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Saturday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Saturday
5:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 12: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: One Punch Away
6:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Junior dos Santos defends his title for the first time against Frank Mir; Joe Lauzon and Jamie Varner; Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard, and Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara.
7:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
8:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night
Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger
10:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva
11:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
12:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night
Bubba McDaniel vs. Brad Tavares; Takeya Mizugaki vs. Erik Perez; Court McGee vs. Robert Whittaker; Kelvin Gastelum vs. Brian Melancon; Donald Cerrone vs. Rafael dos Anjos; Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann. From Indianapolis.
5:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 154: Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 12: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: One Punch Away
9:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Presents Mark Hunt: the Art of Fighting
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night
Jeremy Stephens vs. Rony Jason; Ryan LaFlare vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio; Brandon Thatch vs. Paul Thiago; Igor Pokrajac vs. Rafael Feijao; Daniel Sarafian vs. Cezar Ferreira; Dan Henderson vs. Vitor Belfort. From Goiania, Brazil. Read more -
Saturday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Saturday
3:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
5:30 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Insider
Gustafsson on the Brink. Alexander Gustafsson prepares for UFC 165.
6:00 a.m. ET Fox sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle; Carlos Condit vs. Dong Hyun Kim; Brendan Schaub vs Mirko Cro Cop; Rashad Evans vs Tito Ortiz.
7:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate 100 Knockouts
Part 3: Knockouts 40-11
8:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night Episode 20
Greg Maynard vs. Nate Diaz; Efrain Escudero vs. Evan Dunham; Tom Lawlor vs. Aaron Simpson; Amir Sadollah vs. Brad Blackburn. From Fairfax, Va.
2:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 6: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: Little Princesses Anthony Gutierrez annoys everyone; Julianna Pena gives two female fighters makeovers; Raquel Pennington takes on Jessamyn Duke.
3:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
3:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
4:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi; Nick Diaz vs. Josh Neer; Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn.
6:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 68: Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture. Randy Couture comes out of retirement to challenge for the heavyweight title; Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin.
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Unleashed
The best fights from the UFC archives
9:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Glory 11 - Chicago
Tyrone Spong vs. Nathan Corbett; Joseph Valtellini vs. Karim Ghajji. From Chicago.
9:00 p.m. ET AXS: AXS TV Fights
Championship Fighting Alliance 12 Joshua Sampo defends his flyweight title against Sam Thao; Fallon Fox vs. Ashlee Evans-Smith in women's featherweight tournament; Live from Miami.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
10:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3 Read more -
Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
3:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi; Nick Diaz vs. Josh Neer; Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn.
4:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 5: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: Redemption Rousey invites her mother to guest coach at practice; bantamweights struggle to keep their weight down; Team Tate's Louis Fisette looks to redeem his elimination fight loss.
5:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 6: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: Little Princesses Anthony Gutierrez annoys everyone; Julianna Pena gives two female fighters makeovers; Raquel Pennington takes on Jessamyn Duke.
7:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 68: Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture. Randy Couture comes out of retirement to challenge for the heavyweight title; Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin.
10:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Rory MacDonald vs. Mike Pyle; Carlos Condit vs. Dong Hyun Kim; Brendan Schaub vs Mirko Cro Cop; Rashad Evans vs Tito Ortiz.
11:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night
T.J. Dillashaw vs. Raphael Assuncao; Mike Pierce vs. Rousimar Palhares; Joey Beltran vs. Fabio Maldonado; Matt Hamill vs. Thiago Silva; Dong Hyun Kim vs. Erick Silva; Jake Shields vs. Demian Maia. From Sao Paulo, Brazil.
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Fight Night
T.J. Dillashaw vs. Raphael Assuncao; Mike Pierce vs. Rousimar Palhares; Joey Beltran vs. Fabio Maldonado; Matt Hamill vs. Thiago Silva; Dong Hyun Kim vs. Erick Silva; Jake Shields vs. Demian Maia. From Sao Paulo, Brazil.
9:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 22 David Rickles vs. J.J. Ambrose; featherweight tournament semifinals; from Wichita, Kan.
9:00 p.m. ET AXS: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 311 Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten preview CFA 24; Michael Schiavello and Pat Miletich preview Legacy FC 24 live in Dallas; features on Henry Cejudo and Helio Gracie.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate 100 Knockouts
Part 1: Knockouts 100-71
10:00 p.m. ET AXS: AXS TV Fights
Legacy Fighting Championship 24 Ryan Benoit meets Cody Fuller; Olympic wrestling gold medalist Henry Cejudo and former boxing world champion Holly Holm; live from Dallas.
11:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate 100 Knockouts
Part 2: Knockouts 70-41
11:30 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 22 David Rickles vs. J.J. Ambrose; featherweight tournament semifinals; from Wichita, Kan.
12:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate 100 Knockouts
Part 3: Knockouts 40-11 Read more -
Tuesday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Tuesday
6:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night 26 Prelims: Mauricio Rua vs. Chael Sonnen
8:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
Greatest comebacks examined.
9:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 68: Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture. Randy Couture comes out of retirement to challenge for the heavyweight title; Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin.
12:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC: Maynard vs. Guida
Gray Maynard vs. Clay Guida; Spencer Fisher vs. Sam Stout; Brian Ebersole vs. T.J. Waldburger. From Atlantic City, N.J.
3:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
Demian Maia vs. Jake Shields
4:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Insider
Alexander Gustafsson on the Brink. Alexander Gustafsson prepares for UFC 165.
6:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage: Greatest KO's 15
The best collection of knock outs ever caught on camera and featuring some of today's biggest stars in MMA.
7:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Unleashed
Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz
7:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Central
Interviews and analysis from inside the UFC.
7:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360 West: UFC Central
Interviews and analysis from inside the UFC.
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
8:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
9:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 5: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: Redemption Rousey invites her mother to guest coach at practice; bantamweights struggle to keep their weight down; Team Tate's Louis Fisette looks to redeem his elimination fight loss.
10:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
10:30 p.m ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Primetime
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos 3
11:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 5: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: Redemption Rousey invites her mother to guest coach at practice; bantamweights struggle to keep their weight down; Team Tate's Louis Fisette looks to redeem his elimination fight loss.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Central
Interviews and analysis from inside the UFC.
11:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360 West: UFC Central
Interviews and analysis from inside the UFC.
12:00 p.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
12:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Weigh-In
Demian Maia vs. Jake Shields Read more -
Sunday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Sunday
3:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Insider
Johny Hendricks; John Dodson; Mark Munoz; Camaraderie
7:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night
Prelims: Glover Teixeira vs. Ryan Bader Ivan Jorge vs. Keith Wisniewski; Elias Silverio vs. Joao Zeferino; Ramiro Hernandez vs. Lucas Martins; Kevin Souza vs. Felipe Arantes. From Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
12:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC: Miller vs. Diaz
Jim Miller vs. Nate Diaz; Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson; Josh Koscheck vs. Johnny Hendricks. From New Jersey.
2:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Unleashed
The best fights from the UFC archives
3:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 152: Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort
7:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Ultimate Insider
Behind-the-scenes of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Ultimate 100 Knockouts
Part 3: Knockouts 40-11
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360 West: UFC Unleashed
The best fights from the UFC archives
9:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360 West: UFC Wired
Joe Rogan hosts this UFC highlight show featuring some of the best bouts from years past.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 5: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: Redemption
11:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 68: Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture comes out of retirement to challenge for the heavyweight title; Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin. Read more -
Friday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Friday
3:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Junior dos Santos defends his title for the first time against Frank Mir; Joe Lauzon and Jamie Varner; Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard, and Brian Stann vs. Alessio Sakara.
4:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Fight Night Episode 21
Nate Diaz vs. Melvin Guillard Nate Quarry vs. Tim Credeur; Roger Huerta vs. Gray Maynard.
6:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
Anderson Silva vs. Carlos Newton The best of team Chute Box, featuring Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Rua.
7:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 152: Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort
4:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Wired
Highlights and interviews. With Joe Rogan.
4:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360 West: UFC Wired
Highlights and interviews. With Joe Rogan.
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Unleashed
Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson - Prelims
Dustin Kimura vs. Mitch Gagnon; Stephen Thompson vs. Chris Clements; Wilson Reis vs. Ivan Menjivar; Myles Jury vs. Mike Ricci. From Toronto.
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360 West: UFC Wired
Highlights and interviews. With Joe Rogan.
9:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 26 Cheick Kongo vs. Lavar Johnson; bantamweight tournament final; middleweight semifinals.
9:00 p.m. ET AXS: Inside MMA
EPISODE: 310 Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten size up UFC Fight Night 29; Interviews with Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman; Michael Schiavello and Pat Miletich examine MFC 38.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 5: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: Redemption
10:00 p.m. ET AXS: AXS TV Fights
Maximum Fighting Championship 38 - Behind Enemy Lines Jason South meets Sam Alvey for the middleweight title; Anthony Birchak vs. Tito Jones for bantamweight; Smealinho Rama vs. Anthony Hamilton for heavyweight.
11:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
11:00 p.m. ET SpikeTV: Bellator MMA Live
EPISODE: 26 Cheick Kongo vs. Lavar Johnson; bantamweight tournament final; middleweight semifinals.
12:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Unleashed
The best fights from the UFC archives, featuring Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama, Nam Phan v.s Leonard Garcia, and Donald Cerrone vs. Dennis Siver. Read more -
This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Rich Franklin Turns 39
By: Brian Knapp
Rich Franklin turns 39 this week. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
The fourth middleweight champion in Ultimate Fighting Championship history, Rich Franklin will celebrate his 39th birthday on Oct. 5.
Franklin christened his professional mixed martial arts career with 22 wins in his first 24 outings, a no-contest against Aaron Brink and a technical knockout loss to Lyoto Machida the lone hiccups. “Ace” captured the middleweight crown at UFC 53 in June 2005, when he stopped Evan Tanner on a fourth-round TKO. He successfully defended the title twice, first against Nate Quarry and then against David Loiseau, before his reign was ended by the great Anderson Silva at UFC 64 in October 2006. Though he has spent the rest of his career in Silva’s enormous shadow -- a rematch with “The Spider” at UFC 77 did nothing to help his cause -- Franklin’s resume speaks for itself.
The Cincinnati-based middleweight ranks sixth on the UFC’s all-time list in significant strikes landed (656), eighth in victories (14) and ninth in appearances (20). In addition, he remains the only man to have defeated former Pride Fighting Championships 205-pound titleholder Wanderlei Silva twice and owns wins over UFC hall of famers Chuck Liddell and Ken Shamrock. Though he has yet to officially retire, Franklin has not competed since November, when he was knocked out by Cung Le in the UFC on Fuel TV 6 main event at the Cotai Arena in Macau, China.
A former high school mathematics teacher in his native Ohio, Franklin holds a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati.
Those in MMA celebrating a birthday the week covering Sept. 29-Oct. 5:
SEPT. 30
Herb Dean (43)
Yves Edwards (37)
Damacio Page (31)
OCT. 1
Devin Cole (37)
OCT. 2
David Heath (37)
Takayo Hashi (36)
Ed Herman (33)
OCT. 3
Thiago Alves (30)
Dave Herman (29)
Seok Mo Kim (27)
OCT. 4
Milton Vieira (35)
Josh Burkman (33)
Ralek Gracie (28)
Andrew Bard (26)
Erik Koch (25)
OCT. 5
Hiromitsu Kanehara (43)
Rich Franklin (39)
Matt Hamill (37)
Follow the jump for reader comments. Read more -
Wednesday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Wednesday
3:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Insider
On The Brink in Boston
3:30 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Insider
The powerful bond between Anthony Pettis and head coach Duke Roufus; Erik Perez's roots in Mexico.
4:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC: Browne vs. Bigfoot
Travis Browne vs. Antonio Silva; Jake Ellenberger vs. Jay Hieron; John Dodson vs. Jussier Formiga; Josh Neer vs. Justin Edwards. From Minneapolis.
6:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 1: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: History in the Making Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate arrive at the gym.
8:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC: Belfort vs. Rockhold
Joao Zeferino vs. Rafael Natal; Evan Dunham vs. Rafael dos Anjos; Chris Camozzi vs. Jacare Souza; Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold. From Santa Catarina, Brazil.
10:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos in UFC on Fox; Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum in UFC 143; lightweight fight Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim in UFC 142.
11:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
Fastest Fights in Pride History Countdown of the fastest fights.
1:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva
2:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Nate Diaz fights Jim Miller; Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills; Cub Swanson vs. Charles Oliveira; Stefan Struve vs. Dave Herman.
3:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC: Belfort vs. Rockhold
Joao Zeferino vs. Rafael Natal; Evan Dunham vs. Rafael dos Anjos; Chris Camozzi vs. Jacare Souza; Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold. From Santa Catarina, Brazil.
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Tonight
UFC highlights, analysis and interviews.
7:30 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Central
Hosted by "Showdown" Joe Ferraro. UFC highlights and news.
8:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Wired
Joe Rogan hosts this UFC highlight show featuring some of the best bouts from years past.
9:00 p.m. ET Sportsnet 360: UFC Unleashed
The best fights from the UFC archives
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Unleashed
Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva
9:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Presents Breaking Ground
Ronda Rousey The rise of the first female champion in UFC history.
10:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 2: Ladies First
11:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz
12:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC: Belfort vs. Rockhold
Joao Zeferino vs. Rafael Natal; Evan Dunham vs. Rafael dos Anjos; Chris Camozzi vs. Ronaldo Souza; Vitor Belfort vs. Luke Rockhold. From Santa Catarina, Brazil. Read more -
Sunday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Sunday
10:00 a.m. ET MAvTV: King of the Cage
1:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 146: Relive all the action from UFC 146: Junior dos Santos vs Frank Mir, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
4:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
No Weight Classes Some of the biggest size discrepancies in MMA history.
8:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Unleashed
Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva
9:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: The Ultimate Fighter
Season 18 Episode 1: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate: History in the Making Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate arrive at the gym.
12:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 150: Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar II Read more -
Sunday MMA: A TV Viewer’s Guide
By: Jeff Sherwood
Sunday
9:30 a.m. ET MavTV: King of the Cage
12:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: Best of PRIDE Fighting Championship
Greatest Japanese Fighters The best of Pride's Japanese hometown stars.
1:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Reloaded
UFC 145: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans
4:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Ultimate Insider
Conor McGregor; Joe Lauzon; Travis Browne; Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar
5:30 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Ultimate Insider
Behind-the-scenes of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
7:00 p.m. ET Fox Sports 1: UFC Reloaded
UFC 148: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
12:00 a.m. ET Fox Sports 2: UFC Unleashed
Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva Read more