Rich Franklin. Photo from https://ufcgaming.com
MACAU—Former middleweight titleholder Rich “Ace” Franklin had spent weeks in Singapore trying to find somebody in the mold of Cung Le, a former champion in another MMA outfit armed with multiple fighting techniques.
The Cincinnati, Ohio, kickboxing and ground-and-pound specialist said he’s ready to engage Le in their five-round middleweight main bout tonight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship at The Venetian Hotel’s Cotai Arena here in Asia’s casino haven.
Le, who starred in a couple of Hollywood martial arts films three years ago, owns one of the most unique fighting styles in the UFC.
The Vietnam-born wushu artist is a former Strikeforce middleweight crown holder and champion in six different martial arts—taekwondo, wrestling, kickboxing, draka and shidokan bare-knuckle full-contact karate.
“I’ll be ready for whatever Le throws at me,” said Franklin, who holds an MMA record of 29 wins and 6 losses. Le (8-2) had an impeccable record at Strikeforce before absorbing two straight setbacks in the UFC.
“I trained in Singapore over the last few weeks and sparred with fighters who compete using the same techniques,” he added.
Franklin, who knocked out 15 opponents and forced 10 to submission, won his last fight via unanimous decision over Wanderlei Silva roughly five months ago.
Le fuels the growing list of Southeast Asians in the UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, with Filipino-Americans Mark Muñoz and Brandon Vera included in the cast.
The Franklin-Le fight will be aired by Balls sports channel on Sunday.
Dong Hyun Kim of South Korea (15-2-1) and Brazil’s Paulo Thiago (14-4) mix it up in the welterweight division, Tokyo’s Takanori Gomi (33-8) and Mac Danzig of Los Angeles (22-9-1) facing each other in one of two lightweight bouts.
Tiequan Zhang of Beijing (18-3) takes on Guam’s Jon Tuck (6-0) in the other lightweight duel.