May 21, 2010 - 10:19:19 AM

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief


I" really didn’t plan on fighting until maybe July or August this year... At the end of the day, you’re fighting Chuck Liddell. It’s Chuck Liddell. ... Even though Chuck has taken a couple losses, people are going to remember it’s Chuck Liddell. A year from now, five years from now, whatever — it’s a win over Chuck Liddell. That’s what people are going to remember... I saw Chuck recently. Chuck, to me, physically looks better than he has in his entire career. He looked like he was in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in, and so I honestly believe I’m going to get the best Chuck we’ve seen in some time."


-Rich Franklin talks to the The Springfield News Sun about accepting the fight with Chuck Liddell, even though he had turned down three prior fights offered to him.

Penick's Analysis: It was a smart move on Franklin's part to take this fight. It was an opportunity to take over on The Ultimate Fighter and fight a Hall of Famer in Liddell in another main event. Like he said, at the end of the day, it's Chuck Liddell, and people will remember that victory on his record if he pulls it off. It's not the grudge match that Tito-Chuck III may have turned into after their time on TUF, but Franklin is more than a suitable replacement. In fact, he's a much more interesting fight overall for Liddell. It may not be the biggest main event of the year, but it should still provide a good fight and a platform for the winner to try to move back up the ranks at 205 lb.