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<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=438977" target="_blank">
DFW wants Rich Franklin to retire
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<p>38-year-old Rich Franklin hasn't fought since a KO loss to Cung Le last November. Many assumed 'Ace' had retired, but at a recent media event for Saturday's UFC 165, UFC president Dana White said the former UFC middleweight champion wants to fight on.</p>
White would prefer 'Ace' make money in a Los Angeles juice bar business.
"I think he wants one more fight," said White. "I think he wants to fight again. It's so hard for these guys to retire. It's so hard to make the, 'I'm retiring' statement. It's hard."
"He's building a business right now. He's starting his own business. He's out there (LA) working on that and building his own business. Hopefully it takes off and he makes millions of dollars and doesn't want to do that last fight. That's what I'd love to see.
"When guys get to a certain age, my question becomes, 'Why? Why go in and fight a guy?' I know you love it. I know this is who you are and everything else, but if he does this juice bar thing and it takes off and he makes millions of dollars, good for him. I'd rather that happen."
Franklin discussed the venture in an interview last month.
"Nutrition has always been a passion of mine," he said. "I have been laying the groundwork for an organic juice bar, Ze/Lin, to open this fall in LA. My first location will be in Beverly Hills. I’m excited and even busier."
I respect Dana and I love Rogan, but these guys seem obsessed with retiring fighters from a sport that they love. I completely agree with retiring Chuck Liddell, but guys like Rich and Wandy that are over the hill but still very competitive shouldn't feel so much pressure to hang them up.
Please please please do an out of retirement fight with rich and nick Diaz. I remember when rich was on top and nick was coming into his own outside the ufc, I always wanted to see this more than nick/gsp.
Franklin vs Diaz is one of the best fights I can think of for both guys involved, and most of all us fans.
Rich Franklin has only lost to champions.He's not taken the damage Chuck took, Franklin can still be competitive with a lot of the top guys at MW, IMO.Lots of great fights out there...
So, I don't why see Dana is telling him to retire, unless Franklin wants out.
DatSpider - Rich Franklin has only lost to champions.He's not taken the damage Chuck took, Franklin can still be competitive with a lot of the top guys at MW, IMO.Lots of great fights out there...
So, I don't why see Dana is telling him to retire, unless Franklin wants out.
DatSpider - Rich Franklin has only lost to champions.He's not taken the damage Chuck took, Franklin can still be competitive with a lot of the top guys at MW, IMO.Lots of great fights out there...
So, I don't why see Dana is telling him to retire, unless Franklin wants out.
By the same token-- who has taken more damage in fights, Muhammad Ali or George Foreman, Chuvalo, etc?
Genetics is a factor in who develops brain disease, but there's no way to know until 20-30 years down the line.
DatSpider - Rich Franklin has only lost to champions.He's not taken the damage Chuck took, Franklin can still be competitive with a lot of the top guys at MW, IMO.Lots of great fights out there...
So, I don't why see Dana is telling him to retire, unless Franklin wants out.
That ko at the hands of cung le was brutal
Agreed, but it was one fight.People get knocked out, Silva just did in similar fashion, it's when it occurs on a regular basis you need to reevaluate the situation.
DatSpider - Rich Franklin has only lost to champions.He's not taken the damage Chuck took, Franklin can still be competitive with a lot of the top guys at MW, IMO.Lots of great fights out there...
So, I don't why see Dana is telling him to retire, unless Franklin wants out.
By the same token-- who has taken more damage in fights, Muhammad Ali or George Foreman, Chuvalo, etc?
Genetics is a factor in who develops brain disease, but there's no way to know until 20-30 years down the line.
Sure. There are a lot of factors, when it comes to measuring damage.
JoeMimic - He let Hughes go out and get knocked out twice before he really put the pressure on him to quit. Let Franklin go out there one more time Dana!
.. Maybe you should go back and watch the first public speaking he did (Matt Hughes), when he was introduced as a part of the UFC front office.
They were talking about him going to NYC and trying to convince the law makers to approve MMA. They ended with a Q&A session, when asked about mental health the guy had no idea of the question.
I loved watching Hughes fight, I really think that guy had been hit too many times.
