UFC 115 Post Fight Interview: Franklin Talks Win Over Liddell, Uncomfortable With Thought of Ending ‘Iceman’ Career

Results For UFC 115: Franklin Knocks Out Liddell In First Round, Cro Cop Submits Barry

Main Fight Card: (aired on PPV)

• Rich Franklin def. Chuck Liddell via KO (punch) – Round 1, 4:55
• Mirko Filipovic def. Pat Barry by submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 4:30
• Martin Kampmann def. Paulo Thiago by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27
• Ben Rothwell def. Gilbert Yvel by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-28, 29-28)
• Carlos Condit def. Rory MacDonald by TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 4:53

Preliminary Fight Card: (aired on Spike TV)

• Evan Dunham def. Tyson Griffin via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
• Matt Wiman def. Mac Danzig via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 1, 1:45

Preliminary Fight Card: (may not be aired)

• Mario Miranda def. David Loiseau via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 4:07
• James Wilks def. Peter Sobotta via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-28, 30-27)
• Claude Patrick def. Ricardo Funch via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 1:48
• Mike Pyle def. Jesse Lennox via technical submission (triangle choke) – Round 3, 4:44

Rich Franklin Wants Another Run At The UFC Title

Rich Franklin Believes Long Layoff Will Not Affect Chuck Liddell At UFC 115

The former UFC middleweight fighter Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin talks about how ring rust will most likely not affect Chuck Liddell’s performance at UFC 115.  Although it’s been 14 months since Liddell’s last fight, he told media that “he looked to be in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in when I saw him recently.”

Franklin also talks about how he heard that Liddell’s training camp brought in a wrestling coach so there were possibilities of seeing a new ‘Iceman’ at UFC 115.  We’re so used to seeing Liddell standing and trading with his opponents, but we may actually see a different Liddell this time around.

From Rich Franklin:

“I like Chuck. He’s a good guy. I doubt he’s going to, just based on his Dancing With the Stars performance, just mesmerize me with some of his moves. The thing is, in this sport, it’s kinda crazy because you’re expected to take three or four fights a year in mixed martial arts, but when you look at the top level boxers, often times boxers have anywhere from six to twelve months between fights. It’s a normal thing for that to happen. For myself particularly, I’ve had nine months since my last fight and if I was a top-level professional boxer, it wouldn’t be so abnormal but in this sport people are like, whoa what do you think about ring rust. In Chuck’s case, he’s had 14 months off. I don’t know if that’s going to be a factor or anything like that but he looked to be in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in when I saw him recently. I heard he hired a new wrestling coach so as far as getting a gauge on this fight, I’m not really sure what his game plan will be coming in. I don’t know if were gonna see the same Chuck we normally see or if he’s gonna try to switch things up and look to take me down or what his game plan will be.”

UFC 115 Pre Fight Video Interview: Chuck Liddell Ripped and Ready To Fight Rich Franklin

Countdown To UFC 115 ‘Liddell vs Franklin’ Airs June 8 On Versus and June 10 On Spike TV

Just a friendly reminder for those who want to catch the Countdown to the UFC 115 ‘Liddell vs Franklin’ TV special.  The episode premieres tonight, June 8, on the Versus channel, starting at midnight 12am ET.

UFC 115 will headline a main event clash between former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell and former UFC middleweight champion Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin.  Also on the card is a heavyweight match-up between two of the top MMA strikers, Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic taking on Pat Berry as part of the co-main event.

For those of you who can’t catch the episode, Countdown to UFC 115 will also be aired this Thursday night at 10pm ET, June 10, on Spike TV.

Chuck Liddell Believes Long Layoff Will Not Affect Him At UFC 115, Plans To Knock Out Rich Franklin

The former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell will return to the octagon on June 12 to face former middleweight champ Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin.  Although Liddell hasn’t fought for over 14 months, he believes that ring rust will not be a factor this upcoming Saturday night.

‘The Iceman’ feels very confident and in top shape coming into the UFC 115 main event.  He expects a very difficult match against a the hard-hitting Franklin, but plans on knocking him out by any means necessary.

From Chuck Liddell:

“I’m not worried [about his 14-month layoff], and I’m not going to worry about it. My timing is on, my training is on, so I can’t see that affecting me in the fight. I don’t think it’s going to make a difference. Like I said, being in shape the whole time, it’s not like I’m cutting a bunch of weight. I didn’t take a year off and get fat. I’ve been in shape for a long time. I didn’t start my camp at 250. I started at 224. I’m not worried about it. I’m in shape and ready to go. If Rich wants to push, I’ll push him as far as he wants to go… I had plenty of time to adapt and prepare for Rich. It’s not a factor. This guy is a quality opponent and a tough guy, [but] I am planning to knock him out.”

UFC 115 ‘Liddell vs Franklin’ Fight Card and Schedule In Vancouver (June 12 on PPV)

Date: Saturday- June 12, 2010

Time: 10 pm ET  (Live on PPV)

Location: General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia- Canada

Main Fight Card: (aired on PPV)

• Chuck Liddell vs. Rich Franklin
• Patrick Barry vs. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
• Martin Kampmann vs. Paulo Thiago
• Ben Rothwell vs. Gilbert Yvel
• Carlos Condit vs. Rory MacDonald

Preliminary Fight Card: (aired on Spike TV)

• Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman
• Evan Dunham vs. Tyson Griffin

Preliminary Fight Card: (may not be aired)

• David Loiseau vs. Mario Miranda
• Peter Sobotta vs. James Wilks
• Ricardo Funch vs. Claude Patrick
• Jesse Lennox vs. Mike Pyle

Rich Franklin Always Wondered About Fighting Chuck Liddell, Ready For Battle At UFC 115 In Vancouver

UFC fighter Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin always wondered how it would be to fight Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell, especially during those times where Franklin was the middleweight champion at the same time Liddell was the light heavyweight champion.  A few years later, both UFC legends are finally scheduled to clash within the octagon.

Liddell vs Franklin will headline the upcoming UFC 115 main event on June 12 in Vancouver, Canada.

“I always thought about [fighting Liddell]. I wondered what it would be like to fight this person or that person, but I never thought the fight would materialize because I was a 185-pounder, he was a 205-pounder. Both weight classes at the time when we were champions had enough contenders in them that you didn’t have to worry about who you were going to fight next to defend your title. Neither one of us needed to … Chuck’s already a UFC Hall of Famer and UFC legend. He’s got a who’s who of victories. Of course recently he’s had a little bit of a rougher road, but it’s Chuck Liddell.”

Chuck Liddell Feels Well Rested and Ready To Make His Octagon Return Against Rich Franklin At UFC 115

Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell is excited and ready to battle Rich Franklin at UFC 115.  After resting his body for a little over a year now, Liddell explains how retirement is out of the question at this point in his career.  On the contrary, he feels like he has a lot of fight left in him still and is ready to prove it on June 12.

He even mentions how much he enjoys watching the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza…

From Chuck Liddell:

“It was Dana White who talked about my retirement. He started this cheap talk. I just gave my body a rest. I’ve being fighting for many years and needed a little time off. But now the Iceman is back. Some time ago I used to train with a kimono. I started training jiu-jitsu in 1997 and every day I learn something new and try to be better at it. I like striking but if I haven’t got good jiu-jitsu and wrestling then I won’t be a good striker. I enjoyed watching Ronaldo Jacaré fight at Strikeforce against Matt Lindland. His jiu-jitsu is amazing. He’s the kind of fighter I like to see.”

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