What do you get when you pit former MMA champions against each other at pivotal points in their fighting lives? You are given two middle aged men, near the end of illustrious careers who always deliver: former UFC champion Rich Franklin and former Strikeforce champion Cung Le, competing for the fans and longevity in a deep middleweight division.
Much like Highlander, there can be only one! Luckily for us (and the loser) nobody is decapitated to ensure the sole being of the Highlander. Although his head was not severed from his body, Franklin was quickly cut down with one right hand from Le halfway through the opening round, collapsing face first onto the canvas. Le knew he was done and enjoyed the best win of his career and first UFC victory. A visibly shaken and distraught Franklin was helped to the stool after his corner men explained what had happened.
Flustered in a post fight interview with Jon Anik, “Ace” did not say he was retired but would be going back to the drawing board for his career when he got back to Cincinnati and could talk to his coaches. Saying that, is that the best decision for Franklin at his age and this point in his career?
He was caught with a right hand which can happen to anyone, but suffering a knockout, it is only going to be easier to test his chin and if he wants to stay in the mix at 185 lbs, fighters at that division have the technicality and power behind their striking to darken his vision until he sees arena lights.
Assuming he stays at middleweight, who would be an opponent he could fare well against right now? Mark Munoz when he gets back from injury would make sense, but he has the wrestling to pound Franklin into a loss or crush him with either fist; Maybe Tim Kennedy after Strikeforce? That would be a good “farewell” fight for the former high school teacher.
Staying in competition at this point is dangerous and begins to tarnish the reputation his name once held. It would be like the guy at a bar who is tough in a Tapout shirt, picking fights because of the glory days he won a few years back; now it is just almost embarrassing.
Always a company man and a future hall of fame entry, Franklin has fought the best. Win or lose he always stayed center cage and made a claim for his position in Zuffa. Much like the man he retired (Chuck Liddell) knowing when to walk away is the smartest move a fighter could make, not for purpose of record or popularity, but relevance and overall health.
Watching him fall like a tree in Macau, one song immediately popped into my head and would be great if the production team at Zuffa could have some fun with these slow-mo montages they do seventy times when a fighter is finished. If the sun has set on a great career, it was at the perfect time, for the nicest guy.
Make us proud, Bailey Gates – go out with a smile
