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Rich Franklin (28-5 (1 NC), 13-4 UFC) vs. Forrest Griffin (17-6, 8-4 UFC)
How We Got Here:
UFC 126's co-main event features two former champions and Ultimate Fighter coaches, as former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin squares off against former UFC light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin.
Franklin returns to the cage after a broken forearm forced him out of action for seven and a half months. The consummate company man, Franklin entered 2009 with the intent of competing for the light-heavyweight title. Two catchweight bouts later, though, and Franklin looked to be spinning his wheels rather than screeching towards the finish line.
An injury to Tito Ortiz opened the door for Franklin to step in opposite Chuck Liddell and coach in the final episode of The Ultimate Fighter 11, with their customary coach's match taking place at UFC 115. Franklin capitalized on the opportunity, knocking out Liddell late in the first round and sending "The Iceman" to retirement despite breaking his forearm earlier in the fight. Now, Franklin has the opportunity to defeat his second former light-heavyweight champion in as many fights.
Griffin is that former champion and like Franklin, he is returning to action after a lengthy injury layoff. Griffin was at the top of the division in mid 2008, defeating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to claim the UFC light heavyweight championship. His title reign would be short, however, as Griffin was knocked out by Rashad Evans in his first title defense.
A broken hand sidelined Griffin for the next eight months, and when he did return, he suffered a humiliating KO defeat to middleweight champion Anderson Silva. The former champion would bounce back three months later, avenging an earlier loss to Tito Ortiz in split decision fashion.
That victory came over a year ago. An injured shoulder forced Griffin off of a scheduled bout at UFC 114. When he steps into the octagon against Franklin, Griffin will have been out of action for a staggering 15 months.
What Franklin Must Do to Win:
The UFC did Franklin no favors in 2009, asking him to compete in back-to-back catchweight bouts after he had spent the prior year working towards and fighting at light heavyweight. This might have been fine for a younger fighter, but Franklin --now 36 and with 34 professional fights -- is running out of time and mileage to make another serious run at a title.
Fortunately for Franklin, his broken left forearm did not require surgery, which allowed him to avoid a lengthier layoff. He can now look to build on his first-round win over Liddell and position himself for a run in the shark tank that is the UFC' light-heavyweight division.
Franklin possesses knockout power in both hands, and comes equipped with some excellent technical striking. Against a big, lanky opponent like Griffin, Franklin needs to close the gap, inflict damage, then move out before Griffin can clinch and grind him down. Griffin possesses excellent leg kicks, and Franklin would do well to avoid them entirely, or use them as an opening to close quickly.
Both fighters are tough as nails, but a brawl favors Griffin. Franklin needs to keep things technical, and let his powerful hands go to work.
What Griffin Must Do to Win:
Griffin is a very large light heavyweight, and that size will be a big asset in this fight. He holds advantages over Franklin in height (6'3 to 6'1) and reach (77'' to 76''), and he also figures to be the heavier fighter come fight day. While the height and reach advantages don't look significant, Griffin's length -- especially in his legs -- means that Franklin will need to do his damage on the inside in the clinch. Carrying Griffin's weight in the clinch for three rounds could prove a daunting task for the smaller Franklin.
Most importantly, Griffin will need to show that he can come back from a shoulder injury that has plagued him for years. 15 months is a long time to be out of action, and while the word out of Xtreme Couture is that Griffin was able to fall back into his usual training routine after surgery, it remains to be seen how that will translate into the octagon.
The worst-case scenarios involve words like 'ring rust' and 'fighting with one arm.' The best-case scenario, however, is much more intriguing; Griffin fighting with full strength in his shoulder for the first time in years.
