Rich Franklin (22-3) has been forced to withdraw from his bout with Travis Lutter (9-4) at UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio due to a torn meniscus in his right knee according to MMAjunkie.
Franklin’s camp is reporting that this is the second such injury to Franklin’s right knee. The former middleweight champ is scheduled to have corrective surgery sometime in January with a tentative return date of June.
Ohio fans are sure to be disappointed.
Franklin is coming off a devastating loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 77: “Hostile Territory” in front of his hometown crowd this past October. In his only other fight in the Buckeye State, “Ace” thrashed Jason MacDonald via corner stoppage at UFC 68: “Uprising” in March.
No word yet if the injury occurred during training or happened while filming the motion picture “Weapon,” where Franklin stars as a genetically engineered super soldier.
This will not be an easy pill to swallow for Travis Lutter, who hasn’t competed since nearly pulling off an upset of Anderson Silva at UFC 67: “All or Nothing” back in February. The long layoff for the “The Serial Killer” is due in large part to a chronic neck injury (not his inability to make weight for the title fight with Silva).
In fact, he was supposed to fight Ryan Jensen at UFC 74: “Respect” in August, but had to withdraw after re-aggravating the injury during training.
No word yet if Lutter will be given a new opponent but with this much time remaining before UFC 82 I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a suitable replacement.
In fact I seem to remember a certain middleweight named Evan Tanner being booked for UFC 82 – without an opponent.
Just a suggestion.
To check out the latest UFC 82 rumored fight card click here.
38 Comments »
ehhh watever
I was really looking forward to going to Columbus and watching Franklin come back after being there for his second fight with Silva. Oh well at least I get to see Anderson Silva get his ass beat down by Dan Henderson. That is going to be the best!!!! Maybe then he will learn some English!!
according to rich franklin he was never offered that fight to begin with
Rich Franklin has released a message on his official website, denying any rumors that the former UFC Middleweight Champion would be fighting Travis Lutter in March at UFC 82.
I am told there are rumors of me fighting multiple people in March. I have not signed for a fight in March. I don’t believe that I am allowed to fight more than once in a night. I hope this clears up any confusion. I have not signed to fight anyone in March, or any other month.
2nd a torn meniscus is usally about 1 week recovery time from surgery.
yeah you only have like 2 plus months to get someone not like 2 weeks,
damm,,, are we watching the decline of Rich Franklin????
I think lutter should fight ed herman,or martin kampmann, or even leben………. Any other ideas???
I wouldn’t mind seeing lutter fight bisping that would be interesting.
I think lutter could probebly submitt him but im not really one to count bisping out……. bisping vs herman would be interesting
[quote comment="240390"]I was really looking forward to going to Columbus and watching Franklin come back after being there for his second fight with Silva. Oh well at least I get to see Anderson Silva get his ass beat down by Dan Henderson. That is going to be the best!!!! Maybe then he will learn some English!![/quote]
Number 1 Henderson will in my opinion eat knees to the face, and 2nd the part about him learning English is some retarded stuff. He doesn’t need to learn English, I don’t care what he says as long as he keeps kicking ass. I mean listening to the guys who speak English talk is bad enough anyway.
well i think thats it for rich. not a bad career!
Interested to see whether it was the training or the movie. Isn’t he in that movie with the “Saved by the Bell” girl? Anyways, that sucks. Put Lutter in there with Evan Tanner. That should really show if Tanner is truly ready to get back in the ring or not.
OHHHHHHHHH WELLLLL LoL
Bring back Lindland!!!
Franklin sucks anyway. I hope it is the decline of Rich Franklin.
hav lutter fight okami and if okami wins, title shot.
[quote comment="240594"]hav lutter fight okami and if okami wins, title shot.[/quote]
I really dont think okami is elegable for a title shot silva would knock his face off and lutter would submitt him
[quote comment="240577"]Franklin sucks anyway. I hope it is the decline of Rich Franklin.[/quote]
must not have watched many fights either that or your a complete idiot
filming the motion picture “Weapon,” where Franklin stars as a genetically engineered super soldier. ????WTF????? what a fool
[quote comment="240390"] Oh well at least I get to see Anderson Silva get his ass beat down by Dan Henderson. That is going to be the best!!!! [/quote]
NOT GONNA HAPPEN. and he CAN speak English
It seems like it was just yesterday than he was knocking out Ken Shamrock, albeit an out of his prime Shamrock and on his way to stardom. Sure he had some great fights with Tanner, Quarry, and Loiseau. It’s just a shame that he canno get over the hump known as Anderson Silva.
[quote comment="240816"]It seems like it was just yesterday than he was knocking out Ken Shamrock, albeit an out of his prime Shamrock and on his way to stardom. Sure he had some great fights with Tanner, Quarry, and Loiseau. It’s just a shame that he canno get over the hump known as Anderson Silva.[/quote]
Yeah its sad and terrifying at the saem time.
I think alot of people like him b/c he reminds the fans of an “average person” you know. Just a regular guy fighting his ass off beating peeps down. Thats what I think.
Lutter vs Bisping. Just so I can see Lutter ruff him up a bit.
[quote post="4279"]I was really looking forward to going to Columbus and watching Franklin come back after being there for his second fight with Silva. Oh well at least I get to see Anderson Silva get his ass beat down by Dan Henderson. That is going to be the best!!!! Maybe then he will learn some English!! [/quote]
Maybe every fighter he kicks ass should learn some portuguese then. Really, Henderson has nothing on Silva. Hes gonna get destroyed. UFC doesn`t even want Henderson in the UFC. Why do you think his first two fights are going to be world title fights when every other fighter in Pride had tune up fights before!? It has nothing to do with him being champion of Pride. He still needs time to adapt to the octagon and White wants none of that. He will leave UFC next year if he loses to Silva.
[quote comment="240577"]Franklin sucks anyway. I hope it is the decline of Rich Franklin.[/quote]
Franklin doesnt suck. he just isnt as good as Silva. I’d like to see a Franklin/Henderson matchup.
RICH FRANKLIN SHOULD GO BACK TO TEACHING!!!….and then go jump off a cliff!!
UFC mania….I think that you suggested the best possible replacement for Rich Franklin……Evan Tanner. That is a perfect fight for him to get back in the mix of things. He can shake off the ring rust against a guy that wont beat him up at all and will just try and submit him. This would be a great warm up fight for Tanner, who is crafty enough in ju jitsu to nullify Lutters submissions, but too brutal for Lutter to handle.
Great suggestion Mania, I hope Joe Silva see’s it the same way u do!
[quote comment="240871"]RICH FRANKLIN SHOULD GO BACK TO TEACHING!!!….and then go jump off a cliff!![/quote]
uumm, what? go back to teaching and jump of a cliff?…did he have pre marritals with your girlfriend or something…Rich will be back
Lutter/ Leben, or Lutter/ ed Herman are good suggestions. Of course should be on fight night and not for 44.95$
[quote comment="240871"]RICH FRANKLIN SHOULD GO BACK TO TEACHING!!!….and then go jump off a cliff!![/quote]
Wow! you really need to stay away from the video games.
[quote comment="240875"]UFC mania….I think that you suggested the best possible replacement for Rich Franklin……Evan Tanner. That is a perfect fight for him to get back in the mix of things. He can shake off the ring rust against a guy that wont beat him up at all and will just try and submit him. This would be a great warm up fight for Tanner, who is crafty enough in ju jitsu to nullify Lutters submissions, but too brutal for Lutter to handle.
Great suggestion Mania, I hope Joe Silva see’s it the same way u do![/quote]
I second that, well explained. If Tanner comes back at 100% then he should take the fight. It would be the perfect match up as Lutter is no push over so Tanner would have to bring it and have good cardio.
first hollywood is going to destroy the spider if rampadge cant knock him out then no way the spider will the only way the spider will win is if dan doesnt come in great shape conditioning will be huge this fight second the should throw tanner in wilh lutter it would be a great welcome back fight for tanner i think he would destroy lutter
Patiently waiting for the return of Rich Franklin……
Rich can only sit back and pray that Dan Henderson beats Anderson Silva to become the first ever undisputed MW champion. That is the only way Rich will ever see himself in another blockbuster fight at 185. Dan Henderson vs Rich Franklin would be an EXCELLENT main event once Dan defeats the spider.
[quote comment="241127"]Rich can only sit back and pray that Dan Henderson beats Anderson Silva to become the first ever undisputed MW champion. That is the only way Rich will ever see himself in another blockbuster fight at 185. Dan Henderson vs Rich Franklin would be an EXCELLENT main event once Dan defeats the spider.[/quote]
Violent Mike- I know that Dan Henderson is your favorite fighter, but would you give Franklin a chance at beating him?
Of course he have a chance, BUT it would be slim to none!!! LOL. But nah, I think it would be a great fight. I think that Hendo would come in to that fight wanting to show off his standup. Hendo/Franklin would be a war. Dan Henderson would be the favorite for sure, a rather large favorite at that, especially if he beats Anderson. If I were to make odds for a Henderson/Franklin fight right now, they would be
Henderson: -220
Frankline: 180
Sound about right to anyone else?
By the way, I’m leaving work now, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL, rather than “Frankline: 180″, lets call it “Franklin: 180″. oooops. Looks like I’m really trying to get out of here…
AAAHH HAAA!!!!!!! The PLUS signs don’t show up. I knew I typed it the first time……….
Felize Navidad
Santa Clause is a fat bitch!