Rich Franklin deserves next spot in UFC Hall of Fame

Rich Franklin’s fight against Cung Le did not go exactly as he had planned.

Early in the first round, the former UFC Middleweight champion threw a leg kick, only for Le to catch him with right hook that sent him down to the canvas.

With the loss to Le, Franklin has gone 5-5 in his last 10 fights, bringing his overall fight record to 29-7 with one no-contest.

While the loss to Le may have knocked Franklin down the ladder in terms of title contention, it does not erase any of his accolades, which include a UFC Middleweight championship reign with two successful title defenses, two Fight of the Night bonuses and one Knock out of the Night bonus.

These accomplishments, along with having victories over the likes of Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva (on two separate occasions) and Ken Shamrock, have earned Franklin a spot in the UFC’s Hall of Fame.

In addition to his accomplishments and wins, Franklin has also been known for being a company man. Back in July, he stepped in on short notice to face Silva in Brazil after the Axe Murderer’s original opponent Vitor Belfort had to withdraw due to hand injury. He also stepped in to take over Tito Ortiz’s coaching duties for six days on season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter.”

Although many fighters enter the hall of fame in the twilight of their careers, Franklin could given his plaque the night before his last fight. When that day finally comes will be anyone’s guess.

 

Do you think Franklin deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame? Answer with a comment below or go on Twitter and send a tweet to @alstover with the hashtag #RantMMA