Franklin interview - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

wgs2005 · 06-27-2007, 07:07 AM

Scott of MMANews.com: I want to thank you Rich for taking the time to do this interview with MMANews.com. I want to say great job against [Yushin] Okami. I heard Dana White saying if you beat Okami you got your title shot and it would be held in Ohio, how does it make you feel if you get to fight for the title in your hometown?

Rich Franklin: Fighting for the title in Cincinnati would be great, however I have heard some of the fans talk about me having "home field advantage." If that is the consensus, I would rather fight somewhere else.

MMANews.com: Was Okami as strong as his past opponents made him out to be?

Rich Franklin: Not to me, and that was the first thing I told my cornermen after the first round.

MMANews.com: How many fights are left on your current UFC contract?

Rich Franklin: One fight.

MMANews.com: This is a question that everyone from MMANews.com wanted me to ask, what is up with the black eye, it seems at every fight you have one.

Rich Franklin: I did not have one for this fight, but it does seem to be a trademark thing for me. We joke about it in my camp..."if I don't have a black eye going into the fight, I must not be training hard enough."

MMANews.com: Who do you think will win the upcoming Middleweight title fight between Anderson [Silva] and Nate [Marquardt]?

Franklin will be challenging the Silva-Marquardt winner for the Middleweight title...

Rich Franklin: I am not really sure, both are great fighters.

MMANews.com: How would you feel about a rematch down the road with "Lyoto" [Ryoto] Machida?

Rich Franklin: If that is a fight the fans want to see, then I would be more than happy to take that fight.

MMANews.com: How do you feel you match up with Dan Henderson, Matt Lindland, and Denis Kang.

Rich Franklin: This question could take many paragraphs to answer. You have asked me about three of the toughest 185 pound fighters in the world. Fighting any of them would not be an easy task. Fun for the fans, but not easy for me!

MMANews.com: How much longer do you plan on fighting?

Rich Franklin: I do not have a retirement date set in my head. Maybe three-to-four years, but it depends on how things go over the next couple of years...and whether or not my body slows down.

MMANews.com: What are some of your favorite movies?

Rich Franklin: Braveheart is my favorite movie. I would have to put Old School or Wedding Crashers as my top comedies, but I don't care much for horror movies.

MMANews.com: What are your favorite burger/pizza places?

Rich Franklin: My favorite pizza place is a family owned restaurant here in Cincy called Big Dog's. I eat burgers so infrequently, I am just happy to eat one.

MMANews.com: Again thanks Rich for taking the time to do this interview for MMANews.com and good luck with your future title shot. Have a good day.

Rich Franklin: Thanks, you too.

GeorgeXVX · 06-27-2007, 08:13 AM

asking him about movies and pizza... boo! what a waste... glad they asked about the black eye!

Saskabush · 06-27-2007, 08:38 AM

Should have asked him about his poor performance against Okami imo.

jetmechG550 · 06-27-2007, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

Should have asked him about his poor performance against Okami imo.

Yes, it was poor, afterall he won the fight...Maybe you should call Okami and ask him about his even poorer performace against Franklin since he was undefeated going into the fight and lost?

Kaledonia · 06-27-2007, 11:09 AM

At least we know the guy has taste, citing Braveheart as one of his fav movies, oh yes! Might need to cut the guy some slack from now on

Mulla · 06-27-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetmechG550

Yes, it was poor, afterall he won the fight...Maybe you should call Okami and ask him about his even poorer performace against Franklin since he was undefeated going into the fight and lost?

Okami had losses to Shields, Suloev and Vitale before going into this fight.

The Bodybag · 06-27-2007, 11:32 AM

i thnk some peopleare way to hard on franklin. He fights eevryone they give him no questions asked. He gives every oponent respect and figths hard. he also has a very winning record.

GeorgeXVX · 06-27-2007, 11:44 AM

was franklin sapose to chase okami around the cage all night... yeah that would be good... i love how franklin is the one getting crap for that fight.

comucazi · 06-27-2007, 11:52 AM

why do poeple give franklin crap for winning? its not like he lnp'd his way to victory either

Trbowrx71 · 06-27-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulla

Okami had losses to Shields, Suloev and Vitale before going into this fight.

Okami was undefeated in the ufc before this fight. 6 fight win streak i believe.

jetmechG550 · 06-27-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulla

Okami had losses to Shields, Suloev and Vitale before going into this fight.

Sorry I should have been more clear, undefeated in the UFC. 6 wins in a row or something.

Rocky12233 · 06-27-2007, 12:32 PM

People don't give Okami crap for it because he cant speak english.......

I dont care what anyone says....Franklin did what he had to do (and it did not include chasing Okami around the ring) and I am very happy to see him fighting for the title next.....

jm1010 · 06-27-2007, 02:06 PM

I like Rich. He fights hard, and will take any fight the fans want to see.

H@mmerM@n · 06-27-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jm1010

I like Rich. He fights hard, and will take any fight the fans want to see.

I agree completely Rich is one best fighters and one of the classiest fighters in the MMA world........oh and thanks for the good read

Saskabush · 06-27-2007, 08:16 PM

Whatevs, he was timid and you can't deny that.

Silva is going to demolish him again.

The Bodybag · 06-27-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

Whatevs, he was timid and you can't deny that.

Silva is going to demolish him again.

I will be the first to deny that, just because he didnt storm Okami, doesnt mean he was timid. Okami bases a lot of his game on countering, so you charge at him and he will destroy you. There is a difference between smart/ defensive and timid/scared. Certain guys skills can cancel each others out and make somewhat of an equilibrium such as Chris Lytle's great defensive style and ability to avoid being finished, blanked out many of Matt Hughes' GnP and sub. attempts.

Daniel · 06-27-2007, 09:27 PM

Rich Franklin is extremely hard not to like. He's a good guy and a great athlete and a great fighter, and nobody has more class in and out of the octagon. He seems like he would be a funny guy, too, but then he does look like Jim Carry..

One of my favorite fighters for sure. He's a smart fighter, and those are the kind I like to see.

Kentified · 06-27-2007, 09:37 PM

I hope Dana gives him the title fight in Ohio, I'm going to start saving money for the tickets now.

H@mmerM@n · 06-27-2007, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskabush

Whatevs, he was timid and you can't deny that.

Silva is going to demolish him again.

franklin is going to be fighting Nate the great for the title next anyway so silva does'nt even matter

GeorgeXVX · 06-27-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H@mmerM@n

franklin is going to be fighting Nate the great for the title next anyway so silva does'nt even matter

i agree with you... i also think nate has a god chance against rich... nate is so under rated on this furom and most others too... it sucks.