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