This is one matchup I really would like to see.
Probably never gonna happen since i don't see Franklin leaving the UFC or Akiyama coming to the UFC, but still it would be an interesting fight.
First, I thought that it would be a close fight but when i compared the two fighters, i can see that one of them is way better than the other.
STAND-UP:
Franklin won most of his fights on the feet. His boxing technique suck ass but he has enough ko power to finish the fight standing up.
Akiyama has developped a great stand-up game. He has great ko power & his uppercuts are brutal.
This is probably the area where the two fighters are the closest but i give the advantage to AKIYAMA.
CLINCH:
Franklin is a good wrestler & he's known for being a strong MW. On the other hand, Akiyama is a decorated world class judoka who made a good transition to MMA with the GI at the begining of his mma career & now without the GI.
Akiyama's judo throws would be too much for Franklin & if Akiyama uses his knees in the clinch, it could be a new nose surgery for Rich.
SUBMISSIONS:
Akiyama is obviously the better man in this area. His armbars are a thing of beauty while Franklin hasn't won a fight by submission for years.
HANDSOMENESS:
The pics speaks for themselves:
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GIRLFRIENDS:
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Conclusion:
AKIYAMA BY WATHEVER HE WANTS!!!!
Rich Franklin vs Yoshihiro Akiyama
