Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson at UFC 103 ... why?
Rich Franklin will face Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC 103 in Dallas. And it makes zero sense. The two fighters are in different weight classes. Henderson has been focusing more on middleweight and Franklin has been vocal about his desire to stay at light heavyweight.
Both are coming off impressive wins. But Franklin should be facing a higher light heavyweight and Henderson should be facing Anderson Silva (if we get jobbed out of the Silva vs. GSP fight, which it looks like we will since Mike Swick will probably get the next welterweight title shot) or a top middleweight contender at the least.
These are two big names in the sport and there is some revenge factor involved since their last fight was a controversial split decision. Still, I don’t know that this was a fight anyone was clamoring for. I think Franklin takes it. But where, exactly, does he go because of it?
I hope it’s more entertaining than the first one and I hope Franklin can dodge the eye pokes and head butts of Henderson this time.
Both are coming off impressive wins. But Franklin should be facing a higher light heavyweight and Henderson should be facing Anderson Silva (if we get jobbed out of the Silva vs. GSP fight, which it looks like we will since Mike Swick will probably get the next welterweight title shot) or a top middleweight contender at the least.
These are two big names in the sport and there is some revenge factor involved since their last fight was a controversial split decision. Still, I don’t know that this was a fight anyone was clamoring for. I think Franklin takes it. But where, exactly, does he go because of it?
I hope it’s more entertaining than the first one and I hope Franklin can dodge the eye pokes and head butts of Henderson this time.
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Comments
I agree whole heartedly with this article. The only reason this fight is happening is Dana White needed a main event for 103. Before this fight was announced the card was filled with a lot of familiar names, but no main event caliber fights. Almost all of the UFC's other main event fighter's have either fought too recently or are already sheduled for fights in the future. This was all Dana could think of. It's stupid though; Hendo was supposed to Fight Anderson for the Middleweight title, but what if he loses? You can't give someone a title shot after they lose. Although, that would leave Damien Maia open for a title shot after he beats Nate Marquart and I would love to see him fight for the title. What they should do, but obviously can't, is just take Hendo vs. Franklin 2 and Silva vs Griffin and swap them. Griffin vs Franklin and Hendo vs Silva 2. Both better fights.
Posted by: Andrew | July 24, 2009 1:38 AM
My assumption is that they added the fight so it would have a chance to compete with the floyd mayweather fight scheduled for the same day, Mike Swick Vs. Martin Kampmann was the previous main event and no titles were on the card at all. The UFC did this with UFC 91 vs Affliction:Banned when they had anderson silva vs Irvin switch to a free Spike TV event on the same day. And after the 2nd Affliction was watered down by 3 solid UFC cards within the same 35 day period (92:wand vs rampage 3*,forrest vs rashad*t,mir vs nog* 93:coleman vs shogun, henderson vs franklin, 94:*BJ PENN VS GSP*,lyoto vs thiago*,diaz vs guida) The UFC killed affliction 2. That was followed through when the retards at Affliction were actually trying to plan trilogy to compete with UFC100 (mir vs lesnar*,gspvsalvez**bisping vs henderson) UFC didnt flinch , Affliction moved. By making a stand and providing a better card MMA can really step up to Boxing and settle in. As the UFC grows and grows its making its presence known. personally i think its good for business, but really henderson and franklin barely had time off from their first fight before fighting wanderlei, henderson had to coach and train and now just 8 weeks after his fight with bisping hes going against fraknlin again? give these guys a little time to actually build have a good camp!
Posted by: kimberly kato | July 24, 2009 9:04 AM
Do you really think that it was a contorversal split-decision? Watch the first round... There is no way Franklin won that round. The only reason its a split decision is because some judge scored it 30-27. The other two had it 29-28 henderson...
Henderson will win the next fight too.
Posted by: adam | July 24, 2009 10:42 AM
I totally agree with you. this matchup makes no sense for ether fighter. I hope tito or vitor save this card.
Posted by: UFC Fan | July 28, 2009 6:58 AM
Kimberly, just because Henderson clearly won the first round doesn't mean that Franklin didn't win the next two. The next two rounds were essentially too close to call. Some people though Franklin won both, some thought Hendo won one. They were both very close and difficult to call rounds. That's why the decision is controversial.
As for Henerson winning again, you may be right. But the first fight was close and it's a lot easier for the fighter who lost to re-evaluate what he did wrong the first time and then comeback and get the W the second time than it is for the person who won the first fight.
Posted by: Andrew Barr | July 28, 2009 12:59 PM