UFC 99: The Comeback
Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin
Apr 20, 2009 Mellissa Scotland
The exact implications of the title for UFC 99, is exactly what it will be for the two fighters featured in the main event. Both Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva are coming off of losses, and this battle will be The Comeback for one of these two fighters.
What is a Catchweight?
A bout that takes place between weight classes.
Why a Catchweight?
After his knockout loss to former light-heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, Wanderlei Silva announced his wanting to move down to middleweight and challenge at 185; while Rich Franklin has been making his way from 185 to 205 to compete once again in the light-heavyweight division. The catchweight of 195 gives both fighters a neutral fighting weight.
UFC 99 Main Event – Wanderlei Silva vs. Rich Franklin
Since making his debut in the UFC, Wanderlei Silva has not been the dominant fighter fans were used to seeing his PrideFC days. Losing two of his three fights in the UFC, Silva is looking for redemption and hopefully a shot at the current middleweight champion and former teammate, Anderson Silva.
Once classified as one of the most aggressive mixed martial arts fighters, Wanderlei’s debut match in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, was a match that was years in the making against the “Ice Man” Chuck Liddell at UFC 79: Nemesis, a battle of who was the more dominant fighter. After three dominating rounds Liddell walked away with the win.
Wanderlei went on to face Keith Jardine at UFC 84, where he showed his old colors and KO’ed “The Dean of Mean” in a mere :36 of the first round. Back on the win wagon, Silva was next to take on an old adversary in Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, the man who he held two wins against from their Pride Fighting Championship days. Making his return to the octagon after losing his lightheavy weight title to Forrest Griffin, Jackson got his revenge and put Silva to sleep in the first round at 3:21. It was after that match Silva decided to move down a weight class and compete in the middleweight division.
Rich “Ace” Franklin, was last seen in the octagon when he faced Dan Henderson at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland and lost a close fight by split decision. The former middleweight champion steps back into the octagon and faces “The Axe Murder” Wanderlei Silva.
With an unbeaten record in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Rich Franklin challenged and defeated names such as, Evan Tanner, Ken Shamrock, Nathan Quarry and David Loiseau. During his run in the UFC, Franklin captured the UFC middleweight title after getting the TKO over Evan Tanner via doctor’s stoppage.
Franklin defended his middleweight title successfully against Nathan Quarry at UFC 56 and David Loiseau at UFC 58. It was at UFC 64 that Franklin had his biggest challenge, and first lost to UFC newcomer and current middleweight champion, Anderson Silva. Franklin was granted the rematch with Silva at UFC 77 after getting the decision win over Japan’s Yushin Okami. Franklin succumbed to the knees of Silva in the rematch for the second time.
Franklin made his light-heavyweight debut at UFC 88 against Matt Hamill and expects to continue in the light-heavyweight division after his catchweight bout at UFC 99.
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