After having his return to the Octagon delayed by an Antonio Rogerio Nogueira shoulder injury, Rich Franklin will now have to battle back from a shoulder problem of his own.
The 37-year-old Franklin, who had been scheduled to fight Nogueira in August, recently went under the knife to repair a torn labrum he suffered during training. In an interview with MMA Fighting, Franklin said he hopes to return to the cage by June 2012.
Over recent years, injuries have been a significant problem for the former UFC middleweight champion, who also broke his arm in a bout against Chuck Liddell in June 2010. With setbacks eating away at what are likely his final years as a fighter, Franklin will likely be looking for intriguing fights with big-name opponents.
Based on the timetable for his return, here are a few fighters Franklin could be squaring off against when he steps into the Octagon in mid-2012.