Rich Franklin
Encyclopedia
Rich Jay Franklin II is an American mixed martial artist
and former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
middleweight
champion.
Prior to becoming a full time MMA fighter, Franklin graduated from William Henry Harrison High School. He earned a bachelor's degree
in mathematics
and later earned a master's degree
in education at the University of Cincinnati
, and taught mathematics at the Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Franklin and American Fighter President Jeff Adler created The Keep It In The Ring Foundation to advocate non-violence and build character in youth. This is done through after school sports, martial arts
and life skills programs.
His nickname "Ace" comes from his resemblance to Jim Carrey
, who played the character Ace Ventura
. Joe Rogan
once called him "An angry Jim Carrey". Franklin made his acting debut in a film called Cyborg Soldier
where he plays an escaped super soldier and partners with Tiffani Thiessen
.
Franklin is a born-again Christian and quotes Psalm 144:1 on his webpage and fighter gear. February 21, 2006, was officially named "Rich Franklin Day" in Cincinnati by the city's mayor.
black belt Jorge Gurgel
, (New Generation Martial Arts); Neal Rowe, a Muay Thai
instructor (Sacan Martial Arts); and Rob Radford, a boxing
instructor (Boxing 4 Fitness). Franklin is currently ranked as a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
under Jorge Gurgel
. Since losing his title to Anderson Silva, Franklin has started training under Matt "The Wizard" Hume.
at UFC 42
.
On April 5, 2005, Franklin fought in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale
, which was the first live UFC card on free cable TV. He faced former UFC champion Ken Shamrock
and won the fight via TKO due to strikes. Franklin was highly impressive in this fight as he was able to knock Shamrock out, something that no one else had done to that point in Shamrock's career. Franklin's win over a mixed martial arts icon like Shamrock propelled him into UFC stardom and established him as one of the organization's biggest stars. The win over Shamrock also ensured a title opportunity for Franklin.
This title shot came at UFC 53
on June 5, 2005. Franklin defeated Evan Tanner
for a second time to win the UFC Middleweight Championship. The victory led to him being a coach (along with welterweight
champion Matt Hughes
) on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter
.
At UFC 56
on November 19, 2005, Franklin defended his title against Nate Quarry
, a competitor from season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter
. Franklin won the fight via knockout in the first round.
At UFC 58
on March 4, 2006, Franklin defeated David Loiseau
in a unanimous five round decision to retain his title. Franklin broke his left hand early on in the second round. The injury required surgery, including a metal plate and screws and Franklin was out of action for six months.
on October 14, 2006, Franklin lost his title on his return fight after being defeated by Anderson Silva
. The fight was stopped at 2:49 of the first round after Franklin received a knee to the face. Franklin, who was considered by many to be the favourite coming into the bout, was caught in a clinch by the Brazilian, with Silva delivering a flurry of knees and kicks that rendered the champion unconscious. On October 19, Franklin underwent surgery due to the nasal fracture he received during the fight.
Franklin made his return at UFC 68
against Jason MacDonald
. Franklin showed superior striking during the fight, and mounted MacDonald in the closing seconds of the second round, causing significant injury and swelling around MacDonald's left eye. MacDonald's corner advised ending the fight and Franklin was declared the winner by TKO (corner stoppage) between rounds. After the fight Franklin called Anderson Silva to the Octagon and said that he and Dana White
had agreed to a fight for the title in Franklin's hometown of Cincinnati.
In a bout that would determine the top contender in the middleweight division, Franklin fought world ranked Yushin Okami
at UFC 72
in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. Franklin defeated the top middleweight contender by unanimous decision to be officially announced as the number one contender for Silva's middleweight championship. The bout was only Franklin's second overall fight that went the full distance (due to being a non-title fight, it was three rounds). All three judges scored the bout 29–28 to Franklin. Franklin also became the first person to main event a UFC card in Northern Ireland.
Franklin fought Silva for a second time at UFC 77
on October 20, 2007. Prior to the bout, he had recently signed a new six-fight contract with the UFC. Much like their first fight, Silva was able to effectively neutralise Franklin in the clinch, eventually defeating the former champion via TKO (knees) at 1:07 in the second round.
After Rich's second loss to Anderson, he began making regular trips to Seattle, WA to train with Matt Hume of AMC Pankration and Joel Jamieson of 8WeeksOut and trained with both of them to prepare for UFC 83
, where Franklin faced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Travis Lutter
. During the bout Lutter was able to secure a tight high-level armbar, though Franklin was able to escape the hold and go on to win the bout via TKO (strikes) at 3:01 of Round 2. At UFC 88
, Franklin made his return to the light heavyweight division against close friend and training partner Matt Hamill
. Franklin won by TKO following a kick to the liver which prompted the referee to call a stop to the fight at 0:39 in round 3.
Franklin met with former PRIDE Fighting Championships welterweight and middleweight champion Dan Henderson
at UFC 93
in Dublin, Ireland
. In a closely contested fight, Franklin ultimately lost by controversial split decision. The winner would gain the opportunity to coach Team USA on Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter
. Franklin became the first person to main event a UFC show in both Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland
.
At UFC 99
in Cologne
, Germany
, Franklin defeated former PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva
via unanimous decision at a catchweight of 195 lbs. Franklin became the first person in UFC history to fight in four different countries, in four consecutive fights. In another catchweight contest, Rich lost to former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort at UFC 103
. This was Belfort's first bout in the UFC since February, 2005. After a lengthy feeling-out process, Belfort connected with a left hook that dropped Franklin, following up with a flurry of left hands that ended the contest by knockout at 3:02 in the first round.
. After contrasting reports on who would be his opponent, Franklin eventually was confirmed to face long-time light heavyweight champion and UFC Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Liddell
on June 12, 2010, following the withdrawal of Liddell's original opponent, Tito Ortiz
. During the contest, Liddell showed improved striking from that seen in his recent fights, showing more proficient kicks. In the final seconds the opening round, Liddell connected with a head kick and moved forward to attack an arguably stunned Franklin, only to be knocked out by a compact counter right hand at 4:55 of round 1. During the post-fight press conference, Franklin confirmed that his left forearm had been broken by a head kick Liddell threw during the middle of the round. Fortunately, however, the forearm would not need surgery, allowing Franklin to recover faster.
Franklin faced former Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin
on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126
. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Franklin was scheduled to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
at UFC 133
on August 6, 2011 in Philadelphia. Nogueira was forced out of the bout due to a shoulder injury. Unable to find a suitable replacement on short notice, the UFC pulled Franklin from the card as well.
Franklin was expected to be out for two to three months due to the tearing of his labrum that happened during grappling practice,
However Franklin is now expected to return in the late summer of 2012 after having surgery on his injured shoulder.
.
Mixed martial arts
|align=center| 28–6 (1)
| Forrest Griffin
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 126
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas
, Nevada
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 28–5 (1)
| Chuck Liddell
| KO (punch)
| UFC 115
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:55
| Vancouver
, Canada
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 27–5 (1)
| Vitor Belfort
| KO (punches)
| UFC 103
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:02
| Dallas, Texas
, United States
| Catchweight of 195 pounds.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 27–4 (1)
| Wanderlei Silva
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 99
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Cologne
, Germany
| Catchweight of 195 pounds. Fight of the Night.
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 26–4 (1)
| Dan Henderson
| Decision (split)
| UFC 93
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Dublin, Ireland
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 26–3 (1)
| Matt Hamill
| TKO (body kick)
| UFC 88
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 0:39
| Atlanta, Georgia
| Light Heavyweight bout
|-
| Win
|align=center| 25–3 (1)
| Travis Lutter
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 83
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 3:01
| Montreal
, Canada
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 24–3 (1)
| Anderson Silva
| TKO (knees)
| UFC 77
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:07
| Cincinnati, Ohio
, United States
| For the UFC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 24–2 (1)
| Yushin Okami
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 72
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Belfast
, Northern Ireland
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 23–2 (1)
| Jason MacDonald
| TKO (corner stoppage)
| UFC 68
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
| Columbus
, Ohio
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 22–2 (1)
| Anderson Silva
| KO (knee)
| UFC 64
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:59
| Las Vegas
, Nevada
| Lost the UFC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 22–1 (1)
| David Loiseau
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 58
|
|align=center| 5
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas
, Nevada
| Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 21–1 (1)
| Nathan Quarry
| KO (punch)
| UFC 56
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:34
| Las Vegas
, Nevada
| Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 20–1 (1)
| Evan Tanner
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| UFC 53
|
|align=center| 4
|align=center| 3:25
| Newark
, New Jersey
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 19–1 (1)
| Ken Shamrock
| TKO (punches)
| The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:42
| Las Vegas
, Nevada
| Light Heavyweight bout
|-
| Win
|align=center| 18–1 (1)
| Curtis Stout
| Submission (punches)
| SuperBrawl 38
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:28
| Hawaii
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 17–1 (1)
| Jorge Rivera
| Submission (armbar)
| UFC 50
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 4:28
| New Jersey
, United States
| Middleweight bout
|-
| Win
|align=center| 16–1 (1)
| Ralph Dilon
| Submission (kimura)
| Alaska Fighting Championship
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:56
| Alaska
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 15–1 (1)
| Leo Sylvest
| Submission (punches)
| SuperBrawl 35
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:13
| Hawaii
, United States
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 14–1 (1)
| Lyoto Machida
| TKO (head kick & punches)
| Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:03
| Kobe
, Japan
| Both Machida and Franklin fought at a weight of 214lbs
|-
| Win
|align=center| 14–0 (1)
| Edwin Dewees
| TKO (punches and knees)
| UFC 44
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:32
| Las Vegas
, Nevada
| Light Heavyweight bout
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–0 (1)
| Roberto Ramirez
| KO (punch)
| Battleground 1: War Cry
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:10
| Illinois
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–0 (1)
| Evan Tanner
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 42
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:40
| Miami, Florida
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–0 (1)
| Antony Rea
| TKO (punches)
| UCC Hawaii: Eruption in Hawaii
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:46
| Hawaii
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–0 (1)
| Yan Pellerin
| Submission (armbar)
| UCC 10: Battle for the Belts 2002
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:23
| Quebec
, Canada
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–0 (1)
| Marvin Eastman
| Submission (armbar)
| World Fighting Alliance 1
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:02
| Nevada
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–0 (1)
| Dennis Reed
| Submission (punches)
| Extreme Challenge Trials
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:38
| Ohio
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–0 (1)
| Chris Seifert
| Submission (punches)
| Extreme Challenge 41
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:45
| Iowa
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–0 (1)
| Travis Fulton
| TKO (broken hand)
| RINGS USA: Battle of Champions
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 5:00
| Iowa
, United States
|
|-
| NC
|align=center| 5–0 (1)
| Aaron Brink
| No Contest (foot injury)
| IFC: Warriors Challenge 11
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:42
| California
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Dennis Reed
| Submission (armbar)
| Extreme Challenge 35
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:56
| Iowa
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Gary Myers
| KO (head kick)
| WEF 9: World Class
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 0:59
| Indiana
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Rob Smith
| TKO (punches)
| Extreme Challenge 31
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:30
| Wisconsin
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Eugene Pinault
| Submission (punches)
| Extreme Challenge: Trials
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:27
| Iowa
, United States
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Michael Martin
| KO (head kick)
| World Extreme Fighting 6
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:21
| Wheeling
, West Virginia
|
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
and former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
champion.
Background
Franklin was born to Richard Sr. and Vaila Franklin. The couple divorced when Rich was five years old. He has one biological brother, Greg, and five step-siblings.Prior to becoming a full time MMA fighter, Franklin graduated from William Henry Harrison High School. He earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and later earned a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in education at the University of Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, and taught mathematics at the Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Franklin and American Fighter President Jeff Adler created The Keep It In The Ring Foundation to advocate non-violence and build character in youth. This is done through after school sports, martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
and life skills programs.
His nickname "Ace" comes from his resemblance to Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
, who played the character Ace Ventura
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Jim Carrey. It co-stars Courteney Cox, Tone Loc, Sean Young and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino....
. Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan
Joseph James "Joe" Rogan is an American comedian, video blogger, actor, writer, podcaster, and martial artist. He is best known for his work on NewsRadio, his work as color commentator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and his hosting work on Fear Factor.-Acting:In 1994, Rogan co-starred on...
once called him "An angry Jim Carrey". Franklin made his acting debut in a film called Cyborg Soldier
Cyborg Soldier
Cyborg Soldier is a science fiction film released on October 7, 2008, directed by John Stead, and starring Rich Franklin, Tiffani Thiessen, and Bruce Greenwood.-Plot:...
where he plays an escaped super soldier and partners with Tiffani Thiessen
Tiffani Thiessen
Tiffani Thiessen is an American actress best known for her roles as Kelly Kapowski in Saved by the Bell and as Valerie Malone in Beverly Hills, 90210. She is also known for her role on Fastlane as Wilhelmina 'Billie' Chambers...
.
Franklin is a born-again Christian and quotes Psalm 144:1 on his webpage and fighter gear. February 21, 2006, was officially named "Rich Franklin Day" in Cincinnati by the city's mayor.
Martial arts background
According to Rich, he first learned submission fighting from instructional video tapes. He has been associated with and trained with Meat Truck Inc. and currently trains at facilities run by Brazilian Jiu-JitsuBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
black belt Jorge Gurgel
Jorge Gurgel
Jorge Valente Gurgel is a Brazilian-American Mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who currently competes in Strikeforce's lightweight division.- Early life :...
, (New Generation Martial Arts); Neal Rowe, a Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
instructor (Sacan Martial Arts); and Rob Radford, a boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
instructor (Boxing 4 Fitness). Franklin is currently ranked as a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
under Jorge Gurgel
Jorge Gurgel
Jorge Valente Gurgel is a Brazilian-American Mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who currently competes in Strikeforce's lightweight division.- Early life :...
. Since losing his title to Anderson Silva, Franklin has started training under Matt "The Wizard" Hume.
Middleweight title
Franklin began his UFC career with a perfect 3-0 start, including a victory over skilled MMA veteran Evan TannerEvan Tanner
Evan Loyd Tanner was an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a former UFC Middleweight and USWF Heavyweight champion with a professional record of 32 wins and 8 losses...
at UFC 42
UFC 42
UFC 42: Sudden Impact was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 25, 2003, at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The event was broadcast live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on DVD....
.
On April 5, 2005, Franklin fought in the main event of The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale
The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale
The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 9, 2005. Featured were the finals from The Ultimate Fighter 1 in both the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions....
, which was the first live UFC card on free cable TV. He faced former UFC champion Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
and won the fight via TKO due to strikes. Franklin was highly impressive in this fight as he was able to knock Shamrock out, something that no one else had done to that point in Shamrock's career. Franklin's win over a mixed martial arts icon like Shamrock propelled him into UFC stardom and established him as one of the organization's biggest stars. The win over Shamrock also ensured a title opportunity for Franklin.
This title shot came at UFC 53
UFC 53
UFC 53: Heavy Hitters was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 4, 2005, at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
on June 5, 2005. Franklin defeated Evan Tanner
Evan Tanner
Evan Loyd Tanner was an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a former UFC Middleweight and USWF Heavyweight champion with a professional record of 32 wins and 8 losses...
for a second time to win the UFC Middleweight Championship. The victory led to him being a coach (along with welterweight
Welterweight (MMA)
The welterweight division in mixed martial arts can refer to a number of different weight classes:*The UFC's & Strikeforce's welterweight division, which groups competitors within 156 to 170 lb...
champion Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes (fighter)
Matthew Allen Hughes is an American mixed martial artist, UFC Hall of Famer, and former two-time UFC Welterweight Champion. Hughes put together two separate six-fight winning streaks in the UFC, won the welterweight title on two occasions, defended the belt a record seven times, and holds the...
) on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
.
At UFC 56
UFC 56
UFC 56: Full Force was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 19, 2005. It was held at the MGM Grand Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States, and released on DVD.-History:Headlining the card were the...
on November 19, 2005, Franklin defended his title against Nate Quarry
Nate Quarry
Nathan Parker Quarry is an American mixed martial arts fighter who is most notable for his appearance in The Ultimate Fighter, a reality show from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Early life:...
, a competitor from season 1 of The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
. Franklin won the fight via knockout in the first round.
At UFC 58
UFC 58
UFC 58: USA vs Canada was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 4, 2006. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States....
on March 4, 2006, Franklin defeated David Loiseau
David Loiseau
David Loiseau is a Canadian mixed martial artist from Montreal, Quebec. He has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, EliteXC, and TKO Major League MMA and is the former TKO Middleweight Champion. He was the first French Canadian to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
in a unanimous five round decision to retain his title. Franklin broke his left hand early on in the second round. The injury required surgery, including a metal plate and screws and Franklin was out of action for six months.
Losing the title
At UFC 64UFC 64
UFC 64: Unstoppable was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, October 14, 2006. The event took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and...
on October 14, 2006, Franklin lost his title on his return fight after being defeated by Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva
Anderson da Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is the current UFC Middleweight Champion and the promotion's longest reigning champion. With 14 consecutive wins, Silva holds the longest winning streak and title defense streak in UFC history...
. The fight was stopped at 2:49 of the first round after Franklin received a knee to the face. Franklin, who was considered by many to be the favourite coming into the bout, was caught in a clinch by the Brazilian, with Silva delivering a flurry of knees and kicks that rendered the champion unconscious. On October 19, Franklin underwent surgery due to the nasal fracture he received during the fight.
Franklin made his return at UFC 68
UFC 68
UFC 68: The Uprising was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 3, 2007 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. UFC 68 was the first UFC event held in the state of Ohio, and coincided with the 2007 Arnold Sports Festival...
against Jason MacDonald
Jason MacDonald
Jason Anthony MacDonald is a Canadian mixed martial artist who is currently fighting with the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a middleweight. He is also a veteran of the Maximum Fighting Championship and TKO Major League MMA in his native country of Canada...
. Franklin showed superior striking during the fight, and mounted MacDonald in the closing seconds of the second round, causing significant injury and swelling around MacDonald's left eye. MacDonald's corner advised ending the fight and Franklin was declared the winner by TKO (corner stoppage) between rounds. After the fight Franklin called Anderson Silva to the Octagon and said that he and Dana White
Dana White
Dana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
had agreed to a fight for the title in Franklin's hometown of Cincinnati.
In a bout that would determine the top contender in the middleweight division, Franklin fought world ranked Yushin Okami
Yushin Okami
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He currently fights at middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . Okami is currently ranked the #3 best middleweight in the world by Sherdog and the #2 best middleweight by MMAWeekly....
at UFC 72
UFC 72
UFC 72: Victory was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event took place Saturday, 16 June 2007 at The Odyssey in Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Background:...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Franklin defeated the top middleweight contender by unanimous decision to be officially announced as the number one contender for Silva's middleweight championship. The bout was only Franklin's second overall fight that went the full distance (due to being a non-title fight, it was three rounds). All three judges scored the bout 29–28 to Franklin. Franklin also became the first person to main event a UFC card in Northern Ireland.
Franklin fought Silva for a second time at UFC 77
UFC 77
UFC 77: Hostile Territory was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship . The event took place on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio...
on October 20, 2007. Prior to the bout, he had recently signed a new six-fight contract with the UFC. Much like their first fight, Silva was able to effectively neutralise Franklin in the clinch, eventually defeating the former champion via TKO (knees) at 1:07 in the second round.
After Rich's second loss to Anderson, he began making regular trips to Seattle, WA to train with Matt Hume of AMC Pankration and Joel Jamieson of 8WeeksOut and trained with both of them to prepare for UFC 83
UFC 83
UFC 83: Serra vs St-Pierre 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event was held on April 19, 2008, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. UFC 83 was the UFC's first event in Canada...
, where Franklin faced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Travis Lutter
Travis Lutter
Travis S. Lutter is an American mixed martial artist who won the The Ultimate Fighter 4 reality show. His UFC record, not including his exhibition wins on The Ultimate Fighter 4, is 2–4...
. During the bout Lutter was able to secure a tight high-level armbar, though Franklin was able to escape the hold and go on to win the bout via TKO (strikes) at 3:01 of Round 2. At UFC 88
UFC 88
UFC 88: Breakthrough was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 6, 2008 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans....
, Franklin made his return to the light heavyweight division against close friend and training partner Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill
Matthew S. Hamill is a retired American wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is a three-time NCAA Division III National Champion in wrestling while attending the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York...
. Franklin won by TKO following a kick to the liver which prompted the referee to call a stop to the fight at 0:39 in round 3.
Franklin met with former PRIDE Fighting Championships welterweight and middleweight champion Dan Henderson
Dan Henderson
Daniel Jeffery Henderson, is an American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler, who competes as a middleweight and light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and was the last Welterweight and Middleweight champion...
at UFC 93
UFC 93
UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 17, 2009 at The O2, Dublin in Dublin, Ireland....
in Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In a closely contested fight, Franklin ultimately lost by controversial split decision. The winner would gain the opportunity to coach Team USA on Season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
. Franklin became the first person to main event a UFC show in both Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
At UFC 99
UFC 99
UFC 99: The Comeback was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 13, 2009 in Cologne, Germany. It was the first UFC event held in Germany, as well as the first in mainland Europe .-Background:On Monday, June 1, the...
in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Franklin defeated former PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei César da Silva , nicknamed "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship . Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in...
via unanimous decision at a catchweight of 195 lbs. Franklin became the first person in UFC history to fight in four different countries, in four consecutive fights. In another catchweight contest, Rich lost to former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort at UFC 103
UFC 103
UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 19, 2009 in Dallas at the American Airlines Center. The event was broadcasted on pay-per-view.-Background :...
. This was Belfort's first bout in the UFC since February, 2005. After a lengthy feeling-out process, Belfort connected with a left hook that dropped Franklin, following up with a flurry of left hands that ended the contest by knockout at 3:02 in the first round.
Move to Light Heavyweight
Franklin was rumoured to face multiple-time UFC champion Randy Couture at UFC 115UFC 115
UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 12, 2010 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Background:...
. After contrasting reports on who would be his opponent, Franklin eventually was confirmed to face long-time light heavyweight champion and UFC Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Liddell
Chuck Liddell
Charles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
on June 12, 2010, following the withdrawal of Liddell's original opponent, Tito Ortiz
Tito Ortiz
Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000 to September 26, 2003. Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars...
. During the contest, Liddell showed improved striking from that seen in his recent fights, showing more proficient kicks. In the final seconds the opening round, Liddell connected with a head kick and moved forward to attack an arguably stunned Franklin, only to be knocked out by a compact counter right hand at 4:55 of round 1. During the post-fight press conference, Franklin confirmed that his left forearm had been broken by a head kick Liddell threw during the middle of the round. Fortunately, however, the forearm would not need surgery, allowing Franklin to recover faster.
Franklin faced former Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion....
on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126
UFC 126
UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 5, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Franklin was scheduled to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Antônio Rogério Nogueira is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently signed with the UFC. He is the twin brother of Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira. A proficient amateur boxer, he was the 2006 and 2007 Brazilian Super Heavyweight Champion. He also won a bronze medal in the 2007 Pan...
at UFC 133
UFC 133
UFC 133: Evans vs. Ortiz was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 6, 2011 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-Background:...
on August 6, 2011 in Philadelphia. Nogueira was forced out of the bout due to a shoulder injury. Unable to find a suitable replacement on short notice, the UFC pulled Franklin from the card as well.
Franklin was expected to be out for two to three months due to the tearing of his labrum that happened during grappling practice,
However Franklin is now expected to return in the late summer of 2012 after having surgery on his injured shoulder.
Personal life
Rich has a wife named Beth who is a former English teacher at Reading High SchoolReading High School (Ohio)
Reading Junior Senior High School is a public high school in Reading, Ohio, United States. It is the only public high school in the Reading Community City School District.- Athletics :Reading's Athletic Director is Dennis Ramsey...
.
Mixed martial artsMixed martial artsMixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
- Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipUltimate Fighting ChampionshipThe Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
- UFC Middleweight Championship (One time)
- Two successful title defenses
- Knockout of the NightBonus Awards-Background:UFC Bonus Awards are three different kinds of awards usually given to four fighters after a UFC event.Fight of the Night - Award given to the two fighters that fought each other and delivered the "most impressive" fight on the card....
(One time) - Fight of the NightBonus Awards-Background:UFC Bonus Awards are three different kinds of awards usually given to four fighters after a UFC event.Fight of the Night - Award given to the two fighters that fought each other and delivered the "most impressive" fight on the card....
(One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Loss|align=center| 28–6 (1)
| Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC light heavyweight champion....
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 126
UFC 126
UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 5, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 28–5 (1)
| Chuck Liddell
Chuck Liddell
Charles David "Chuck" Liddell is a retired American mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion. Liddell has an extensive striking background in Kempo, Koei-Kan karate and kickboxing, as well as a grappling background in collegiate wrestling.As of his...
| KO (punch)
| UFC 115
UFC 115
UFC 115: Liddell vs. Franklin was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 12, 2010 at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 4:55
| Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 27–5 (1)
| Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort
Vítor Vieira Belfort is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Belfort was born in Rio de Janeiro and studied jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family, namely Carlson Gracie. He received a black belt under Carlson and currently trains with Xtreme Couture, fighting in...
| KO (punches)
| UFC 103
UFC 103
UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 19, 2009 in Dallas at the American Airlines Center. The event was broadcasted on pay-per-view.-Background :...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:02
| Dallas, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
| Catchweight of 195 pounds.
|-
| Win
|align=center| 27–4 (1)
| Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei Silva
Wanderlei César da Silva , nicknamed "The Axe Murderer", is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, who has competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the American based Ultimate Fighting Championship . Silva is known for his aggressive fighting style with the majority of his fights ending in...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 99
UFC 99
UFC 99: The Comeback was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 13, 2009 in Cologne, Germany. It was the first UFC event held in Germany, as well as the first in mainland Europe .-Background:On Monday, June 1, the...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
| Catchweight of 195 pounds. Fight of the Night.
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 26–4 (1)
| Dan Henderson
Dan Henderson
Daniel Jeffery Henderson, is an American mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler, who competes as a middleweight and light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and was the last Welterweight and Middleweight champion...
| Decision (split)
| UFC 93
UFC 93
UFC 93: Franklin vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on January 17, 2009 at The O2, Dublin in Dublin, Ireland....
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Dublin, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 26–3 (1)
| Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill
Matthew S. Hamill is a retired American wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is a three-time NCAA Division III National Champion in wrestling while attending the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York...
| TKO (body kick)
| UFC 88
UFC 88
UFC 88: Breakthrough was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 6, 2008 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. The event was headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans....
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 0:39
| Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
| Light Heavyweight bout
|-
| Win
|align=center| 25–3 (1)
| Travis Lutter
Travis Lutter
Travis S. Lutter is an American mixed martial artist who won the The Ultimate Fighter 4 reality show. His UFC record, not including his exhibition wins on The Ultimate Fighter 4, is 2–4...
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 83
UFC 83
UFC 83: Serra vs St-Pierre 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event was held on April 19, 2008, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. UFC 83 was the UFC's first event in Canada...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 3:01
| Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 24–3 (1)
| Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva
Anderson da Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is the current UFC Middleweight Champion and the promotion's longest reigning champion. With 14 consecutive wins, Silva holds the longest winning streak and title defense streak in UFC history...
| TKO (knees)
| UFC 77
UFC 77
UFC 77: Hostile Territory was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship . The event took place on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:07
| Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
| For the UFC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 24–2 (1)
| Yushin Okami
Yushin Okami
is a Japanese mixed martial artist. He currently fights at middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship . Okami is currently ranked the #3 best middleweight in the world by Sherdog and the #2 best middleweight by MMAWeekly....
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 72
UFC 72
UFC 72: Victory was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The event took place Saturday, 16 June 2007 at The Odyssey in Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Background:...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 5:00
| Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 23–2 (1)
| Jason MacDonald
Jason MacDonald
Jason Anthony MacDonald is a Canadian mixed martial artist who is currently fighting with the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a middleweight. He is also a veteran of the Maximum Fighting Championship and TKO Major League MMA in his native country of Canada...
| TKO (corner stoppage)
| UFC 68
UFC 68
UFC 68: The Uprising was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 3, 2007 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. UFC 68 was the first UFC event held in the state of Ohio, and coincided with the 2007 Arnold Sports Festival...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 5:00
| Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 22–2 (1)
| Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva
Anderson da Silva is a Brazilian mixed martial artist. He is the current UFC Middleweight Champion and the promotion's longest reigning champion. With 14 consecutive wins, Silva holds the longest winning streak and title defense streak in UFC history...
| KO (knee)
| UFC 64
UFC 64
UFC 64: Unstoppable was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday, October 14, 2006. The event took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada and was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States and...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:59
| Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
| Lost the UFC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 22–1 (1)
| David Loiseau
David Loiseau
David Loiseau is a Canadian mixed martial artist from Montreal, Quebec. He has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, EliteXC, and TKO Major League MMA and is the former TKO Middleweight Champion. He was the first French Canadian to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
| Decision (unanimous)
| UFC 58
UFC 58
UFC 58: USA vs Canada was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on March 4, 2006. It was held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada, and broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States....
|
|align=center| 5
|align=center| 5:00
| Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
| Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 21–1 (1)
| Nathan Quarry
| KO (punch)
| UFC 56
UFC 56
UFC 56: Full Force was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on November 19, 2005. It was held at the MGM Grand Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States, and released on DVD.-History:Headlining the card were the...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:34
| Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
| Defended the UFC Middleweight Championship
|-
| Win
|align=center| 20–1 (1)
| Evan Tanner
Evan Tanner
Evan Loyd Tanner was an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a former UFC Middleweight and USWF Heavyweight champion with a professional record of 32 wins and 8 losses...
| TKO (doctor stoppage)
| UFC 53
UFC 53
UFC 53: Heavy Hitters was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on June 4, 2005, at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
|
|align=center| 4
|align=center| 3:25
| Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 19–1 (1)
| Ken Shamrock
Ken Shamrock
Kenneth Wayne Shamrock is an American mixed martial arts fighter, UFC Hall of Famer and professional wrestler...
| TKO (punches)
| The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale
The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale
The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 9, 2005. Featured were the finals from The Ultimate Fighter 1 in both the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions....
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:42
| Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
| Light Heavyweight bout
|-
| Win
|align=center| 18–1 (1)
| Curtis Stout
| Submission (punches)
| SuperBrawl 38
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:28
| Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 17–1 (1)
| Jorge Rivera
Jorge Rivera (fighter)
Jorge Luis Rivera is an American mixed martial artist who was featured on The Ultimate Fighter 4. He holds victories over five former or future UFC title contenders; Travis Lutter, David Loiseau, Kendall Grove, Dennis Hallman and Nate Quarry.-Military career:19k Tank with A/1-70 Armor at Fort...
| Submission (armbar)
| UFC 50
UFC 50
UFC 50: The War of '04 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on October 22, 2004, at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event was broadcast live on pay-per-view in the United States, and later released on DVD.-History:Headlining the card were Tito...
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 4:28
| New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
| Middleweight bout
|-
| Win
|align=center| 16–1 (1)
| Ralph Dilon
| Submission (kimura)
| Alaska Fighting Championship
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:56
| Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 15–1 (1)
| Leo Sylvest
| Submission (punches)
| SuperBrawl 35
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:13
| Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Loss
|align=center| 14–1 (1)
| Lyoto Machida
Lyoto Machida
Lyoto Carvalho Machida is a Japanese-Brazilian mixed martial artist from Belém, Brazil who fights as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
| TKO (head kick & punches)
| Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003
Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003
Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003: Inoki Festival was a mixed martial arts and kickboxing event promoted by Antonio Inoki on December 31, 2003 at the Kobe Wing Stadium in Kobe, Japan. It was the follow-up to Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2001 and Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2002...
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:03
| Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
| Both Machida and Franklin fought at a weight of 214lbs
|-
| Win
|align=center| 14–0 (1)
| Edwin Dewees
Edwin Dewees
Edwin Stanton Dewees is an American mixed martial artist. He was featured on The Ultimate Fighter 4...
| TKO (punches and knees)
| UFC 44
UFC 44
UFC 44: Undisputed was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on September 26, 2003, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada...
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:32
| Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
| Light Heavyweight bout
|-
| Win
|align=center| 13–0 (1)
| Roberto Ramirez
| KO (punch)
| Battleground 1: War Cry
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:10
| Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 12–0 (1)
| Evan Tanner
Evan Tanner
Evan Loyd Tanner was an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a former UFC Middleweight and USWF Heavyweight champion with a professional record of 32 wins and 8 losses...
| TKO (punches)
| UFC 42
UFC 42
UFC 42: Sudden Impact was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on April 25, 2003, at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. The event was broadcast live on pay per view in the United States, and later released on DVD....
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:40
| Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 11–0 (1)
| Antony Rea
Antony Rea
Antony Rea is an French professional mixed martial artist. Antony is a Cage Rage veteran and has fought for Shooto, bodogFIGHT and Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki. He is notable for his fights with Ultimate Fighting Championship contenders Vitor Belfort, Marvin Eastman, Jason MacDonald, Kazuo Takahashi,...
| TKO (punches)
| UCC Hawaii: Eruption in Hawaii
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:46
| Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 10–0 (1)
| Yan Pellerin
| Submission (armbar)
| UCC 10: Battle for the Belts 2002
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 3:23
| Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 9–0 (1)
| Marvin Eastman
Marvin Eastman
Marvin Lee Eastman is an American mixed martial artist with a background in collegiate wrestling and Muay Thai. He is currently the light heavyweight champion of the Elite Fighting Championship and the IFO champion...
| Submission (armbar)
| World Fighting Alliance 1
World Fighting Alliance 1
World Fighting Alliance 1 was the first mixed martial arts event held by World Fighting Alliance on November 3, 2001 at The Joint in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.-Background:The event marked the professional debut of Vitor Ribeiro....
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:02
| Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 8–0 (1)
| Dennis Reed
| Submission (punches)
| Extreme Challenge Trials
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:38
| Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 7–0 (1)
| Chris Seifert
| Submission (punches)
| Extreme Challenge 41
|
|align=center| 2
|align=center| 1:45
| Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 6–0 (1)
| Travis Fulton
Travis Fulton
Travis Fulton is an American mixed martial artist and a professional boxer in the heavyweight division. He has notched up over 300 vale tudo and mixed martial arts fights since 1996 and over 30 boxing matches since 1999....
| TKO (broken hand)
| RINGS USA: Battle of Champions
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 5:00
| Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| NC
|align=center| 5–0 (1)
| Aaron Brink
| No Contest (foot injury)
| IFC: Warriors Challenge 11
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:42
| California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 5–0
| Dennis Reed
| Submission (armbar)
| Extreme Challenge 35
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:56
| Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 4–0
| Gary Myers
| KO (head kick)
| WEF 9: World Class
|
|align=center| 3
|align=center| 0:59
| Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 3–0
| Rob Smith
| TKO (punches)
| Extreme Challenge 31
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 2:30
| Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 2–0
| Eugene Pinault
| Submission (punches)
| Extreme Challenge: Trials
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 1:27
| Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
|
|-
| Win
|align=center| 1–0
| Michael Martin
| KO (head kick)
| World Extreme Fighting 6
|
|align=center| 1
|align=center| 0:21
| Wheeling
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
|