Bisping Picks Franklin

[Zeke's Chaingun]

Originally Posted by Goldentrophy

Yes in deed his bout with Tito as well but that was the less skilled Rashad if the Rashad now had fought like he did earlier I think he would of finished Tito and Bisping.

Both Rashad and Bisping are improving. I see the fight going much the same way. Nothing has struck me as substantially different about either.

[Goldentrophy]

Originally Posted by Zeke's Chaingun

I know MMAth doesn't work, and I am not trying to use MMAth, I just want people to get an idea that the skill levels of these top guys are so close.

Rashad's toughest match to date, including Liddell and Griffin, was Bisping. Bisping got beat worse in the Hamill fight than he did the Rashad fight. Rich handled Hamill.

I am not saying this means Rich will handle Bisping, Rashad, or anyone. But I just want to put things in perspective that Bisping, Hamill, Rich, etc are every bit as deserving to be right at the Top with the Liddells Wanderleis, Griffin's, Shogun's etc. I know I will get a lot of flack about that, but I believe it is true. All of these guys are so close and for you to think one of these Top guys is going to walk through another... you'd better have some good reasons for thinking so.

(I am not talking about rankings, just perception on where a fighter is at with his skill level and ability)

Nope Rashad's toughest bout was vs Jardine Keith had rocked him twice in there fight I had that fight a draw.

[ratichek]

I think that Bisping is hoping that he goes up against Franklin because imo Hendo is the tougher matchup for Bisping. Rich is well rounded and so is bisping but dan has a clear area of advantage and that is both power punches and wrestling.

[dc007]

I picked Franklin for exactly the same reasons as Bisping did.

[IanTheGreat]

Originally Posted by Zeke's Chaingun

Well I hope you are right... but Rich has been susceptable to the clinch game before and Hendo relishes the clinch game. Even though Hendo's clinch is far different than Anderson's clinch, it is still an X factor, and IMO is the biggest X factor of this fight.

That's been Franklin's only real weakness in the UFC. He lost to Anderson twice via the clinch, otherwise he's beaten all of his opponents handily. He's a much more technical striker than Henderson as well, so Henderson really needs to clinch up and try and rock the right and some knees if he hopes to finish the fight. I don't see this fight ever going to the ground, because if there is any place where Hendo doesn't want it, it's the ground. Looking at their records, Franklin has a decent percentage of his wins by submission, whereas Hendo has one. The only reason why Hendo would take it to the ground is to lay'n'pray but Franklin could still get it back up to standing fast, not to mention refs and judges have grown less and less kind to guys who don't get action going.

In conclusion, Hendo's most likely route to finishing this fight is to get a solid clinch going and try to take Franklin out like Anderson did. The only other option that has any chance of happening is to keep winging in his heavy hands and hope for one to land and stun Franklin so he can finish. However, it is MMA, and anything can happen, so take what I say worth a grain of salt. For all we know, Hendo might come out and try to sub him with a flying scissor heel hook.

[jiujitsuhath]

Originally Posted by Evolutionary

I don't know why, but I hope Franklin absolutely smashes Henderson

Hendo has been a little whiny lately. He had excuses for the Rampage fight and excuses for the Anderson Silva fight. I think Franklin keeps the fight standing and outpoints him 2/3 rounds for a UD.

[MMA Maine-iac]

Originally Posted by ratichek

I think that Bisping is hoping that he goes up against Franklin because imo Hendo is the tougher matchup for Bisping. Rich is well rounded and so is bisping but dan has a clear area of advantage and that is both power punches and wrestling.

I think Bisping would favor a match up with Hendo better because I think he would try to do him like he did Leben and work for the decision. Then again Hendo and Leben aren't in the same universe as far as talent is concerned. But Rich would push the pace and Bisping would be forced to go for something. He couldn't get a decision over Franklin. Probably couldn't get one over Dan either.

[Lavalamp]

Originally Posted by Zeke's Chaingun

I know MMAth doesn't work, and I am not trying to use MMAth, I just want people to get an idea that the skill levels of these top guys are so close.

Rashad's toughest match to date, including Liddell and Griffin, was Bisping. Bisping got beat worse in the Hamill fight than he did the Rashad fight. Rich handled Hamill.

I am not saying this means Rich will handle Bisping, Rashad, or anyone. But I just want to put things in perspective that Bisping, Hamill, Rich, etc are every bit as deserving to be right at the Top with the Liddells Wanderleis, Griffin's, Shogun's etc. I know I will get a lot of flack about that, but I believe it is true. All of these guys are so close and for you to think one of these Top guys is going to walk through another... you'd better have some good reasons for thinking so.

(I am not talking about rankings, just perception on where a fighter is at with his skill level and ability)

For the most part I agree.

[wausaufighter]

Both are great fighters. I am pulling for Henderson only to make myself feel better for actually once thinking Pride had the better fighters. I admit I am unable to completely rid myself of my Pride nuthuggery, and am still convinced some of these guys,other than the obvious Fedor, are just as good as the best UFC guys.

[G1am]

Originally Posted by Evolutionary

I don't know why, but I hope Franklin absolutely smashes Henderson

I seem to see a lot of people having this viewpoint and i think it's because subconsciously there are so many good fight for franklin at 205 that we have yet to see, Hendo has fought many of the top guys at 205 and watching those fights again wouldn't be as interesting. I want to see Franklin against chuck, wandy, cane, jardine, griffin, jackson, rua, rashad. The fight I really want to see is Franklin vs Machida, I want to see that rematch.