| A short Interview with Rich Franklin. | | | | Jason. |
| Rich "Ace" Franklin is a former high | | | | MMAToday: Who in the UFC would you like |
| school math teacher turned professional | | | | to fight that you have not fought yet? |
| fighter, he has a Masters Degree in | | | | RF: I have never concerned myself with |
| education and a Bachelors Degree in | | | | other fighters...I just want to get back |
| mathematics. He made his professional | | | | on a winning track at this point. |
| MMA debut in March of 2000 and has a | | | | MMAToday: Is there a possibility of you |
| record of 20 wins and only 2 losses. | | | | moving up to 205? As you are considered |
| Rich became the UFC Middleweight (185 | | | | a massive 185lb fighter. |
| lb.) Champion by defeating Evan Tanner | | | | RF: You never know what the future |
| at UFC 53 and had 2 successful title | | | | holds. However, I need to focus on |
| defenses before losing his belt in | | | | getting my 185 lb. Title back first. |
| October 2006 to Anderson "The Spider" | | | | MMAToday: What fight or fights in your |
| Silva. Rich is widely considered one of | | | | career really stick out in your mind and |
| the top 3-5 Middleweights in the world | | | | why? |
| and one of the most well rounded | | | | RF: The Ken Shamrock always comes to |
| fighters in MMA. | | | | mind. Of coarse he is a legend, and that |
| Now the interview: | | | | fight propelled my career. |
| MMAToday: You have a fight coming up at | | | | MMAToday: What do you do in your spare |
| UFC 68 in Columbus, how has your | | | | time, when not training or promoting the |
| training been going? | | | | UFC? |
| RF: Training is going well. I am | | | | RF: I like to do anything that requires |
| healthy, my nose and hand both feel | | | | adrenaline. We played a game a paintball |
| great, and my conditioning is on | | | | on quad runners the other day at my |
| schedule. | | | | house. I like to read my Bible, and I |
| MMAToday: How is it for you to be | | | | just started playing the drums. |
| fighting in front of the home crowd? | | | | MMAToday: How much do you think you have |
| RF: I don't think it will be much | | | | changed as a fighter over the last three |
| different for me. I fight on | | | | years? Do you see yourself as still |
| pay-per-view, so I am always fighting in | | | | evolving and getting better? |
| front of my home crowd. The weigh-ins | | | | RF: I know I am getting better every |
| are going to be interesting though! | | | | day. The more advanced you become in any |
| MMAToday: Does it motivate you more or | | | | skill, the more enjoyment you have to |
| make you work even harder coming off | | | | find in the tiniest improvements of your |
| your first loss in almost 3 years? | | | | game. |
| RF: No, I think part of my problem is | | | | MMAToday: Is there a possibility of you |
| that I worked too hard for my last | | | | ever leaving the UFC and going to |
| fight. It motivated me to work smarter. | | | | another organization like Pride? |
| MMAToday: What do you see yourself doing | | | | RF: Not likely... |
| differently the next time around with | | | | MMAToday: Is there anyone in Pride you |
| Anderson Silva? | | | | would like to fight? (I had asked a few |
| RF: I'm not sure, and in the meantime I | | | | questions before this about |
| have at least 1 opponent to think about | | | | possibilities of fighting other |
| before him. I haven't even looked at my | | | | fighters) |
| Silva tape yet, and won't until I am | | | | RF: I don't care who I fight. I don't |
| ready to fight him again. | | | | care about avenging losses. When I am |
| MMAToday: What do you think of your | | | | finished fighting I want people to |
| opponent Jason McDonald, who is coming | | | | remember me as a great competitor. To |
| off of two impressive wins? | | | | accomplish this goal, I will fight |
| RF: He is slick on the ground and I know | | | | anyone necessary. |
| he will plan on taking the fight there. | | | | MMAToday: Where do you see yourself in |
| I will have to be careful with that. | | | | the overall rankings in your weight |
| MMAToday: Have you done any extra | | | | class? |
| training in any areas like: takedown | | | | RF: That is not for me to decide. |
| defense, jiu jitsu or striking in | | | | MMAToday: Is there any one fighter that |
| anticipation of this fight? | | | | you admire and why? |
| RF: I do that kind of training for every | | | | RF: Many! Randy Couture for defying age |
| fight, but we have focused on some | | | | with his ability. Matt Hughes for his |
| situational training for Jason. | | | | dominance. Jeremy Horn for his |
| MMAToday: Do you see yourself getting a | | | | experience...I could go on. |
| title shot immediately after this bout | | | | MMAToday: What inspires you to fight and |
| if you are victorious? | | | | what keeps you motivated? |
| RF: I don't know and every time I try to | | | | RF: You can't explain a thirst for |
| make a prediction in this sport I am | | | | competition to those who do not have it. |
| wrong...we will just have to see how | | | | I am a competitor. |
| things unfold for me. | | | | MMAToday: What type of fight do you |
| MMAToday: What do you see in the future | | | | prefer to be in? Whether it be a ground |
| for 2007, possible opponents? | | | | fight or a standup battle, and why? |
| RF: I take this fight game one fight at | | | | RF: I like the stand-up...it excites the |
| a time. The only thing I see in 2007 so | | | | crowd!!! |
| far is the March 3rd fight against | | | | |