Event: UFC on FUEL TV 6: Franklin vs. Le Matchup: Rich Franklin (-245) vs. Cung Le (+195) Location: CotaiArena, Macao, China Time: 9 a.m. (ET) How to watch: FUEL TV TALE OF THE TAPE: THE FAVORITE Name: Rich Franklin MMA Record: 29-6 UFC Record: 14-5 Age: 38 Nationality: American Height: 6-1 Weight: 185 pounds Style: Well-rounded Camp: Team Extreme Strengths: Championship-level experience, striking, KO power, submissions Weaknesses: Takedown defense, has been knocked out four times, hasn’t cut to 185 pounds in five years Last 5 Fights: W – Wanderlei Silva (UD), L – Forrest Griffin (UD), W – Chuck Liddell (KO), L – Vitor Belfort (TKO), W – Wanderlei Silva (UD) Notable Career Wins: Chuck Liddell (KO, Wanderlei Silva x 2 (UD, UD), Yushin Okami (UD), Matt Hamill (TKO), Ken Shamrock (TKO) Notable Career Losses: Anderson Silva x 2 (KO, TKO), Dan Henderson (SD), Forrest Griffin (UD), Vitor Belfort (TKO), Lyoto Machida (TKO) Notable Career Achievements: Former UFC middleweight champion (made two successful title defenses) Keys to Victory: Outpace Le, push the fight into deep waters, avoid Le’s early barrage of power strikes TALE OF THE TAPE: THE UNDERDOG Name: Cung Le MMA Record: 8-2 UFC Record: 1-1 Age: 40 Nationality: Viatnamese-American Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 pounds Style: Kickboxing/Sanshou Camp: Cung Le’s Universal Strength Headquarters Strengths: Unorthodox striking, powerful kicks, knockout power, defensive wrestling Weaknesses: Cardio, first five-round fight in over four years, has an injured foot Last 5 Fights: W – Patrick Cote (UD), L – Wanderlei Silva (TKO), W – Scott Smith (KO), L – Scott Smith (KO), W – Frank Shamrock (TKO) Notable Career Wins: Patrick Cote (UD), Scott Smith (KO), Frank Shamrock (TKO), Jason Von Flue (TKO) Notable Career Losses: Wanderlei Silva (TKO), Scott Smith (KO) Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Knock Franklin out within the first two rounds, be aggressive but conserve energy for later rounds FIGHT BREAKDOWN, PREDICTION, PICK & BET In the five-round main event, former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin battles former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le in what should be a very exciting bout. Franklin was one of the top 205-pounders in the world but decided to move down to 185 pounds in hopes of getting a third crack at Anderson Silva. In his last bout, a 190-pound catchweight contest against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 147, Franklin survived a firestorm of strikes in the second round to ultimately take a five-round decision. It was his first bout in over a year, but he was able to go the full five rounds no problem and showed great kicks and jabs in the bout. Franklin is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC and a real threat to anyone at 185 pounds – if he can make the weight – which shouldn’t be an issue. Le is coming off a surprise decision victory over Patrick Cote at UFC 148. He showed solid striking in the bout as well as exceptional takedown defense and wrestling chops en route to going a full 15 minutes while winning all three rounds on the judges’ cards. Le is known for his exceptional kickboxing prowess and throws crazy, unorthodox kicks in all of his bouts. He also has supreme knockout power, as seven of his eight wins have come via knockout. However, the biggest problem is that he blows his gas tank in the first round and gasses out, which is why he got knocked out by both Wanderlei Silva and Scott Smith. And it’s important to remember that he has a nasty foot injury that he’s been dealing with, something that will undoubtedly affect him in the fight with Franklin. Adam’s Fight Prediction: Cung Le will have his chances early in this fight, but Rich Franklin is too savvy of a veteran to get knocked out by Le and has good enough recovery that, even if he does get knocked down, it’s not likely he’ll be finished. Franklin has more to lose in this fight and, combined with Le’s cardio problems (remember, this is a five-round fight) as well as the nasty foot injury he is dealing with, there’s nothing to like about the underdog in this bout. Franklin will outlast Le and finish him off in the middle rounds via TKO. Adam’s Pick: Rich Franklin (-245) via third-round TKO. Adam’s Recommended Play: Bet Rich Franklin (-245) straight and add him to your parlays (click to check the latest MMA odds). He really should win this fight.
