Rich Franklin
Nickname: “Ace”
Height: 6’ 1”
Weight: 185/205
MMA Record: 24-4-1
UFC Record: 11-3
Fighting Style: Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Freestyle

Rich “Ace” Franklin hails from Cincinnati, Ohio where he was a math teacher before taking up MMA. He began his training in a shed with friends with the use of instructional videotapes. He would later join Jorge Gurgel – a black belt in BJJ – and trained under Neal Rowe for kickboxing. He has since earned a brown belt under Gurgel and continues to improve his wrestling and striking in Ohio.

Franklin got his nickname from Jim Carry’s “Ace Ventura”, which Rich resembles strongly. He is good friends with Tim “the Maniac” Silvia, who was shown crying after Franklin was beaten badly in his first bought with Anderson Silva. He would get a rematch, but suffered a similar fate in the cage.

He has fought at 205 and 185 in the UFC, appearing leaner and quicker at middleweight (185). He holds notable wins over Ken Shamrock, Evan Tanner, and a huge stunning knockout over Nate Quarry. He had run through most of the UFC’s 185lbs division until losing to Anderson Silva. Franklin had recently been on a two-fight win streak before Dan Henderson defeated him. He is set to face Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99.