A light heavyweight matchup between a pair of former champions is in the works for the UFC’s Super Bowl weekend event, as Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin are expected to square off at UFC 127 on February 5 in Las Vegas, according to MMA Fighting.
Griffin (17-6), The Ultimate Fighter winner and former light heavyweight champ, earned a split decision over Tito Ortiz last November to snap a two-fight skid, but has sat out all of 2010 with a should injury that forced him out of a May fight with Antonio Rogerio Nougiera
Franklin (28-5), the former middleweight title-holder who celebrated his 36th birthday today, has rested since scoring a first-round “Knockout of the Night” of Chuck Liddell at June’s UFC 115.
The UFC 127 fight card is headlined by middleweight champ Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort and also features Jon Jones vs. Ryan Bader.
For the latest UFC 127 news and UFC 127 rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Forrest Griffin
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First one and Forrest takes this one
called it. Great fight card. Excited for this one
^nice call
I actually thought franklin was going to get either couture or jones. But this fight makes better sense.
Both guys matchup up pretty well but franklin’s got more power in his hands with better movement. He’s got a better chin too.
However, Griffin’s got a bigger heart and will come at you till he get’s ko’d. When he’s locked and loaded, he mixes his kicks up with his punches really well and usually comes at your from all kinds of angles(see evans fight).
Good fight though
franklin’s movement is better jazz but i don’t think his chin is better than forrest.
this going to be a slug fest :-P
Great fight !!
I’ll be rooting for Griffin in this one.
Winner of this gets Jones/Bader possibly? Machida/Rampage?
I wonder where all these big 205 fights leave Couture in the mix?
I’m just wondering who gets the next shot after Evans…being that it’s such a long time away.
Dont be surprised to see Couture/Lil Nog or Couture/Franklin if he beats Griffin.
As for this fight Im a big fan both guys have a big name and match up well stylisticaly. They each have solid technical striking with average chins and extended gas tanks.
Im taking Rich but not by much.
Man I called this fight like a week ago. This fight along with the other two is gonna make for a SICK card! I can’t wait for Feb. 5th.
The timing for both fighters is the reason why I thought this was a perfect match up. I’m not even sure who I would like to see win.
Good luck to all the fighters who end up on this card!
Hopefully we’ll see Franklin back in title contention !!
If Franklin wins this fight which I think he will, I think he puts himself in a contender fight against a top 5 guy for title shot. I see Franklin winning this fight by decision, he and forest will dance around the ring throwing kicks and a few punches, and Franklin out points Griffin imo.
However, I would’ve loved to see this fight on the Edgar / Maynard card, now they really have some work to do to put a good fight card together if that’s not going to be a free ppv. No disrespect to those 2 guys, but Franklin vs Griffin is almost more main event material than Edgar/Maynard.
No disrespect to your way of thinking, but Edgar/Maynard is a way better main event than Franklin/Griffin. It’s a title fight with 2 young guys that are going to be around for awhile. Plus, Edgar beat BJ Penn twice and that’s not easy to do, unless you’re GSP ;). Edgar and Maynard need this exposure and same with the lightweight division.
Franklin and Griffin is a great bout, but not better than Maynard/Edgar 2 and it doesn’t deserve to headline an event over a title fight. This is a perfect reason right here for Edgar/Maynard to get more exposure. If they do than not as many people will be thinking that a normal bout is better than a lightweight title bout. Hopefully this fight will open peoples minds to the lightweight division. It’s a great division that’s deserves it’s respect and it’s not getting it. Same with Edgar and Maynard, they deserve more respect and interest and they’re not getting it either.
Come on people, Gray Maynard beat Frankie Edgar before and Edgar beat BJ Penn twice in a row. This is a great bout that should draw a lot of attention to themselves and the lightweight division. That’s what they deserve and need and I hope they don’t over shine this fight with another huge one.
I don’t think flying squirrel meant that Maynard or Edgar aren’t great fighters. Just that Franklin and Griffin are much more popular, and thus more “main event” material.
Personally, I’d agree with both of you. Griffin and Franklin are definitely more popular, but the Lightweight Title fight should certainly main event over any non-title fight, regardless of who the fighters are.
I also hope Edgar vs. Maynard has a decisive finish. A TKO or Submission preferably. The Lightweight scene has had a few too many decisions lately, if you ask me.
Happy Birthday Rich Franklin! Best wishes and good luck in your bout against Forrest Griffin. Should be a great fight and I’m happy with whoever wins this one. I’ll go for whoever looks like the better fighter that night. Hopefully no injuries mess this one up. ;)
Not only is this good news for all MMA fans, but particularly good news for Rich Franklin and his supporters.
There has been some debate as to whether Franklin was still a viable 205 contender, or had been slid over promotionally to the “masters” division.
A fight with Couture, or Tito Ortiz, which some people “called”, meant almost certainly that Franklin was in the masters ranks.
However a fight with Griffin, which some other people “called”, meant that Joe Silva and Dana White still viewed Franklin as an active and contending 205er, which somewhat prolongs his career.
After all, as long as your skills and chin haven’t eroded too badly, its always possible to “round robin” at 205 with former titleholders and contenders.
Franklin is being handed a solid opportunity for 205 advancement here, and I hope he makes the most of it.
Unfortunately he’s facing the original TUF-era UFC poster boy, who IMO is a lot bigger and hits a lot harder than Franklin does.
I’ll also be curious to see how Franklin’s more technical stand-up matches up with Griffin’s “high school hallway scrap” stand-up.
Griffin is younger, stronger, has more 205 “big fight” experience, and a better ground game thanks to training at a better camp.
And the winner here probably faces another contender for a title shot, or depending how things shake out in other 205 fights with injuries and such, may get a golden ticket themselves…
And there is a distinct possibility that the loser is in the Masters Division.
I say Griffins takedown skills (and how he sets them up) might dictate this fight, if he indeed implements that strategy, like he did successfully against Shogun.
If Franklin can keep the fight on its feet he has a much better chance at out-pointing Forrest.
I think that Franklin is the overall smarter fighter. He will probably stick and move, Untill Forrest just looks over matched. Props to the peole that called this fight i didnt see it coming but i should have. Winner should have Couture, But dont think the winner of that should get a title shot. Maybe the winner of that against the winner of Jones/Bader. Theres getting to be alot of action in the lhw division… KEEP IT COMING
@Tom, no disrespect taken, I agree with you on the fact that a title fight is no question a better main event. Yes Edgar has beaten an unmotivated BJ Penn twice now, and Maynard has beaten a ton of respectable opponents in Florian lately, they just don’t have the name recognition nor the highlight reel fights that we have seen from all champions in the past years, like Franklin and Griffin. I wish Franklin and Griffin fight was on that card to spice that card up a little. And whether or not Maynard beat Edgar once already, nobody remembers that fight except the hard core fans like us. That’s the biggest problem with these two fighters is that the avg fan that might be buying their first or second ppv, they don’t know who these guys are. They need to go out there, slug this one out, and make some new fans.
That fight card needs help if they want to draw big ppv numbers is all i’m saying, they need a big name like a franklin/griffin on that card.
@flying squirrel
I meant to leave you a comment but I accidentally left a post. Sorry about that. It’s a couple posts down if you want to read it. Have a good one! ;)
Right now there are only 5 fights rumored for that card, so lots of possibilities. Besides Maynard and Edgar, have some big names in Carwin, Nelson, Leben, Thiago Silva, and Stann. No disrespect to Vera, McKee, and Christmas, but they just aren’t top notch names right now. We’ll have to wait and see how this card finishes up. My hope is that Dana and company will want to bring in the new year with a top notch card.
Unfair to discredit edgars bj wins man. “unmotivated”? Or couldn’t find the Answer to solve Frankie
i got forrest by split decision. he’ll fight smarter than chuck did imo
Man, this is a great fight. I really hope Ace can pull off the win, and knock Forrest off the top ten list once and for all. I just hope he never has to face Bones. Two of my saddest days as an Ace fan were when he fought Silva.
@flying squirrel
I agree that the Jan.1 card needs some more exciting fights and Griffin/Franklin would be perfect on it. Just not as a main event. I know the average fan doesn’t really know that much about Edgar or Maynard and that’s why I don’t want to see a huge fight on this card because it will take away from the lightweight title bout. It’s a perfect chance for Edgar and Maynard to get some exposure, so if they put on a great fight and their is no other fight that shadows them, than they might get the exposure they need.
I would love to see the lightweight division become very interesting. Just like the others and this might be the gateway fight for that to happen. These lightweights can put on some explosive fights and it would be nice to see the average fan become interested in the lightweights just as much as they are for the bigger weight classes.
Your right on me being a huge MMA fan. Your probably right that not a lot of others would remember Edgar and Maynards first fight, unless they were huge MMA fans like ourselves. This fight could put them and the lightweight division on the map and that’s what is needed for the sport of MMA. To make every division exciting.
I’m happy with whoever comes out the winner. I just hope this will be a great bout. I hope both guys are at the top of their games and put on a great bout for the world to see. I hope they come out ready for anything and put their hearts out there. If they do, than I’ll say it will be a great main event for all MMA fans and that’s what I want. Who knows, maybe people will want to see the first one between them if this one is spectacular. Also, if Frankie Edgar wins this one than I would like to see Edgar/Maynard 3, but not as a rematch, just sometime down the road. If 2 is a real great one than the average fan might want to see Edgar/Maynard 3 sometime down the road also.
I do agree that it would be nice to see a fight like Forrest vs. Franklin on this card also. I hope they can get some real good fights together on this card so the average MMA fan will want to see this card and buy it. Me personally would buy this card no matter what other fight is on it. I buy every card because I love the sport of MMA and it doesn’t matter if it’s stacked or not for me. I’m happy with just one real good fight, but I’m twice as happy if the card is stacked though. I just like MMA and all the weight divisions and that’s why I want to see Maynard and Edgar get a lot more fans,more interest, and more respect. They deserve it and so does the lightweight division. Well I’m out, so I hope you have a great day and I hope i didn’t offend you in any way. I wish you the best flying squirrel and take care out there. ;)
p.s. If you watch Strikeforce, enjoy Diaz vs. Noons 2 :)
who cares about mayard vs edgard now bj not the champion these 2 couldnt sell apayperview no one is bothered the division is so poor when he gets the chance diaz will be the champion has he would beat any of these 2
@mma fan
I care about Edgar vs. Maynard. Those 2 can sell a ppv and they will come Jan. 1 2011. BJ isn’t the champ because Edgar beat him out twice in a row and that shows Edgar is a great fighter. BJ had a real tough time even touching Edgar the second time around.
Maynard just took out Florian and has beaten Edgar before. Maynard also just beat Nate Diaz, so what are you talking about “when Diaz gets his chance”, he already got his chance and lost.
Nate Diaz has a lot of work to do if he wants to beat Maynard or Edgar. If Diaz fought anyone of them right now he would lose, hands down. He couldn’t touch Edgar and Maynard would lay him out on his back and pound him out.
The lightweight division is getting better and better and if you weren’t so narrow minded than you would see it. All the fighters in that division keep getting better and the UFC keeps bringing better fighters.
Open your eyes and give the lightweight division a chance. It’s just as good as all the other ones. Be open minded and you would see this, instead of being close minded and thinking that this division is weak and thinking that Nate Diaz can beat the best in this division right now.
Nate Diaz might be able to do so after a few more years of hard work, learning, and training, but he’s not good enough right now. I’m not saying that he will become and stay champ , but he’s young enough that he could possibly do it after a while. At the same time their is a lot of young good up in comers in this division.
All I’m saying is don’t knock down this division, the Champ, and the #1 contender. That’s the last thing it needs. Be more open minded and you’ll see that Edgar/Maynard can and will sell a ppv, Edgar and Maynard are great fighters, the lightweight division is good and interesting, and people do like this division and it’s competitors.
Wake up and stop dreaming about Nate Diaz winning the UFC light title easily. It won’t happen any time soon. If you have Diaz on the mind than think about Nick Diaz and his fight with Noons this weekend.
I don’t mean any disrespect, but Edgar, Maynard, and the UFC lightweight division doesn’t deserve your small minded negative comments. They are all good and they deserve respect, not disrespect and that’s what your giving them all. I hope you can open your mind and eyes and see this. I don’t mean to offend you in any way. Enjoy Strikeforce this weekend and take care mma fan.
p.s. be a real mma fan by liking all mma and it’s divisions. Have a good night. ;)
I think its a great fight but I’d much rather see Franklin vs Couture and Griffin vs Bonnar 2.
Griffin vs Bonnar 3 you mean?
2 good fighters crowd favourites i think franklin will win on points has think he will be too fast for him,and couture doesnt deserve a title shot he has had his day now when he fights someone like jon jones he will get stopped
I would only be interested in Griffin vs Bonnar 3 if it were a retirement match lol.
On a side note, I just seen Cyborg on E: 60…..She was posing nude! Hahahaha seriously!
I think winner of this fight should fight couture and jones, bader gets
Winner of rampage, machida for title shot
Whats up with Silva matching up my boy Rich with my other favorite fighters? First Vitor, then Chuck and now Forrest? I’ve rooted for Ace since his fight with Shamrock, but since the Vitor fight I keep finding myself torn and halfway rooting for both fighters. Which is what I’ll be doing during this fight.
Both men are at somewhat pivotal points in their careers, as Bsbiz pointed out, so that makes it even tougher to get behind one fighter here. Rich for sure has the technical and slight cardio advantage, but Forrest has more power and aggression. I see a pretty even match-up overall and will just enjoy watching these two go at it. Maybe it will come down to who is hungrier and who really wants the step up in competition. I thought that Rich carried the aura of a champion better than Forrest did so perhaps he is going to fight harder to try and get that back. Based on that I would give the edge to Franklin, but its going to be close.
“I thought that Rich carried the aura of a champion better than Forrest did…”
Note that there wasn’t much in the way of top notch competition in the Middleweight Division during Franklin’s hay-day, until Sliva arrived on the scene. I mean who did Franklin beat at Middleweight that was so impressive? Loiseau? lol.
Though, I suppose after losing the title he did beat Okami.
In terms of Forrest, look he he has to go through: Shogun, Rampage, then had to defend against an undefeated Evans.
IMO, there’s no real comparison in terms of the level of opponents during their respective runs.
@learntoread
That’s a pretty good point, also instead of “aura” maybe attitude would have been a better choice of words. Due in part to Rich’s attitude and that old episode of Inside the UFC I saw him on, coupled with Forrest’s self deprecating and clownish manner, I saw Rich as the more consummate champion. In terms of in-cage performance and level of overall competition, you really see no comparison?
Forrest won a decision against Rampage in a very close fight and caught Shogun when he wasn’t close to being 100% physically. Mind you I’m a HUGE Forrest fan and was his most vocal supporter here when the trolls were blasting him and calling him every thing except a white step child after the Silva fight. However, right now dude there’s nothing you can point to on either man’s resume that puts one way above the other. If you point out Rampage and Shogun, I’ll point out Okami and Wanderlei. The only real thing that sticks out in my mind if you want to compare, is how Rich Franklin admittedly fought on muscle memory alone for over a minute against Silva, and Forrest quickly and almost effortlessly got KTFO’d.
@NaturalDizaster:
True, in terms of overall competition throughout their career, they are close in terms of top notch opponents. I presumed you were speaking solely about their road to their respective championship and who they faced during their “reign”. In that sense I think Forrest had to fight much tougher/game opponents.
But sure, if you now want to compare post championship and their respective fights VS Sliva, that’s a different story. I mean, Rich had to fight Vitor, Wandy and Hendo…Forrest: Tito and Silva (most of his post title run due to injuries…otherwise we might have seen him against Thiago Silva and Lil Nog as well).
Either way, this is going to be a great fight.
^^ Agreed!
i just had a party in my pants reading this hahahaha. Lets Go Forrest!!!!
Franklin stronger puncher forrest has those great leg kicks and that underrated and under used ground game. Forrest via Ud but if this fight is stopped it will be by franklins hands
tom i just dont like the division i think diaz has improved i know the 2 are good fighters but that division does nothing for me but like reading your points
Do any of you think that they’ll actually keep all 3 of these big fights for this one card, come UFC 127?
I would say that depends on how much help Joe Silva and Dana White think that 125 will need.
Edgar-Maynard is not a big draw, no offense to either fighter, and they need to make sure the New Year’s night card flies.
If 125 remains intact, we could see 127 drop as reported.
However if someone drops out of 125, look for one of these 127 fights to be moved up in the rotation..
And we have almost nothing on 126…
i see fgriffin being the bigger faster and more well rounded fighter in this one. i got griffin with a quite decisive UD. he beat shogun, rampage, tito, and roughed up rashad and i dont see franklin being able to beat any of those guys i know styles make fights but i think griffin is just a bigger better version of franklin……….
Besides a couple busters, all of Forrest’s wins have been decisions. (Yes I know he choked out Rua with 15 seconds left, but Rua pretty much gave up.) If he were to fight Rua again I think he’d get crushed.
I think Ace is experienced and strong enough to stuff any take down Griffin would try. The difference between the two is Rich can knock guys out. Griffin can’t.
I don’t think there is anyway Forrest wins this decisively. If anything he squeaks out a split decision, but I see Rich taking this one.
I think Franklin will take this one by 3rd rd stoppage if he doesn’t
get worn down by the nasty leg kicks of Griffin.
As far as (mma fan’s) comment on Couture being done he has actually
looked better the last 2 years then he has in a long time.
I actually think he’s one of the only 205′rs that could give Bones Jones
a true test. Couture is an excellent game planner and comes very prepared for every fight so i would definately not count him out
against Jones.
I think Bones would pick Randy apart. Match up wise, I think Randy could give Rua a run for his money.
@tom, no offense taken at all. I completely see your point of view.