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