Post UFC 99: Where Do You Place Rich Franklin In Terms Of All Time UFC Greats?

by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 15, 2009 10:52 AM EDT in News Comment 9 comments

After watching Rich Franklin edge Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99, I began to think about where I would put Rich Franklin in terms of the all times greats. It seems as if the term 'legend' is being thrown around much more loosely in compared to years past. Franklin has admitted that he will probably only fight another 2 years or so, which equates to about 6-7 more fights. Of course his performances in those fights can help mold his career and legacy even more. However, I'd like to take a snapshot of it right now(just looking at his UFC fights):

Franklin the former UFC Middleweight champion
Franklin successfully defended his title twice
He's 12-3 in the UFC
Those 3 losses have come against Anderson Silva(2X) and Dan Henderson
Franklin has finished his opponents 60% of the time in his UFC career
Franklin's UFC opponents have a career winning percentage of 65%.
Franklin has only been finished 3 times in his career

All of those points are impressive, but let's delve a little deeper inside the numbers. The winning percentage of Franklin's opponents is impressive. However, if you look a bit closer you could argue that that percentage is skewed a bit. For example, Edwin Dewees has 35 career victories, but the majority of those wins came on the Rage In The Cage circuit against mediocre competition. The late Evan Tanner's resume is similar, but the competition he faced is a bit better and accounts for 32 wins. Wanderlei Silva and Dan Henderson both have 30+ wins, but it could be argued that Franklin fought them as they were on the down side of their careers.

Franklin has stated that he will stay in the UFC light heavyweight division. He may or may not be able to run the gauntlet of the best light heavyweights in the world. So just looking at this snapshot, would Franklin qualify as one of the all time greats in UFC/MMA history right now? Or will he be remembered most for getting destroyed twice by current UFC MW champion Anderson Silva?

Poll

Is Rich Franklin One Of The All Time UFC/MMA Greats?

No

29 votes

Yes

83 votes

His Next Few Fights Will Determine It

62 votes

174 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I wouldn’t use the term legend but I definitely think that the guy is worthy of the Hall of Fame after his retirement. I think if you look at the complete body of work it’s pretty impressive.

by SlickRick00 on Jun 15, 2009 9:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah maybe not a legend because he’s never really been the creme of the crop of any of his divisions but definitely a hall of famer

by Charles Walker on Jun 15, 2009 9:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Word

I also think it’s pretty important that Franklin was used a ton to try to shed the human cockfighting image of the sport… in regards to his background..being a school teacher and all.

http://www.mmaforreal.com

by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 15, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the whole arguement over what a ‘legend’ is in MMA is always going to be very hard to argue. I mean, if the same question was asked about Chuck, the answer is going to be yes, right? And I know I know, he defended his title more times, but was his competition any better than Franklyns? And even so, how were his showings against the better competition like Rampage and Evans? I think the biggest blemish on Franklyn’s record are definatly the loses to silva, simply because of HOW he lost. But, I’ve always liked Rich a lot and he’s a definate Hall of Famer.

by Jacky D on Jun 15, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

legend of math yes mma hell no.

after watching the main event for the fith time last night im still trying to figure out how thse german judges gave the fight to franklin. but thats for another day. franklin is good but not great. good to see him change camps in a way. he can,t beat the top guys in 205 but he is marketable and has a good story. i just think that the ufc protects him a little to much.(except the a silva fights those were awsome)great guy but not a legend. beat top 5 205 guys and he might be

by valtheguy on Jun 15, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’ve still yet to watch the Silva/Franklin fight again….I have to do that…

http://www.mmaforreal.com

by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 15, 2009 4:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

All time great fighter, no. MMA legend, maybe.

For me, an argument could be made that Rich belongs in an MMA Hall of Fame based on his status as a top star during the post-TUF boom period, as well as for his position as an educated spokesman for the company.

However, Rich’s standing as an all-time great fighter is, at this moment, highly suspect.

Until quite recently he had three fights against top tier competition ( Machida, Anderson) and was 0-3. Now he has a close loss to Henderson and a close win over a past-his-prime Wanderlei Silva. The Henderson fight tells me that he is very nearly a top level fighter, but still he has NEVER finished a top guy…ever.

Look at his title reign, he defeated an average Evan Tanner, then went on to stop a middling Nate Quarry and to decision a now heavily suspect David Loiseau.

That being said, Rich might just now be entering his prime as a fighter. His wins over Lutter and Hamill were impressive, as was his loss to Henderson.

Right now I can’t say he is a Hall of Fame fighter, skill wise, but he is building his resume with each fight.

by TKOREPORTDOTCOM on Jun 15, 2009 4:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well Said

How can you not be an all time great fighter, but possibly be a MMA legend though?

http://www.mmaforreal.com

by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 15, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Legend vs. Great Fighter

Hey kelvin, I just today saw this response. For me I think that quite often in sports people can become legends not based on the fact that they are the best fighters, but because they are the right fighter in the right place at the right time.

Rich defeated a legend in Ken Shamrock and then went on to dominate a weak division during the post-TUF boom period. Given that, and his status as an early TUF coach many view Rich as in the same light they do Chuck and Randy when he really doesnt have the accomplishments to back it up.

He was set up to be a star and is somewhat of a star, despite his questionable record. When you marry that to his great service to the industry as one of the intelligent faces and defenders of the company to the media what you end up with is a guy who is “percieved” as being a big freakin deal.

so really though, my point is what it all comes down to is that “legend” is based on perception, while status as an all-time great, for me, is based on facts.

by TKOREPORTDOTCOM on Jun 19, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs