WAR
in the debut of wanderlei in the MW i wanna see him against goran reijic…what happen to that guy by the way?

by JoW on Mar 5, 2009 12:09 PM EST up reply actions

I think Mania posted something about him saving someones life a while back, and that’s the last I heard of him.

by LJ on Mar 5, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions

That’s playboy maniacs. And he’s reading the articles!

About the fight, Rich will win. He’s too big, too experienced and too well-rounded. There’s really no one who gives him a hard time except for A.S. Unless Wandy catches him once then explodes, he has no other chance vs Franklin.

I feel bad for Wandy, but they should have given him an easier fight to help him get back his confidence. Rich is a terrible match up for him.

by Caknakker on Mar 5, 2009 12:04 PM EST reply actions

too experinced…what u on about its wanderlie silva!

by ruan-fiy on Mar 5, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions

I didn’t say he’s more experienced than Wandy. I said he has a lot of experience and will be able to handle any situation thrown at him by Wandy.

by Caknakker on Mar 5, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

Agreed.

by OJR on Mar 5, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

i get the idea what he is saying is rich is experienced and will be able to take wandys punches early on and avoid them late.. he wont get scared and frustrated with how wandy comes at him he’ll keep composure and poise

by randy murders on Mar 5, 2009 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

This fight will probably be stopped from Wandy cutting Rich….Rich’s face opens up like warm butter

by McArthur on Mar 5, 2009 12:19 PM EST reply actions

Dear Rich,

Stay away from the clinch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Dragon on Mar 5, 2009 12:28 PM EST reply actions

Rich should win this one

by ja434650 on Mar 5, 2009 12:37 PM EST reply actions

I really want Wanderlie to pull this fight off! But i wont be to surprised if Rich beats him! Wanderlei cant afford another loss on his UFC resume! Going 1-3 in your first four fights will not be good!

by Adam on Mar 5, 2009 12:38 PM EST reply actions

Im done betting on Wand thats for sure.

Franklin by KO.

by Lester the Pimp on Mar 5, 2009 12:43 PM EST reply actions

I’ll take Wanderlei by brutal KO, 2nd rd; Rich will be doing a lot of back peddaling till he eats a solid shot on the chin, then it’s nap time after a barrage of follow up punch’s/knee’s.

WAR WANDERLEI

by O damn he got caught on Mar 5, 2009 12:52 PM EST reply actions

Franklin’s apathy before the Hendo fight was troubling. He really didn’t seem to care both before and after the fight. He’ll lose a lot more if he doesn’t light a fire under himself somehow.

by Fred on Mar 5, 2009 1:09 PM EST reply actions

i thought the same thing which is why I don’t think he should be the main event

by McArthur on Mar 5, 2009 4:31 PM EST up reply actions

Both fighters are in a “must win” situation, if Wand loses he’s not going get another fight in the UFC. If Franklin loses, he can kiss goodbye to ever getting a title shot at 205.

by oskarbravo on Mar 5, 2009 1:21 PM EST reply actions

I think this is a great match up but why would the UFC but Wandy at risk of losing his next fight. They should have fed Wandy Leben (or someone like that) for a confidence boost.

by Nate on Mar 5, 2009 1:50 PM EST reply actions

im not calling u out or anything but i completley disagree with fred. personally i think franklin has looked much more energetic and happy at 205 if i recall he was smiling and making jokes about his face in the hamil fight and he looked pretty pump at the beginning of the hendo fight but got all pissed when hendo layed on him for 2 rounds and head butted him twice and intentionally poked him in the eye!! sorry if its a little biased but i truely belive that.

by a.silva/a.wang win loose or draw on Mar 5, 2009 2:08 PM EST reply actions

I’m sorry but Wanderlei wins this.

by Space on Mar 5, 2009 2:21 PM EST reply actions

I’m pulling for Wanderlei. He’s always been one of my favorite fighters, but I can’t help but pick Rich in this one. Rich may not have the power, but-aside from the Thai clinch—he has the better striking technique. He’s not a great wrestler, but competent enough to out-wrestle Silva both offensively and defensively, who himself is not all that great a wrestler. I also see him having a more active ground game—both submission and GnP wise—than anything Silva’s shown in the last four years.

I’ll be a Wanderlei fan for life, but I don’t see him winning this one.

by Tyler on Mar 5, 2009 3:29 PM EST reply actions

This would be my game plan for Rich. Keep you distance in the 1st round. Stick and move with jabs and leg kicks. You can throw legs kicks because Wandy isn’t going to take you down. Get in and get out. Don’t clinch with him and don’t let him pin you againt the cage. Come out in the 2nd and 3rd round and set up the take down. Your bigger than he is. Get on top and work some gnp to get the win.

Rich’s game plan will prob. be to keep it standing in which I can see this fight going 2 diff. ways. 1- Rich could get knocked out in the first or second round. 2- Rich might get a dec. win. Rich will not be able to ko Wandy espically with one big shot. He doesn’t have that kind of punching power.

I hate to see either one of these guys loose their next fight. I’ve always been a fan of both. This is Rich’s fight to loose imo. He fights the way he needs then he’ll get the win, if he fights Wandy’s fight, then he’ll prob. get ko’d.

by brac on Mar 5, 2009 3:53 PM EST reply actions

“…Silva, who is 1-4 in his last five fights including three by knockout, may have the most to lose. Wandy has his back to the wall with nothing to lose…”

by JS on Mar 5, 2009 5:19 PM EST reply actions

Great fight! I love Wandy’s heart! I love his fighting style! Has anyone ever been able to just sit back and relax during one of his fights? I certainly sit on the edge of my seat! With that said, I have to go with Ace on this one. He’s a complete fighter and the only reason he’s not quite as dominant as he used to be is because his self confidence is alot lower after his first fight with Anderson. If he satys in the game, I can see him with a belt within two years.

by Dana's a crossdresser on Mar 5, 2009 6:26 PM EST reply actions

stays

by Dana's a crossdresser on Mar 5, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions

man, most everyone on here doesn’t want to see either fighter lose again. how about a simultaneous KO then??
that should make everyone happy.

by sooper822 on Mar 5, 2009 6:34 PM EST reply actions

I would settle for that.

by BK on Mar 5, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

that picture cracks me up every time….

by justagirl on Mar 5, 2009 6:35 PM EST reply actions

Wand 2nd TKO…

by arturo_caap on Mar 5, 2009 7:46 PM EST reply actions

If Franklin gets caught in a slugfest then Wanderlei has a chance — but he won’t. All Wanderlei has is a puncher’s chance in any situation. He won’t submit Franklin, he won’t bully him, he won’t beat him. Franklin by decision or TKO.

by Johnny Farnham on Mar 5, 2009 8:43 PM EST reply actions

wandy is a stubborn SOB he doesn’t want any easy fights and with all the tuf fights he keeps losing man i rally hope wandy wins this but i don’t wanna see rich losing either. I am a big fan of both of these guys . I mean i still hate Anderson for beating rich . Rich is a super nice guy and a pretty good fighter and wandy is no exception.

by boysdesi on Mar 6, 2009 12:56 AM EST reply actions