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