Henderson-Franklin II To Headline UFC 103; Cro Cop-Dos Santos Official for September 19
In a surprising matchup, middleweight contender Dan Henderson and light heavyweight contender Rich Franklin will meet in the main event of UFC 103 on September 19 in Dallas in a rematch of their January UFC 93 meeting, which saw Henderson top Franklin by split decision.
The UFC announced the bout on Monday and also confirmed the rumored UFC 103 co-headliner between veteran heavyweight Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and up-and-comer Junior dos Santos.
Henderson, who knocked out Michael Bisping earlier this month at UFC 100, was expected to get the next title shot against middleweight king Anderson Silva, while Franklin was rumored to headline UFC 103, possibly against a returning Tito Ortiz or Luiz Cane.
Though the first meeting between the pair was far from boring, it was also nowhere near a “Fight of the Year” candidate, prompting immediate questions as to why the UFC would book the popular fighters to square off again so quickly, not to mention that it effectively guarantees a loss for one of the contenders, who are now competing in separate divisions.
Henderson (25-7) has won 3-straight bouts over Rousimar Palhares, Franklin, and Bisping after dropping back-to-back fights to Quinton Jackson and Silva upon his return to the UFC in 2007.
Since losing a rematch to current middleweight title-holder Anderson Silva in October 2007, Franklin (25-4) has won 3 of his last 4 bouts, losing only to Henderson while picking up victories over Travis Lutter, Matt Hamill, and, most-recently in June, Wanderlei Silva. The announcement of the rematch likely means that Franklin has finalized his contract extension with the promotion.
[Pictured: Dan Henderson]
Tags: Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin
Loading ...
This will have to do…I kinda got my hopes up for Tito Ortiz vs. Franklin but if that’s not happening I prefer this matchup over an opponent like Cane or Jones.
this only helps ace and hendo does really have anything to prove or gain. he better get another shot at spider after he wins agian. the class of fighters that hendo has fought is way better than ace. ace has not really beat anybody except yushin okami. i mean the hammil and tanner wins i guess are something but if you look at the 32 fights of hendo and if ace fought all those fights he would not be 25-7 like hendo. just disappointed for hendo. but it should great to watch again. i would be impressed if ace could get a knockout but dont see it happening. now hendo may get one this time.
I AGREE, i’d love 2 see franklin agnst tito. did they ever fight b4?
This is a bogus matchup. No one wants to see this fight again. i like both these fighters but both of these guys are trying to make their case for a title run. I see this as only a setback for both fighters as neither gains anything other then a loss and another probable catchweight bout. there are so many other great matchups for these two in their respective weight classes.
correction, i just read on sherdog that it would be a 205 lb bout. i must have been confused with franklins fight with Wandy.
i seriously hope this isnt true. hendo is getting screwed here. he has nothing to gain. i dont want to see him beat franklin again. so no tito in the ufc right? i didnt think he would get signed right now. if joe silva needs help making matches ill gladly help him for free.
you know…ortiz-franklin was really floating my boat too Danny-boy
I think perhaps, it was Franklin that wanted this fight as part of his negotiations for a new contract.
If you watch some of his interviews regarding their first fight, he was convinced that he was the winner of that split decision ( eye poke etc etc),and obviously wants that fight back.
However I think the outcome wont be much different in a rematch.
I would have rather seen a Tito vs Franklin fight myself.
Surely there are better fights to make than this one?? Are both fighters just feeling a bit bored and want to start another training regime for a fight…
Was there just nobody else? This one of the few times the UFC has left me scratching my head about a match. I was really excited about the first fight but not so much this time around. Hendo is getting jobbed.
Fortunately there are some other “potentially” good fights on this card. Anyone else torn on forking over the dough to watch this fight on PPV now?
This is my first post – I’ve been visitor of the site for a while and I’m glad I can join you boys.
MattyBZee, welcome to the FrenZy and thanks for posting good to know that people are reading the FrenZy often thx again
This is a complete BS move on Dana White and the UFC’s part.
The winner of Henderson vs Bisping was suppose to be next in line for a title shot against Anderson Silva at middleweight. In other words, if the Count had won, he would have faced Silva somewhere over in England, his home town because he is the poster child for the UFC overseas. Not too mention the most over rated fighter in years.
Instead, Henderson knocked him the F*CK out and is rewarded with a rematch against a guy he already beat in another weight class all together. WTF?!?! How is this fair?
And who wants to see this fight again anyways? I’m sorry but this is why the UFC needs some form of ranking system so they can’t just play favorites with the guys and match ups they think will make them the most coin.
I thought Wanderlei’s fight was really close with Franklin… where the **** is his rematch? What about Belcher’s fight at UFC 100? Hell, I demand Guida and Sanchez II before either gets to fight for the title.
Yes, I’m a huge HENDO fan, but this move is complete BS!!!!
the fight will have no standing on Hendo at middleweight. Also one thing to think of is that if Anderson defeats Forrest like he should then the news of GSP not requiring surgery on his groin could mean an Anderson-GSP fight(not that I care to see it really but it would sell) at the end of the year. Hendo-Franklin is at 205 and Hendo does have to agree to it so it’s not like this is his “reward” it is his choice.
Yeah I agree to that. This is a Bogus Match Up- UFC are using them just to fill in the main card. If I am Dan Henderson, i will not accept the match up coz reason NO.1 you are headed to Anderson Silva but if I am to accept it I need to be guaranteed with a win, a shot at LYOTO MACHIDA/SHOGUN winner.
Dan Henderson should be and have to be wise. With a win against Bisping i think he earns the shot at Spider SIlva but a match up with Franklin again come on Dana and joe Silva.
If this fight is really confirmed make sure the winner will fight Machida/Shogun winner.
but if im Dan Henderson, again I will be wise
they should let hendo fight silvia if he loses also. im not sure hes worried about the 205 belt. hes just helpin out his boss with this one.
lets hope that these two dont confirm who gets the shot at lyoto shogun b4 (quinton,rashad and forest, anderson
machida-shogun winner was supposed to get rampage, but he decided to fight rashad and im assuming the rampage-rashad winner gets the shogun-machida winner, but hey the ufc has been going back on what they say in reports. maia was supposed to get the next shot at anderson, then leites decided to do what he did, then maia was signed to fight marquardt, and the hendo-bisping winner was supposed to get silva, then dana says that if anderson and gsp both win their next fights then they will get to fight each other in a “superfight” so who knows. i dont believe the reports that guys are fighting until the fight gets signed and both fighters confirm it.
Dana doesn’t make the fights, Joe Silva does. Thought anyone who followed this sport knew that.
Second, Bisping wasn’t going to get A. Silva in England because he wouldn’t be ready after an August fight against Forrest. This is probably to kill time for the Jan 2 fight between Hendo and Spider(monkey).
Third, who do you think would rank the fighters in your mythical ranking system? It’s easy to game. “We want _____ to get a title fight. Instead of just giving it to him let’s go through the motion of setting him up with a 6 fight win streak, then no one can argue!” Really? Or are you advocating that we let armchair warriors VOTE for the rankings?
All rankings are arbitrary, unless you go solely based on record. And even then it can be gamed, as outlined above. Hell, look at Fedor’s last 5 wins before Affliction (and some would argue even his two wins in Affliction…jcohl). Low-end fighters, but they contribute to his “greatness,” that is a 32-1 record, but nothing of note since 2005 or 2006.
Rankings won’t solve a damn thing, they will just create a different sort of controversy. Like how is Arlovski listed at #11 on Inside MMA’s top heavyweights (not to mention Hughes still top 5 at welterweight)?
Blah. I don’t know if there are any politics at play here or even if Dan Henderson even wants to fight Anderson Silva again or not. I don’t know the dynamics that led to this matchmaking, but I do know that this is very dissappointing. This fight doesnt interest me at all. If Dana were announce that the winner would get the next 205 title shot (not just a step closer, but the next shot) then my interest in this fight would at least go up a little bit, but then again I think Forrest (assuming he bets Anderson) and/or the winner of the Rampage/Rashad fight would have more of an inside track to a title shot than either Hendo or Ace.
I hope this ends up folding. I really do. It’s not that it makes for a bad fight, I just think there are better alternatives for both fighters elsewhere in the UFC, plus we have already seen this fight. But again, I do not know the dynamics that led to this signing, nor do I know the repercussion that Dana has in mind. Their last fight had absolutely no bearing on any title picture, if the same were true for this second fight it would be insanely pointless and wasteful.
Now who and when is Cane going to fight?
Marc Coleman or Jon jones at 104
I’ve read a few comments above so I guess I will put my 2pence out there…
First off I find that the main event of tonights UFC Unleashed episode is Hendo v Franklin…
This isn’t a MW fight, so hey guess what perhaps Hendo’s “title shot” is in tact?
The first fight between the two ended in speculation that perhaps with the head butt eye poke and whatnot that Franklin would have one that fight, so with controversy with their first bout perhaps Franklin in his “demands” for a new contract is a rematch with Hendo… Hendo doesn’t turndown fights we all know that… Hendo is still highly ranked in the LHW division (on almost all rankings) and Franklin is attempting to move up in the rankings himself..
What don’t you guys get this fight is an opportunity for these fighters to literally leave it all in the octagon.. This fight helps both fighters to get closer to a title shot in the LHW division.. Hendo could get a shot, Franklin can get a shot and these two fighting one another is allinging themselves to do so.. Hendo is right there in the MW division, and is attempting to get closer in the LHW division… I can’t wait this is going to be awesome to see these two fight once again with something on the line (more than TUF) the opportunity to get a title shot in the LHW divison.. Basis is this Lyoto v Shogun, the Anderson v Griffin, and Quinton v Evans now Hendo v Franklin… If Anderson wins that puts Griffin down in the rankings, if Quinton wins he gets “next” then the winner of Hendo Franklin in 2010…. that is my opinon
The only issue I have with this rematch is that these 2 are competing in different weight classes, so it should be a catchweight-195-fight in the interests of fairness.
I would have preferred to see Tito-Franklin at 103, and maybe Franklin-Hendo 2 a bit further down the road, but thems the breaks.
I do think maybe the fact that Hendo had such an easy time of it with Bisping was a factor. If Hendo had fought a 15 minute war with the Count, or came out of the bout dinged up in some way, 19 September might have been cutting it close in terms of recovery time and training.
As it stands Bisping was like a sparring session for Hendo, which ended harshly for the Brit.
Also, Hendo and Franklin have a legitimate beef, so they might as well settle it. I’m sure by taking this fight Hendo earns some good will with Dana White, because now the pressure is off to quickly sign Tito. Tito is a pretty intelligent man when you get past all the BS, and I’m sure he has read that 103 didn’t have a main event bout, and his name was in the wind, which probably increased his contract demands and bargaining position. With 103 settles, Dana is free to neogtiate with Tito on his terms once again.
So while this is a good match-up for most of us, and for the principles for the reasons fr702 delineated, it’s a bit of a setback for Tito Ortiz.
I also can’t shake the thought that the loser of Hendo-Franklin 2 is probably going to lose a step in his respective title chase, but I hope I’m wrong.
Yet Hendo has often fought @ MW and LHW throughout his entire career so is this something new? He won’t be able to fight Anderson anytime soon and well this was another option.. Hendo has always jumped divisions and so a “catchweight” isn’t exactly needed for this bout….
Good point.
I was thinking more in terms of Hendo not being asked to make too much of an adjustment in his training regimen, seeing is how he is a lot closer to a title shot than Franklin is, but it probably won’t matter as you say.
I’m also in the minority of people who think Hendo won the first fight with Franklin, and I’m pretty sure he’ll win the second.
scenarios:
if silva, and hendo win….
hendo gets his MW title shot vs silva, rampage/evans winner title shot against lyoto/shogun winner, forrest vs rampage/evans loser for a good rematch either way..and franklin gets jardine/thiago silva/someone else
if forrest and hendo win….
rampage/evans winner vs lyoto/shogun winner, forrest vs hendo for next title shot at 205 and silva defends against marquardt/maia winner.. or hendo vs silva MW title and forrest vs rampage/evans loser rematch or forrest/shogun rematch or give forrest some other big fight to help him get another title shot (maybe Tito at that point)
if franklin wins…
give him rampage/evans loser, lyoto/shogun loser, forrest if he loses, or thiago silva/jardine winner, bigger fights for him to keep tryig to move up LHW ladder…and hendo after the loss could either still have his MW shot at Silva or fight the marquardt/maia winner for shot at silva and same scenario for forrest in this situation as previous scenario
some scenarios for this situation that I could come up with..while I don’t think Hendo/Franklin II was the greatest idea but I guess could create some good scenarios down the road (hopefully I didn’t make any mistakes in the scenarios was just thinking of some off the top of my head)…oh and I left out silva/GSP matchup because I don’t think that should happen right now since each needs to defend their title imo
just want to add that the LHW division is stacked and it will be exciting to see all the different future matchups take place with Lyoto, Rampage, Shogun, Evans, Forrest, Hendo, Franklin, Jardine, Silva, Silva, maybe Tito, maybe Chuck still, and others…alot to look forward to
Great scenarious dude
this is good to me personally i thought franklin won that first fight i think henderson would win if he took franklin down more. i hope rich wins but hederson is still possible for aa title shot at MW i think henderson should take him down and beat anderson up and work on submission defense that the only way i see anderson beat henderson is a submission.
i hope cro cop losses good thing he stayed with UFC i bet Dos santos wins with another KO i believe this guy is going to end really good in HW division first fight with a KO over werdum who was a top contender at the time really shocked me.
I think that these two fighting again is a good thing, but like others have said I would have liked to seen it later. It was definitely a good close fight the first time, and this time should be exciting as well, but I hope we will see a more definite winner this time. When I first saw the headline from the UFC on my Twitter feed I was like “huh? Really?” Regadless of the questionable nature of the timeline, I don’t mind watching the fight. I will be pulling for Rich to do better this time, but whoever wins is fine by me.
This fight is stupid and doesn’t make any sense at all, Rich Franklin is trying to make a run at the 205 title and Henderson is in line for a rematch with Andersin Silva. Henderson already beat Franklin so what gives? Franklin still needs to prove he’s a contender at 205 which he hasn’t done yet so this fight is really dumb. Franklin should fight Tito Ortiz, that fight makes all the sense in the world and Hendo should fight Anderson Silva or another top 185-er. This fight is waaayy stupid.
What gives MK4 is that the UFC needed a viable main event for 103, and they didn’t have a marketable opponent for Franklin.
I wanted to see Tito Ortiz in that spot, but from a business standpoint, and knowing that the UFC needed him for that 103 slot, it made his bargaining position a lot stronger.
So Dana calls Hendo and says, “hey, do me a solid and jump into 103 with Franklin, so I don’t have to get raked over hot coals by Tito Ortiz, and we’ll work out your title shot later”.
Also, I think Hendo is the sort of guy that REALLY doesn’t like the jaw-jacking, and Franklin’s, “he poked me in my eye, he head-butted me, no fair!” riff was getting on Hendo’s nerves, so he agreed to settle matter with Franklin.
I agree that on first notice this fight might seem premature, or even “waaay stupid” as you call it, but when you take some time and consider all the angles, this fight is to everyone’s benefit except the negotiating Tito Ortiz, who I still believe we’ll see back in the UFC by the end of 2009.
Doing it this way the Texas fans get a great 103 main event, Dana catches a break with Tito, and Hendo and Franklin get to squash their beef.
Sorry you’re so unhappy with the bout, but thats whats called a win-win-win, mk4…
A win-win-win????
As already pointed out this fight was NO Barn Burner at all. Plus
Franklin/Hendo BEEF????
Over an accidental eye poke and head but??? Whose to say that wont happen again?? I personally as of right now don’t see the need for this at all. To have to pay for the same fight over again just what 6 to 7 months later is upsurd IMHO….
If Rich loses to Hendo does that mean he’s not in 205 fight status or is it that he doesn’t match up well against hendo?? Does Hendo now get shot at both 185 and 205 title now?? After Griffin/Silva fight or Rampage/Evans fight..
Too soon for my taste.
Since Hammil out have Franklin fight Vera or Keith Jardine. They can cancel his fight with thiago silva and have thiago fight Cane!!
Awwww well who am I to complain again this is how things happen so hey heres a “COOR’s Lite cause Bud light wont pay me nothing!” for all yall cheer’s homeys!!!!!
OT1, I don’t think that this was anyone’s first choice, but its the best choice available that Dana White will greenlight.
Yes its too soon and yes it wrong to have to pay for this fight again, but the UFC simply ran out of big name opponents for Franklin.
As to how its a win-win-win, I explained that above.
And anytime there is a split decision there is going to be some sort of beef between the 2 principals, thats nothing new.
Considering as how Hendo seems to have been currently concentrating on the MW division, the case could be made that he’s doing the promotion a solid by taking another LHW fight against a guy he beat 6 months ago.
Dana White’s not going to rush contract talks with Tito Ortiz, Luiz Cane isn’t a big enough name for a PPV main event, and even though your Jardine idea is a good one, Dana isn’t cancelling that fight.
Brandon Vera on the other hand may have worked, but he isn’t as big a name as Hendo, and he’s got a fight upcoming with Krystoff Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.
I just got the feeling that the UFC wanted the biggest name fight possible, and like it or not Hendo-Franklin is it, in terms of talent availability.
No one can deny that Hendo is in the spotlight right now after KTFO’ing the mouth that roared.
I’m guessing their second fight will be better than their first, and I’d definitely say there is an issue between them. Hendo kronked Bisping for nattering on and on, and I’m guessing that all of this eye poke/head butt.”I shoulda won that fight” noise is going to motivate Hendo to throw Franklin a beating.
OT1, as to your specific points, I would say that if Hendo wins again he’d be decently placed in both the MW and LHW divisions, which is nothing new for him as fr702 pointed out above. If Franklin loses, I don’t think he’s a scratch in the LHW division, but it is a setback, and yeah probably means that he doesn’t match up well with Hendo.
And as a Hendo supporter, I’d be fine with him getting MW and LHW title shots
Also I really hope that Luiz Cane really appreciates all the folk throwing his name out there for match-ups. A couple months ago the guy was a division footnote, and now I read people wanting him to fight everyone from Rich Franklin to Thiago Silva to Lex Luthor for $hits sake
The good news is all of this Cane buzz will sooner or later reach Joe Silva’s desk, and Cane will get a higher profile fight.
This 103 thing has been such a pain in the a$$ for all concerned, and a lot of fans [like OT1] are probably still not going to like the 103 main event, which will probably lead to more logistics and scheduling people being brought in to the UFC front office.
Jchol
What up pimp.
I dont like it at all but I will support it and watch cause I love the sport and hey I’ll watch this rather than baseball anyday!!! And I get your point they wanted bigger names for this one.
Sooooo I’ll do like everyone else and moan and complain and post how much I dont like it and then beat on who will win and then buy the ppv like everyone else!!!
Hey here’s a good one When Tito gets signed put him against Cane!!!
This can only mean one thing…GSP v. Anderson Silva after the Forrest Griffin Fight. Otherwise, this Henderson-Franklin fight doesn’t make any sense other than to keep both fighters active.
Hendo should do what Franklin did after his win of Wanderlei and say (correct me if im wrong) that a rematch just doesn’t make sense in this time of his career! Hendo won the fight, regardless of the eye poke and headbutt, on the rematch of Unleashed, Ace didn’t make it a big deal and still did well in the fight. Just not enough, IMO.
I haven’t reasd anything that was said, but this is the worest card ever. I like both Hedo and Franklin but really, not much to get pumped for. And Either Swick or Kamp. is going to be destroyed by GSP.
Worst card ever?
Really?
Sounds like a good card to me, at least you know they’ll make it a good fight. I’d love to see Hendo create another classic KO! I agree with Swick and Kampmann not having enough to beat GSP. Both equally skilled fighters, but there is just too much of a skill gap between them and GSP.
Hey UFC! welcome to texas.. the land of crap ufc cards… I love Dan the man, especially after ufc 100, but come on title contention here… GARBAGE.. i was satisfied bt the tito rumors myself, like most fans, but nooo its texas who cares…
sorry a little intoxicated..
and i paid over $800 for 3 tickets…just a lil dissapointed for over paying for crap..
crap uf cards are you kidding me!
franklin vs hendo 2- is going to be a spectacular fight and is definitly needed because franklin got eye poked and hit with a head but inthe first round, then the second round was close but the third was all franklin and franklin really should have won imo and i think franklin will easily win this time
cro cop vs junoir dos santos- is a somebody is a somebodys getting ko’d fight and its cro cops return what more could we want
mike swick vs martin kampmann- probably the most competitive ww fight that could have possibly been scheduled this year….these guys wont quit and both have awesome skills sets and are well rounded and are battling for a title shot..this fight will be a war
kos vs twinkle toes- frank trigg returning to the ufc to face kos who is coming off a ko loss….trigg and kos are both great wrestlers tha will not just lay on top of each other they will surley have a war worth watching
sean sherk vs gleison tibau- both are coming off a lose and will be looking for the win
tyson grifffin vs hermes franca- another great lw fight with tyson griffin, no fight isnt a war with tyson griffin and every fight is great….i expect fireworks for this one
Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller- efrain is making his first post tuf fight against a great fighter in cole milller….efrain is a good wrestler and cole has good jui jitsu…and efrain is probably going to be the ufc’s big star in mexico
Tomasz Drwal vs. Drew McFedries- someone is ending there night on the ground with there lights turned off
like i was saying before i accidently sent this comment early this is no crap card and is not worth complaining about…this is a great texas card to start out with…….question would you rather have heath herring be the main event?
Good Lord Gunslinger, Heath Herring, could you imagine?
I’m thinking Herring would be on the card somewhere if he was cleared for takeoff, but I’m guessing he’s still injured and recovering?
Maybe even with CroCop?
I’m sure he’ll be back, but there’s really nowhere for him to go. It looks like he’s going to be maybe HW gatekeeping in the UFC, and with another loss will most likely be cut.
MY problem with this card is…
1. all these fights are to predictable….
and thats the only reason i have… and is a legit one imo
Its gonna be a great fight, and a solid card, no doubt. The only thing is that to me, hendo/franklin II doesn’t make sense at this point.
anybody else not wenting to see this rematch so fast or see it as a main event I think hendo should fight wandy or anderson again.And this fights are doing nothing for rich he has not fought a real 205er seens hamill he should fight ortiz or liddell or sombody that is not a 185er or on there way down to 185 if he loses again witch i think he will he will be back were he started and if hendo loses it will dereal his plans of geting a title shot hes going to miss out on the next title shout anyway cuz by the time this fight happens they will be looking for a 185er to fight anderson
yes gun i would rather have heath herring in the main event. he is the texas crazy horse. duh it sells tickets!
FYI guys get used to this type of situation more often. we are going to see it at 105 and 106, [one week apart] [someone please explain that to me, i know its about making money but come on!] these events are getting two close together, and the main events/big names are booked to fight 3-4 months in advance, I like that the fights are signed, but there are not enough names or enticing matchups to sell the event. the other fights on 103 look good but the main event isnt imo. it already happened, but us texas fans get to see two legends.
hendo is 25-7 with losses to nogueira twice, rampage, anderson silva, wandy, misaki, and ricardo arona. he has yet to be knocked out in a mma match which is amazing.
rich is 25-4 with two losses to anderson silva, one to machida, and one to hendo. these guys are great mixed martial artists, but they already fought once with hendo winning, i saw the fight and has hendo winning two rounds to one. rich needs to not run his mouth and complain, bisping tried that to hendo and we saw how that ended.
Has anyone thought that Hendo doesn’t want to fight at 185 anymore, the dude is 37 and doesn’t like cutting as he has said several times. I could see him making a move back to 205 so that he can have better matchups and better fights.
He actually turns 39 in a month. He is one of the few guys I see competing at the top level for the next few years like Randy.
Hey Tech where are you sitting at? Im Upper levels lol, but i still paid 150 a ticket
section 116 row U down in the bowl
im sec 324 first row, so ill have a rail to lean on and actually see the octagon lol.
this is a waste of a fight card… it JUST HAPPENED.
give me a break
AGREED
Really didn’t like this fight when I first heard about it,but it might actually be a good fight and considering so many people thought the first fight was controversial.In the first fight Hendo won the first round and Franklin won the third and depending on how you saw the second it was either a split-decision or a draw,so this fight should either settle things or set up a rubber match.And it wouldn’t surprise me if taking away some of Tito’ bargaining power had something to do with this match up.
I just want to see Cro Cop keep the comeback rolling with a definitive KO (left highkick ftw) over dos Santos. Couldn’t care less about the other fights