UFC boss says former champ Rich Franklin ‘can do whatever he wants to do’

SACRAMENTO – Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (29-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) has been on the shelf since a November 2012 loss to Cung Le. But “Ace” has expressed interest in fighting one more time, and that booking could be decided as soon as next week.

White said he was recently in touch with Franklin and is scheduled to have a more formal discussion in a few days.

“I talked to Rich Franklin a couple of days ago,” White said following Saturday’s UFC on FOX 9 event. “We’re meeting on Monday in Vegas.”

In his most recent outing, Franklin headlined UFC on FUEL TV 6 in the UFC’s debut in China in Macau. But he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Le, a favorite of the Asian fans.

Franklin has alternated wins and losses for more than five years, unable to get a win streak going since a two-fight stretch in 2008 that featured TKO wins over Travis Lutter and Matt Hamill at UFC 83 and 88, respectively.

Prior to the loss to Le, Franklin beat Wanderlei Silva in a five-round unanimous decision at UFC 147 in Brazil, giving him two wins over the Brazilian legend.

Franklin won the UFC’s middleweight title at UFC 53 against Evan Tanner and defended it with wins over Nate Quarry and David Loiseau. But he lost it at UFC 64 against Anderson Silva, who then went on a record-setting run that only was ended earlier this year by Chris Weidman. Franklin also lost a rematch to Silva at UFC 77.

Franklin, who turns 40 next year, recently told AXS TV’s “Inside MMA” that he knows he’s not currently in title contention but would like to compete once more before calling it a career.

White, who’s never been afraid to tell a fighter he shouldn’t be competing, said he has no such reservations with Franklin.

“He can do whatever he wants to do,” White said.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.