MMAVu

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. If it worked for Yosemite Sam, it should work for Rich Franklin too. You have to feel a little for him, though; he’s clearly a notch or two below 185lb Champion Anderson Silva, but a notch or two above everyone else in the division.

Franklin is currently training Anderson Silva in L.A., preparing for his UFC 99 showdown with Wanderlei Silva; Anderson Silva’s former teammate. In an interview with the Dayton Daily News, Franklin also said he plans to stay at 205lbs in the future.

I’ll say this much…With training with Anderson out here in L.A. and him being the champ at 185, it really makes me feel like I don’t have a place at 185 pounds anymore. I don’t see myself going to back to 185.

I would think that if Silva decides on a permanent move to to 205lbs (the division where the “big” money fights for him are right now), as he will at UFC 101 against former 205lb Champion Forrest Griffin, Franklin could concievably drop back to middleweight…but that’s a lot of “ifs” for right now.

A heavyweight tilt is on tap for UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany on June 13, as top prospect Cain Velasquez takes on the grizzled vet, Heath Herring.

Seems to me like they’re grooming Velasquez for bigger and better things, as Herring is pretty much a gate keeper into the top of the division. The UFC tried to build up Herring, but he has consistently come up short against the top dogs, with a 2-3 record inside the UFC. Wrestlers also appear to be his kryptonite, as he couldn’t stuff a take down if his ever lovin’ life depended on it.

Enter Velasquez, a mountain of muscle who happens to be an NCAA wrestler, who has learned to strike very, very effectively. Should his stand-up not do the trick against Herring, his wrestling certainly will. Herring’s five fights have all gone to decision, but barring a lucky punch, this one is ending before then, in favor of Velasquez.