IS RICH FRANKLIN REALLY A PPV-WORTHY HEADLINER?
UFC 103 will mark the fifth time Rich Franklin has headlined a UFC pay-per-view show since losing the middleweight title in October of 2006. This accomplishment puts Franklin in elite company; longstanding champions B.J. Penn, Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva are the only other people to headline at least five PPV events since October 2006. Franklin has gone a mediocre 3-2 in these main events. To me, a PPV-headlining fight should be a title fight, a fight with future title implications, or a rematch of a classic bout. The two catch-weight bouts with Wanderlei Siva at 195 pounds and next week’s contest with Vitor Belfort at 193 pounds leave Franklin’s career treading water. These types of wins do nothing to advance him toward a title fight. Franklin is a top middleweight, and if given a chance, he could also be a top-five light heavyweight. He needs to establish himself in the light heavyweight division to get his career back on track. Is Rich Franklin a great fighter? Yes. Is he a
