Intelligently Defending 01.08.09: A Lot Riding on Henderson vs. Franklin

Posted by Ken Kobel on 01.08.2009

It may not be getting the attention of some other fights, but there is a ton on the line for both Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson in their upcoming battle at UFC 93. In this week's edition of Intelligently Defending, 411's Ken Kobel takes a look at what's at stake for both fighters!

With the spotlight brightly shining on two upcoming super-fights – Fedor vs. Arlovski and St. Pierre vs. Penn 2 – another marquee matchup has been left in the dark: Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin at UFC 93.

Three years ago, when Rich Franklin ruled the UFC middleweight division and Dan Henderson held the Pride Welterweight Title, this was THE fight that hardcore MMA fans wanted to see.

This dream-bout took center stage in the UFC vs. Pride war of words among diehards. UFC fans claimed Ace was the superior fighter, while Pride fans said Hollywood would make quick work of the UFC's champion.

We will soon find out which side was right.

Of course, much has changed in three years time…

Anderson Silva has taken both men's titles in convincing fashion which means neither has claim to being the best middleweight in the world anymore. Hell, this fight won't even be fought at 185lbs.

Still, two things remain the same: Franklin and Henderson are two of the best fighters in the world and they have a ton riding on this fight.

If Franklin wins:

If Rich walks away victorious he will earn his second stint on The Ultimate Fighter by coaching TUF9 across from Michael Bisping. The pair would then square off in a bout that may or may not determine the next title contender.

Franklin has already said that he isn't thrilled about the idea of coaching on TUF, but will do it if asked. You can't blame him since he doesn't have much to gain from being on the show. He has already had the exposure of being a coach when he was on TUF2. This season made him one of the biggest stars in the UFC and he doesn't need to do it again. Apart from this, being on the show would mean a return to the middleweight division. The problem here is that as long as Anderson Silva has the belt Franklin won't be getting a title shot anytime soon. He has already been destroyed by the champ twice, and a third confrontation makes no sense. Rich is out of luck unless Thales Leites pulls out a miracle against Silva or Yushin Okami somehow beats the champ.

Ace's best bet would be to find a way out of coaching on TUF and stay in the light-heavyweight division since that's where his future should be. A win over Henderson would make him 2-0 since rejoining the 205lb class and solidify him as a contender in the crowded talent pool.

If Franklin loses:

While a main event defeat is never a good thing, Rich losing at UFC 93 wouldn't be a career-killer.

For starters, it would keep Franklin off TUF9 and thus not force him to drop back to middleweight. He can then continue as a light-heavyweight which makes the most sense.

While a loss would send Rich down the ladder as far as contenders go, he would still be a highly-regarded fighter as long as he puts in a good performance in Ireland. His wins over Travis Lutter and Matt Hamill have been impressive and have shown that there is still plenty left in the tank. Even if he loses to Dangerous Dan, Franklin will continue to land high-profile fights. There are a ton of great matches for him including bouts with Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva and Forrest Griffin.

At age 34, he has some good years left.

If Henderson wins:

Like Franklin, if Hendo gets the win at UFC 93, he will most likely be sent to TUF9 to coach opposite Michael Bisping and then fight the Brit at the show's conclusion.

Unlike Rich though, this is would be a good endeavor for Dan.

Henderson has never had the proper exposure to North American fans the way Franklin has. Many people simply know him as the man who lost both the Pride Middleweight and Welterweight Titles in the UFC. A stint on TUF would give fans the chance to become more familiar with the former champion. On top of this, Silva vs. Henderson can still be a big fight. Dan has stated numerous times that he is hungry for a rematch and a victory over Michael Bisping would put him inches away from another crack at the title.

Of course, the problem with all this is Henderson's age. At 38-years-old, he is no spring chicken. A spot on TUF will keep him out of action for about 9 months at which point he will be 39. By the time he fights Silva he will be approaching 40. This isn't to say winning the title can't be done at his age, but it's going to be a factor.

If Henderson loses:

A defeat here spells trouble for Dan.

He will lose his spot on TUF9 and a rematch with Anderson Silva will be almost impossible. Leites and Okami are already scheduled for title shots, plus Bisping if he beats Franklin – not to mention that Henderson would need to put together 3-4 solid wins to be considered for a crack at the gold.

His prospects at light-heavyweight won't be much better. If he loses to Rich, and continues on at 205lbs, he will be about 10th in line for a title shot. There is no way he reaches #1 contender and, unlike Franklin, Dan doesn't have the name value to set-up big money fights where there is nothing on the line except pride.

Saying this is a must-win for Hendo may be a stretch, but it is no doubt a very important fight at this stage in the game

Both men's careers will be heavily affected by the results of their showdown in Dublin. You can expect it all to be left in the cage.

May the best man win.

To read whatever random MMA nonsense pops into my head, check out The Official Intelligently Defending Website.