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Getting the opportunity to fight on the biggest stage on the North American MMA stage, the UFC, is a daunting task all in itself. With thousands upon thousands of viewers watching the pay per views, it’s enough to make almost any fighter feel nervous. But what if you are going to fight on free television in front of millions of viewers in the main event? That’s a whole new level that no fighter can relate to. One such fighter has found himself with this rare opportunity. Cincinnati product, Rich “Ace” Franklin, will be facing MMA legend Ken Shamrock in the main event of the biggest night in MMA history with potentially millions of viewers tuning into Spike to catch the live finale of The Ultimate Fighter show. I was fortunate enough to be able to sit down with Rich as he prepares for the biggest fight in his short, but extremely successful career. We discussed his views on the impact of the reality show, who he thought was going to win the Middleweight finale, and how he really felt about fighters getting a shot in the UFC from a reality show compared to all of the fighters who fought their way up the ladder.

MMAringreport: I’m here with Rich Franklin, UFC fighter fighting on the Ultimate fighter finale. Thanks a lot Rich for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with MMAringreport.

Rich : No problem, anytime.

MMAringreport: First question, how has your training been going, who have you been training with, and are you having any problems making it back to 205?

Rich : (Laughs) Am I have problems making 205? I might have problems making 205 on the downside since I was at 185 for my last fight. No, definitely I will make 205 with ease, will not have to spend too much time in the sauna. I’m training up here at New Generation Martial Arts at Jorge Grugel’s school. I’ve got him for my jiu-jitsu coach, Neal Rowe does my Muay Thai, and he owns a school here SACAN Martial Arts in Cincinnati . Rob Radford is my boxing coach. He’s a separate facility, Boxing 4 Fitness here in Cincinnati to. Those are the three gyms I train with and when we come in the old work my time hits and I’ve got him to spar with as well as several other guys. But the two main guys I’m sparring and training with for this particular fight is two of Jorge’s students and the guys who work out with us here in the morning, the pro workouts, is Nick Olberding and Mike Patt. They have been with me since day one. And Mark Adams, who you saw me rolling with today, he’s been coming in the past couple of weeks and has been helping me out to, he’s a great wrestler.

MMAringreport: With you slowly embarking on the biggest night in MMA history, what do you think the impact, if any, will be on the sport knowing that it is going to be live on free T.V.?

Rich : You know, I’m not really sure. The UFC is predicting big ratings for the final episode. I don’t know how much bigger the ratings are going to be than the actual show itself since it’s on a Saturday night. To be real honest, unless you are watching the show, I haven’t seen any real advertising for the fights on that Saturday night so a lot of people that just might watch Spike T.V. might not catch the fact that there is some fights and that Ken Shamrock is even fighting that Saturday night. Most people wouldn’t know who I am, the average person maybe watching Spike wouldn’t know my name, but they would have heard Ken Shamrock. I’ve not seen any advertisements for the final episode yet other than what they mentioned in the last episode I saw.

MMAringreport: Yeah, I found that kind of odd as well. There hasn’t been much advertising.

Rich : I think that most people watching the show, the people that follow the sport and log on to the forums and stuff, know about the final episode. And know that the final episode is different than the pay per view the following week. But they have been advertising that pay per view since week one, and a lot of people will believe that is the final episode.

MMAringreport: Interesting. Real quick, what are your thoughts on taking on a legend in MMA, Ken Shamrock? How did this materialize for you and what was going through your mind when you found out you were all set to do this?

Rich: First thought on this, two words “Big Opportunity.” I don’t know what happened. The UFC was trying to sign Tito and Ken, it was not working out for whatever reason. So the UFC came to Monte Cox, my manager, and talked to me about it. We went back and forth and decided it was a good opportunity, so we took the fight. Why did they choose me? I’m not really sure. I know they signed me to an extended contract so they plan on keeping me around awhile. And maybe they believe if I beat Ken, I can become the closest thing to a household name for MMA. Possibly, but I’m not really sure I don’t know what their thoughts are on that because a lot of people say, well if they plan on keeping you around for awhile why didn’t they put you in the title mix for 185? Things can wait so we’ll just see and this is a big opportunity for me and I’m pumped up about it.

MMAringreport: It’s interesting you mention getting the possible title shot at 185, after your last UFC victory against Jorge Rivera, there was some talk about you getting your shot at 185. Compared to fighting on national T.V. against Shamrock or getting the opportunity to fight for the UFC title, which would you have rather done and why?

Rich : It doesn’t matter because my contract is preset and I get paid the same either way. It’s not about the money. So a fight is a fight. I get paid X amount of dollars to fight for that title or I get X amount of dollars to fight Ken. Either way it is just a fight and if I’m good enough and I keep performing the way I should then there’s no reason I wouldn’t get a title shot in the future anyway. The UFC has given me good opportunities this last year and I’m just happy to fill in wherever they need me at this point.

MMAringreport: You mentioned earlier that you are training with two specific individuals leading up to this fight, and Shamrock has been known for his submission game, do you think he will try to take you down or keep the fight standing? And have you been working more on your ground game recently knowing how this fight might pan out?

Rich : No, my training stays pretty much the same for every person I fight. I try to keep all of my skills sharp, my stand up, ground game, working on my wrestling and everything. I work on all of it, its all there. But what I will do is watch tapes on whomever I may be fighting and if they do something specifically, say for example Ken specializes in leg locks and ankle locks and stuff like that and that is what he is known for. Then for him, I might roll with some jiu-jitsu guys whom are a little better in leg locks, or if Ken is a really good wrestler, I’ll specifically roll with guys that are wrestlers and stuff like that just to feel that kind of functional strength that wrestlers have. Its just a different kind of style. So it doesn’t do you any good to practice your jiu-jitsu with a guy that has a super slick guard if I do not plan in being in Ken’s guard that much. So I just tailor it to me and how it will benefit me most.

MMAringreport: Do you have anything planned yet after your fight against Shamrock and do you still have that 3 fight deal with the UFC, win or lose?

Rich : Well, after Shamrock we are staying at the Hardrock so we’ll probably go back and change. And go out that night I’m sure somewhere. Maybe the UFC will have an after fight party. As for any future plans beyond that, I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet (laughs). I really don’t know. The UFC did sign me to a three fight deal that was the original contract they signed me to, this is the second of that three fight deal that I was locked into. The UFC has since added 6 more fights onto that contract, so I’m now contracted for 8 fights total with the UFC.

MMAringreport: Wow! It does sound like they are trying to make you into more of a household name. Obviously if they are trying to sign you for longer term fights, plus now putting you on national television against one of the more well known MMA fighters, I mean this is a great opportunity for you.

Rich : Yeah, I just have to produce.

MMAringreport: Just real quick now, going back to the Ultimate Fighter. I know Josh Rafferty was on the show, but can you give me some of your opinions on the Ultimate Fighter Middleweight Finale between Sanchez and Florian? And also what is your prediction and opinions on who will win the fight and who is he better fighter?

Rich : Well, you know I’ll make my pick first then I want to explain my statement. I think Sanchez will beat Florian. Sanchez has just looked very dominant in the show, his jiu-jitsu is great, he has pretty good wrestling even though Koscheck was outwrestling him in the last fight, Koscheck is a great wrestler. But for your average fair, Sanchez has some great wrestling. The main reason why I think Sanchez is going to beat Florian, and I’ve heard Florian’s jiu-jitsu is remarkable on the ground, but like Florian said in the last episode that he fought Leben, he’s really a 155 lb. fighter. He’s much smaller than Sanchez and I think if you put two guys on the ground that are equally skilled in jiu-jitsu, the heavier guys going to end up pulling out the victory. I think Florian’s going to end up getting tired and Sanchez will end up catching him. So that’s my pick on that, mainly because of the weight class differential. Plus, Florian fought Chris Leben and shot in one time and could not get him down and there definitely was a weight difference there. And Leben was clearly winning the fight but Florian was able to cut him and pulled out the victory. But with that weight difference, I just don’t see how he is going to be able to pull off a victory against Sanchez. Either way, I think he’s a good fighter still.

MMAringreport: Thanks. Just curious for the fans who you thought was going to win that finale. One of the last questions, other fighters have commented that it takes years and numerous fights to even get an opportunity to fight in the UFC. What are your thoughts on certain fighters getting a shot in the UFC from winning a reality show rather than putting in their time like other fighters, such as yourself?

Rich : You know, it just so happens it took me several fights to get there and a lot of time. These guys have an opportunity and had this reality show been around maybe three or four years ago, before I had gotten in the UFC, you had damn well bet I would have jumped on the bandwagon and tried to get in the reality show for a contract option at the UFC. You can’t blame the guys that are in the show for that, it is a great opportunity for them. And even though it took me longer to get there, I’m not going to so to speak “hate” on someone else just because they had a great opportunity. So, more power to them. If they are good enough to be in the UFC, then they will perform and they’ll stay in the UFC and get an extended contract. But if not, then their true colors will shine and they won’t be there long.

MMAringreport: Cool, thanks a lot Rich for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to MMAringreport. Anything you have to say to all your fans out there before you head up to Las Vegas ?

Rich : Yeah, just check out the T.U.F. finals on April 9 th and see me and Ken locking it up. It’s going to be a great fight. I want to say thanks my sponsors, Tapout, Biz, Damage wear, and also check out my website Richfranklin.com.

MMAringreport: Cool, thanks a lot Rich, take care and good luck.

Rich : God Bless.

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