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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
A light heavyweight bout between two former UFC Champions could come together later this fall, as UFC President Dana White said the organization was interested in a potential fight between Rich Franklin and Tito Ortiz.
During a video chat with fans at UStream, White said the UFC does "like the idea" of that matchup, and should both agree to the fight, it could potentially come this year.
Franklin was supposed to return to action earlier this month at UFC 133, but when his opponent Antonio Rogerio Nogueira was forced out of the card, and there wasn't a suitable "big name" replacement, Franklin pulled out of the event as well. The former UFC Middleweight Champion is 3-3 over his last six fights, alternating wins and losses in fights at light heavyweight and 195 lbs.
Ortiz stepped up earlier this month on that UFC 133 card to face Rashad Evans in the main event after Phil Davis suffered an injury, taking an extra payday after earning his first win in nearly five years when he submitted Ryan Bader in July. However, Evans was the superior fighter, and handed Ortiz his first stoppage loss since being finished by Chuck Liddell at UFC 66.
There's nothing definite on this fight just yet, but it's a bout the UFC has their eyes on, and if it takes place it could be a very entertaining fight between two longtime veteran fighters.
Penick's Analysis: This is definitely a fight I'd like to see for both guys. They each get a well known name as an opponent, and regardless of how their past fights have gone a win is equally as important for them. If the UFC can put it together, it immediately make a good addition to any main card, and it's a fight that could be quite good as well. Without a ton of other options, it's quite possible this is the fight that fans get later this year from them.
[Rich Franklin art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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