UFC 50 Preview
Rich Franklin vs. Jorge Rivera
Oct 22, 2004
Rich Franklin vs.
Jorge Rivera
FRANKLIN: Kentucky native Rich "Ace" Franklin has an MMA record of 15-2 and trains as part of both Meat Truck Incorporated and Team Extreme. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Meat Truck Inc is run by Kerry "Meat Truck" Schall. They also train at New Generation Martial Arts with Jorge Gurgel. Franklin was a schoolteacher with a Masters Degree in Education and will likely return to teaching once his fighting career is over.
Rich first gained exposure at WEF 9 with a win over EF veteran
Gary Myers. Franklin threw a
roundhouse kick to Gary's head in the third, making him crumble to
the floor and forcing Kipp Kollar to stop the bout. Rich faced
Huntington Beach fighter Aaron
Brink at the IFC Warriors Challenge 11. Nearly two minutes into
the bout, Franklin pounded a bloody Brink to the mat and Aaron got
his foot caught between the fencing and the floor of the cage. The
bout was declared a No Contest.
Franklin defeated UFC veteran Travis Fulton at the RINGS USA tournament when Fulton could not continue due to a broken hand. A bout at the World Fighting Alliance pitted Rich against Muay Thai fighter Marvin Eastman and ended in a controversial win submission win for Rich (see Eastman bio). Franklin won back-to-back wins in the UCC and made his UFC debut at UFC 42 against Evan Tanner. He overwhelmed Tanner with strikes and rolled through Edwin Dewees at UFC 44 with an injured groin. Rich experienced a rare loss against Antonio Inoki prodigy Ryoto Machida when he was knocked out at the Inoki Bom Be Ye show last New Year's Eve. He came back to win two in a row and has only gone more than a round one time (against Machida) in his last 10 fights.
RIVERA: Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera is the USMMA light-heavyweight champion and the HOOK'n'SHOOT light-heavyweight champion. He trains with Muay Thai trainer Mark Delegrada of Sit Yod Tong and UFC veteran Keith Rockel as members of Team Elite at the Massachusetts Submission Academy. He has a MMA record of 14-2 and makes his third appearance in the UFC.
Rivera loved to watch the sport on video and began fighting in 1999 (beating former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia by decision). In his pro debut, Jorge battled Hammer House wrestler Brandon Lee Hinkle and fell to strikes after six minutes of action. Rivera didn't lose another fight for nearly three years (a nine-fight run) and captured two titles in a four-month span in 2002. Jorge fought UFC 50 participant Travis Lutter at Ring of Fury 2. They went nearly 14 minutes before Rivera could land a punch that sent the defending champion to the canvas, winning via referee stoppage.
Rivera made his debut at UFC 44 where he faced Canadian superstar David Loiseau. Loiseau struck effectively from a Muay Thai clinch and delivered knees and elbows that caused damage to Rivera's head. Rivera couldn't stop Loiseau's elbows but he kept the pressure on so the second round was about even. Jorge came out aggressively in the third and it looked like he was going to finish David. Loiseau put together some solid punches late, but an uppercut in the final seconds dropped him and Rivera stood over him striking as the horn sounded. It likely gave Rivera the decision victory. Jorge lost in his return to the Octagon at UFC 46 to British striker Lee Murray by armbar and recently stopped UFC veteran Mark Weir with strikes in England.
MY PICK: Franklin. There has been talk of Rich having issues with weight but he knew he had a fight coming and has had plenty of time to ease down to 185. Rivera has the more dangerous hands but the submissions and overall game go to Franklin. Franklin by submission in round one.
FRANKLIN: Kentucky native Rich "Ace" Franklin has an MMA record of 15-2 and trains as part of both Meat Truck Incorporated and Team Extreme. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Meat Truck Inc is run by Kerry "Meat Truck" Schall. They also train at New Generation Martial Arts with Jorge Gurgel. Franklin was a schoolteacher with a Masters Degree in Education and will likely return to teaching once his fighting career is over.
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Franklin defeated UFC veteran Travis Fulton at the RINGS USA tournament when Fulton could not continue due to a broken hand. A bout at the World Fighting Alliance pitted Rich against Muay Thai fighter Marvin Eastman and ended in a controversial win submission win for Rich (see Eastman bio). Franklin won back-to-back wins in the UCC and made his UFC debut at UFC 42 against Evan Tanner. He overwhelmed Tanner with strikes and rolled through Edwin Dewees at UFC 44 with an injured groin. Rich experienced a rare loss against Antonio Inoki prodigy Ryoto Machida when he was knocked out at the Inoki Bom Be Ye show last New Year's Eve. He came back to win two in a row and has only gone more than a round one time (against Machida) in his last 10 fights.
RIVERA: Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera is the USMMA light-heavyweight champion and the HOOK'n'SHOOT light-heavyweight champion. He trains with Muay Thai trainer Mark Delegrada of Sit Yod Tong and UFC veteran Keith Rockel as members of Team Elite at the Massachusetts Submission Academy. He has a MMA record of 14-2 and makes his third appearance in the UFC.
Rivera loved to watch the sport on video and began fighting in 1999 (beating former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia by decision). In his pro debut, Jorge battled Hammer House wrestler Brandon Lee Hinkle and fell to strikes after six minutes of action. Rivera didn't lose another fight for nearly three years (a nine-fight run) and captured two titles in a four-month span in 2002. Jorge fought UFC 50 participant Travis Lutter at Ring of Fury 2. They went nearly 14 minutes before Rivera could land a punch that sent the defending champion to the canvas, winning via referee stoppage.
Rivera made his debut at UFC 44 where he faced Canadian superstar David Loiseau. Loiseau struck effectively from a Muay Thai clinch and delivered knees and elbows that caused damage to Rivera's head. Rivera couldn't stop Loiseau's elbows but he kept the pressure on so the second round was about even. Jorge came out aggressively in the third and it looked like he was going to finish David. Loiseau put together some solid punches late, but an uppercut in the final seconds dropped him and Rivera stood over him striking as the horn sounded. It likely gave Rivera the decision victory. Jorge lost in his return to the Octagon at UFC 46 to British striker Lee Murray by armbar and recently stopped UFC veteran Mark Weir with strikes in England.
MY PICK: Franklin. There has been talk of Rich having issues with weight but he knew he had a fight coming and has had plenty of time to ease down to 185. Rivera has the more dangerous hands but the submissions and overall game go to Franklin. Franklin by submission in round one.
