Keys to Victory – Rich Franklin
Published by Dave Sholler on January 12th, 2009 in Current Events

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Former middleweight champion Rich Franklin continues his campaign at 205 pounds this Saturday when he takes on ex-PRIDE champion Dan Henderson in the main event of UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland.

The bout should be an interesting contrast in styles. Franklin, a superb striker and well-conditioned athlete, will battle Henderson, a steel-chinned wrestler with an affinity for clinch fighting.

As Franklin prepares for his second straight fight at light heavyweight, MMAmemories.com takes a look at his keys to victory. If he can follow these steps, he may find himself in line for a second stint as coach on The Ultimate Fighter series. Better yet, Franklin may also get himself closer to another title shot.

KEY ONE – AVOID THE CLINCH

One of the major reasons Franklin is no longer the middleweight champion is because he struggled to handle Anderson Silva’s strong clinch. In preparing for Henderson, Franklin must be aware of the similar clinch pitfalls.

A former two-division champion in PRIDE, Henderson is deceptively strong in close quarters and likes to land short blows in the clinch. Whether its knees or punches from dirty boxing, Henderson excels when fighting inside the proverbial phone booth.

On the other hand, Franklin, who’s only lost three times as a professional, exhausted himself in the two losses to Silva by trying to escape the clinch. He’ll need to do better in the clinch if he is to have any success against Hendo.

KEY TWO – BE PATIENT ON THE FEET

Franklin is a gifted southpaw with excellent power and speed. However, he’ll have to be methodical in his approach against Henderson. The 38-year-old Henderson has proven time and time again that he can eat good punches and remain unscathed in fights. The California native also throws devastating punches of his own and Franklin must be on high alert. With that said, Franklin will have to be patient to avoid tasting Hendo’s leather.

The best approach for Franklin is to stay patient and throw combinations. Eventually, he can force Henderson into some bad spots where he can land heavier shots.

Franklin is definitely the superior technical striker. He’ll have to prove it on Saturday though.

KEY THREE – BRING PLENTY OF GAS

Conditioning is hardly worth questioning for either competitor, but it is worth noting that this fight will probably go the distance. Therefore, both competitors should be geared up for the long haul. Franklin reigned supreme at middleweight because his gas tank never seemed to empty. Whether its road work or iron man training, Franklin should stick to the conditioning work that made him champion and use it against Henderson.

KEY FOUR – DON’T GET STUCK ON YOUR BACK

Having attended a Rich Franklin grappling seminar, this writer can vouch for “Ace’s” ground skills. Still, if Franklin ends up on his back against Henderson, the results could be damaging. Henderson is relentless in the ground and pound and can scramble with the best of them. A former Olympic wrestler, Henderson knows how to smother an opponent. Franklin should be aware of these pitfalls and plan accordingly.