FanNation - The Republic of Sport

RobertMenn-MerlinsMiracles.com said 05/02, 06:11 PM
I guess I have to sell.

Look, I love Rich Franklin. He's my favorite fighter. But if he went up a weightclass, he wouldn't dominate it like he does Middleweight. People are coming into MMA/UFC more rapidly than ever before. I know he hasn't beat Silva, but it's not like he's gonna run out of people to fight.

Plus, he still hasn't fought Dan Henderson at 185lbs. He should at least beat everyone at the top (except Silva) before even thinking about going up. He started out as Light Heavy early in his career, but chose to move down to dominate the lower class. Walking around at 205 and fighting at 185 is totally different than walking around at 205 AND fighting at 205. He'd have to change up his whole routine. Not only that, he'd have to bulk up to fighting at 205, not just be 205. There's no way Rich could get in the octagon right now and fight Rampage. Fighting and dominating the Middleweights isn't the same as fighting the L.Heavyweights. Light Heavy is packed full of stars that would prove tough matchups from Franklin.

I'm not saying he couldn't do it, eventually, but he shouldn't/couldn't do it right now.

RobertMenn-MerlinsMiracles.com said 05/02, 11:04 PM
Michael Bisping is in Middleweight, and he says he's staying there. So if Rich were to fight him, then he would have to stay put.

Rich Franklin isn't used to fighting bigger fighters. He would just be in the pack, and like you said, CLOSE, but no Champion.

Let me put it to you this way: Rich Franklin has a bar. It's on level 6. Everyone else in Middleweight is at a 4, except Silva and Hendo. When Rich moves up to Light Heavy, his bar is still the same, but the competition's bar is at 6-8. Big difference.

And another thing, if Franklin moves up, and somehow wins the title, what's to stop Anderson Silva from moving up and whipping his **** there. Would be the same thing. What Rich needs to do is gear up, fight and beat Bisping and Hendo, and then train like a motherfker and beat Silva. Until he does that, he has unfinished business in the Middleweight class.

Sure, if he moves up, it won't hurt his HOF status, but it's not gonna help it either. Randy Couture moved down to fight Chuck, and we know how that ended up. Stick to what you are used to.

RobertMenn-MerlinsMiracles.com said 05/03, 10:57 AM
Rich Franklin IS tops in the middleweight besides Spider. And it's not that far fetched that Franklin would beat Silva. The first fight was a good fight, and Rich wasn't even 100%. The second one, though, was just embarrassing. My point is, a fight is a fight, and anything can happen. Rich possesses the skills to beat Anderson Silva, he just hasn't put it all together.

You're argument is that he should move up to stay competitive. I say he still has people to fight where he's at.

Rich and Bisping would be a decent fight, though I would take Rich to win in the second round. And Rich and Hendo would be a great fight to watch. That's what should be in the works right now. Franklin/Bisping, and then Franklin/Hendo. And IF Franklin gets through both of them, then he should fight Anderson Silva one more time. If he can't beat him, then he can't beat him. Then there will be no one else left to fight. But as far as I see it, he still has at least 3 fights left in Middleweight before he should move up.

This is a SELL, until he finishes up with the Middleweight division.

The real question is: Who would you rather have? Vida Guerra or Jessica Alba. Think about it.