Rumors of the bout have popped up for weeks, but we can now confirm that former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) and “The Ultimate Fighter 4” winner Travis Lutter (9-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) will meet at UFC 83, which takes place April 19 at Montreal’s Bell Centre.
The Franklin-Lutter fight will complement UFC 83’s main event, which is a title unification bout between UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra and interim champ (and French Canadian) Georges St. Pierre.
The Franklin-Lutter was originally targeted for next month’s UFC 82 event in Columbus, Ohio. However, Franklin, who fights out of Cincinnati as part of Team Jorge Gurgel, recently underwent surgery for a torn meniscus he suffered in his right knee. He was originally expected to be sidelined until June.
The 33-year-old Franklin hasn’t fought since a second-round TKO to Anderson Silva at Cincinnati’s UFC 77 event in October. Franklin initially lost his belt to Silva at UFC 64 in October 2006 but rebounded for victories over Jason MacDonald and Yushin Okami to earn the rematch. Prior to that fight at UFC 77, Franklin signed a new six-fight deal with the UFC that goes into effect for his fight with Lutter.
Lutter hasn’t fought since a UFC 67 main-event loss to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Lutter, who earned the title shot by winning the middleweight division of “The Ultimate Fighter 4’s” comeback season, stunned fans — and UFC officials — when he was unable to get under the 185-pound threshold during weigh-ins. He later admitted that his body simply quit sweating in the final hours of weight cutting. The fight was changed to a three-round non-title bout, and despite a competitive first round, Lutter suffered a submission loss via triangle choke in the second.
Lutter was then supposed to fight Ryan Jensen at UFC 74 in August, but he had to pull out of the bout with a neck injury.
This fight should be outstanding and UFC 83 is looking like another great card.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Rich Franklin vs. Travis Lutter Set for UFC 83
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3 comments:
Something just really erks me about a guy or competeitor in general who is given an opportunity like Lutter had, and doesn't make weight. How long did he know about this fight? No excuses....period. Not making weight is unexceptable! I hope Franklin takes his head off.
I felt the same way but really, should the guy be blackballed? Especially given the weak middleweight division. Lutter has some pretty sick jiu jitsu and we haven't seen him at his best in a long time.
I don't downplay Lutters talent at all. I just question his dicipline with regard to the sport. There are 1,000 guys standing in line (and probably just as talented) waiting for such an opportunity.
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