Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts competition Monday.
Franklin, who hasn’t fought since a knockout loss to Cung Le in November 2012, made the announcement through a post on The Players’ Tribune.
“Very few people in this world get to do what they are passionate about,” Franklin wrote. “I studied education in college, and while I wanted to teach, it was still just a job. Training in mixed martial arts was my hobby. My father wanted to strangle me the day I told him I quit my career as a teacher to pursue fighting.”
The 40-year-old made his MMA debut in 1999. He picked up 11 stoppage wins in his first 12 fights before making his UFC debut at UFC 42 against Evan Tanner in 2003. Franklin won his first four UFC bouts and in his fifth scrap under the Zuffa banner won the middleweight championship by defeating Tanner for a second time. Franklin defended his belt twice, against Nate Quarry and Canadian David Loiseau, before losing his title to Anderson Silva at UFC 64 in 2006. Franklin fought his way back to a title shot but lost to Silva again at UFC 77.
Following his second loss to Silva, Franklin was essentially in MMA no man’s land. Instead of attempting another title run while Silva was still champ, Franklin was continuously paired with fellow popular veterans in fan-friendly matchups.
“I was fortunate enough to begin my career in the UFC when MMA was on the precipice of popularity in the U.S.,” Franklin wrote. “We spent endless hours traveling to do PR and conduct interviews preaching the gospel of MMA. One by one, we watched state athletic commissions legalize MMA, and we began the process in other countries. It came in handy having a former high school math teacher as one of your champions. I had the privilege of fighting in eight different countries…Many years ago, I was just a guy chasing his dream. Today, I stand here humbled and appreciative of where that pursuit took me.”
Franklin, who has been working as president of Singapore-based MMA promotion ONE FC since May 2014, retires with a professional record of 29-7 with one no contest. The Cincinnati native holds notable wins over Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Matt Hamill, Yushin Okami, Ken Shamrock and also fought the likes of Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort and Forrest Griffin.
“I have to accept that I am no longer 25. The body has slowed down, and while ever so slightly, those fractions of a difference determine victory or defeat at the top level.”
