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Rich "Slim" Franklin

2K views 32 replies 26 participants last post by  SuperPinger 
#1 ·
Alright, I'm not known for starting too many threads, but every now and then I notice something and like to throw it out there to see everyone's opinions. This time around it has to do with Rich Franklin. If you haven't checked it out yet, go see: UFC 77: Hostile Territory

Rich Franklin looks about 15 pounds lighter than I've ever seen him before. Honestly, Franklin fans are going to be surprised (I think at least) at how different he looks. Everything from his body to the shape of his face has changed with the amount of weight he looks to have cut. So, if he has indeed shed as much weight as it looks like he has, how do you guys think that's going to affect the fight and what do you think he's going for?

Personally, I think it's a good call on his part. His size is an advantage versus most of the MW competition, but versus Silva it just makes him lumbering and slow. It looks like he's trying to go for speed over power, which could definitely be interesting. Or maybe he's going to try to use his cardio to pull Anderson into the later rounds? What do you guys make of it?
 
#27 ·
Well, for everyone claiming Photoshop, you guys may be right. On the other hand, I originally went and checked it out after watching one of the UFC 77 interviews in which I thought, "Dang, Franklin's face is looking skinny." Kind of a weird thing to notice, but I have an eye for details and all of us spend a lot of time looking at these guys. I went back and checked the pics of Chuck on the last few UFC event sites and have to say he either looks exactly the same with some shadows, or in a few cases they used some of the old pics they had of his earlier fights. So basically what I'm saying is this was something I noticed off the UFC 77 website, and then there and was further convinced.

I think he may be cutting weight to be faster on his feet, 'cause Anderson is going to tee off on him if he's slow and lumbering. He also may be going for cardio and hope to pull it into the later rounds, which we haven't seen anyone do with Anderson in the UFC. He may be hoping that Anderson does something like Terry Martin, and that is not train for long fights since they're all ending in the first round. Finally, he might be losing weight so he doesn't have to cut as much come fight night. I think alot of people remember Franklin looking very odd that night, even just walking down to the ring (I think he was sick, personally), so maybe shedding so much weight before the fight did that too him. He may be trying to avoid a repeat of the same mistake.
 
#31 ·
something else... he cant be cutting weight. if he was fairly cut at 185, he wasn't flabby. i think he's doing more cardio centered workouts, which makes him look more cut, but in order for him to make weight he'd have to gain muscle mass at the same time. its possible, but i think it's more likely that what you are seeing is lighting effects. not photoshop or anything, just angle and intensity.
 
#32 ·
UseOf_A_Weapon said:
something else... he cant be cutting weight. if he was fairly cut at 185, he wasn't flabby. i think he's doing more cardio centered workouts, which makes him look more cut, but in order for him to make weight he'd have to gain muscle mass at the same time. its possible, but i think it's more likely that what you are seeing is lighting effects. not photoshop or anything, just angle and intensity.
Hmmm, by reading your post I'm not sure you entirely understand how fighters cut weight before a fight. Rich Franklin is in no way, shape or form 185 pounds. From what I've heard he walks around at about 215, and shows up on the night of the fight at a little over 200 pounds. The few days before the fight, you eat less and drink less and less, and then the day of weigh in's you enter a sauna with a sweat suit on. You'll then shed a lot of weight, and come in (Very dehydrated and hungry) at your target weight. Then, shortly after, you eat and drink and gain your weight back. Then, the next day, you're back up to around where you were before starting to cut weight.

To use an example, Forrest Griffin showed up for the Ramirez fight (A few days before) at 229 pounds. Over the next few days he lost a few pounds, then dehydrated, and weighed in at 205. But, on the night of the fight, he re-weighed himself (The next day) and was back up to 226, or so he and Randy said.
 
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