Fighter Profile: Rich Franklin

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Height: 6'1"

Weight: 205 lbs

Born: 10-05-1974

Organization: UFC

Current Record: 28-5-0-1

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin was born in 1974 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a former high school math teacher. His nickname Ace comes from his supposed resemblence to Jim Carey's character Ace Venture. Franklin is the former IFC Light Heavyweight Champion and was a coach on season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter.

After a 17-1-0-1 start to his career with his lone loss having come to a young Lyoto Machida in 2003, Franklin won the UFC Middleweight Divison Championship at UFC 53 in June of 2005 by defeating Evan Tanner. He successfully defended his belt against Nate Quarry and David Loiseau before losing the title to Anderson Silva at UFC 64 in October 2006. After wins over Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald and Yushin Okami, Rich got his rematch at UFC 77 with Silva for the Middleweight title in October 2007 but was again defeated by "The Spider" via TKO. Following the second loss to Silva, Franklin defeated both Travis Lutter and Matt Hamill by TKO before losing to Dan Henderson at UFC 93 by split decision. He answered the rare loss by a unanimous decision win over Wanderlei Silva at a 195 pound catchweight at UFC 99, but suffered his 5th career defeat at the hands of Vitor Belfort at UFC 103, also at 195 lbs. Franklin has since moved up to the UFC's Light Heavyweight Division (205 lbs) after the UFC made it clear that another fight with Anderson Silva was not in their plans.

Franklin works with the American Fighter apparel company and together with American Fighter President Jeff Adler created The Keep It In The Ring Foundation "to advocate non-violence and build character in youth." Franklin holds both a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Cincinnati.

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Rich Franklin Professional Career - Recent MMA News:

• Lost a Split Decision to Dan Henderson at UFC 93 on January 17, 2009

• Defeated Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva by Unanimous Decision at UFC 99 on June 13, 2009 at a catch weight of 195 pounds

• Lost to Vitor Belfort in the main event at UFC 103 on September 19, 2009, in Round 1 @ 2:00

• Sat down with Scott Dryden, ProFighting-fans.com's Editor-in-Chief, on September 14, just days before his UFC 103 fight with Belfort - Rich Franklin UFC 103 Interview

• Defeated Chuck Liddell by KO at UFC 115 on June 12, 2010 in Vancouver - UFC 115 results

Updated June 2010

Rich Franklin studio picture used with premission from UFC