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Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin's (25-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC) training plans continue to change, and a recently announced UFC 103 main-event bout with Vitor Belfort (16-8 MMA, 7-4 UFC) will now take place at a catchweight of 195 pounds instead of the originally announced light heavyweight class.
"Just found out I will be fighting Vitor at a catchweight of 195 (pounds) as per his request," Franklin today posted on his Twitter account.
The catchweight affair will serve as the main event of UFC 103, a pay-per-view card that takes place on Sept. 19 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Franklin was originally expected to face Dan Henderson (25-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) on the card, but UFC president Dana White today announced the organization had changed plans based on a largely negative reaction to the original main event.
Prior to the recent cancellation of "Affliction: Trilogy," Belfort had been preparing for a middleweight contest with Sengoku champion Jorge Santiago. Prior to the collapse of Affliction and his subsequent signing with the UFC, Belfort had turned down a bout with Gegard Mousasi at 205 pounds. That fact made today's announcement of a light-heavyweight bout between Belfort and Franklin a bit perplexing.
The bout will be Franklin's second-straight contest at 195 pounds. "Ace" defeated Wanderlei Silva via unanimous decision at June's UFC 99. Franklin has insisted his future lies at light heavyweight following two defeats at the hands of the current middleweight champ, Anderson Silva. However, Franklin has been open to his employers requests of catchweight contests.
Belfort will be fighting in the UFC for the first time since a split-decision loss to Tito Ortiz at UFC 51 in February 2005. Belfort has compiled a 6-3 record since that time, with the losses coming to Henderson and Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem
"Just found out I will be fighting Vitor at a catchweight of 195 (pounds) as per his request," Franklin today posted on his Twitter account.
The catchweight affair will serve as the main event of UFC 103, a pay-per-view card that takes place on Sept. 19 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Franklin was originally expected to face Dan Henderson (25-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) on the card, but UFC president Dana White today announced the organization had changed plans based on a largely negative reaction to the original main event.
Prior to the recent cancellation of "Affliction: Trilogy," Belfort had been preparing for a middleweight contest with Sengoku champion Jorge Santiago. Prior to the collapse of Affliction and his subsequent signing with the UFC, Belfort had turned down a bout with Gegard Mousasi at 205 pounds. That fact made today's announcement of a light-heavyweight bout between Belfort and Franklin a bit perplexing.
The bout will be Franklin's second-straight contest at 195 pounds. "Ace" defeated Wanderlei Silva via unanimous decision at June's UFC 99. Franklin has insisted his future lies at light heavyweight following two defeats at the hands of the current middleweight champ, Anderson Silva. However, Franklin has been open to his employers requests of catchweight contests.
Belfort will be fighting in the UFC for the first time since a split-decision loss to Tito Ortiz at UFC 51 in February 2005. Belfort has compiled a 6-3 record since that time, with the losses coming to Henderson and Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem
