Rich Franklin believes Wanderlei Silva would have been handed a title shot if he had

[BluenoseGreig]

Former UFC middleweight champion, Rich Franklin has revealed he believed Brazilian MMA legend, Wanderlei Silva would have been handed a shot at the title if he had managed to beat him at UFC 147 earlier this month in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.



Speaking via MMAMania.com, Franklin said:

“I would like to make a title run before I retire. I don’t know who I will be fighting next, but I believe if Wanderlei had beaten me, they would have given him a title shot against the winner of Silva and Sonnen.”

Franklin announced his title intentions with the win over “The Axe Murderer” despite the bout being fought at a catchweight of 190 pounds. The big question is with fighters like Michael Bisping and Hector Lombard lying in wait for a shot at the champion, where does the win leave “Ace” in terms of the title picture? Tell us what you think…

http://www.mmabay.co.uk/2012/06/29/r...im-at-ufc-147/

[JAX]

I don't agree with Rich, there already is a debate to who is getting the shot and Wandy's name hasn't really been mentioned, There already is Lombard,Munoz,Bispig,Belfort ,Weidman and boetsch that are ahread of him.

[BluenoseGreig]

Yeah I don't know where Rich get's that idea from. Like you say JAX, those guys all way ahead of Wandy and probably add Belcher and Stann to that list too!

[Drock]

If he would of Won at UFC 99 then Beat Michael Bisping he probably would of been

[Red Tex]

Would anyone really be surprised by that if it happened? This is the Joe Silva and Dana White show we're talking about. I actually believe that Rich knows what he is talking about on this or he wouldn't have said it. Sure it sounds crazy, but I think the UFC match making has been atrocious enough over the last few years to believe that this would have been a very strong possibility if Rich thinks so. He has been around this company as long as anybody.

[Dirty Daley]

rich vs anderson 3 would sell still but rich would have to get a few win's first. if anderson loses to to sonnen then you never know.

[Drock]

Would anyone really be surprised by that if it happened? This is the Joe Silva and Dana White show we're talking about. I actually believe that Rich knows what he is talking about on this or he wouldn't have said it. Sure it sounds crazy, but I think the UFC match making has been atrocious enough over the last few years to believe that this would have been a very strong possibility if Rich thinks so. He has been around this company as long as anybody.

Would they really let one of there Fan Favorites get Murdered like that tho?

[Dirty Daley]

That's just silly talk really. I like wand and his style also , i really wanted him to win the other night and did think he could pull it off but he couldnt finish franklin when he was hurt , damn he tried , they were nasty punches but didnt come fast enough , wand was too gassed , alot of respect to rich , alot of people would have quit but i felf wand was lacking the old explosivness that caught people by suprise and the killer instinct to just brutalise people has diminished a little bit.

[Red Tex]

Would they really let one of there Fan Favorites get Murdered like that tho?

How would that make any difference with Wand? Lol!

He has been getting murdered by mid tier guys. Hell, he got murdered by Leben. What would be any different?

[Drock]

How would that make any difference with Wand? Lol!

He has been getting murdered by mid tier guys. Hell, he got murdered by Leben. What would be any different?

Anderson Silva would actually kill him worse then Vitor Belfort tho