Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive
LAS VEGAS — The careers of two distinguished fighters intersect at the perfect time at UFC 126. Both Rich Franklin and Forrest Griffin are returning after injury layoffs. Both are former champions, both are 3-2 in their last five fights, both are crowd favorites, and the list goes on.
Due to its physical nature, mixed martial arts is a sport with a short prime, and Franklin and Griffin are both intent on proving they have some “prime” left to their respective careers, even if it comes at the expense of the other. Which one has more left in the tank?
For all we know, Franklin might still be reigning over the middleweight division if Anderson Silva had never come to town. But after two losses to Silva, Franklin has been in a veritable no man’s land, taking fights in the light-heavyweight division as well as catch weight fights. With championship thoughts still dancing in his head, Franklin can certainly make a strong statement regarding his place in the 205-pound weight class by beating the division’s former champ.