UFC 99: The Comeback – Wanderlei vs. Franklin in the Main Event

When Wanderlei Silva came over from PRIDE in Japan, many analysts thought it was only a matter of time before the Brazilian legend would be fighting for the light heavyweight title.

But Silva has lost two of his three UFC fights since coming back to the organization in December 2007, and his latest was a brutal KO at the hands of Rampage Jackson in a bout he was favored in.

At UFC 99: The Comeback in Cologne, Germany, “The Axe Murderer” faces fellow superstar Rich Franklin, a guy that might be his exact opposite as a fighter.

Whereas Silva is wild, unpredictable, and explosive, “Ace” is more technical and even-keel most of the time in the Octagon.

Franklin is a somewhat surprising -155 to +115 favorite over Silva. But go back and look at Silva’s record and realize he’s lost 4 of his past 5 fights and suddenly the line makes more sense.

Silva said he has gone back to the drawing board to add some more technical ability behind his wild flurries of muay thai strikes and he has tried to correct some defensive flaws as well. Silva’s game has grown a bit stale because the attrition of so many legendary, all-out battles in PRIDE has caused him to lose a step.

Franklin fared pretty well against a tough opponent in Dan Henderson, at least on his feet, before dropping a tough decision, and the catchweight (195) mark seems like a good spot for him to be at instead of his usual middleweight level.

Franklin should come out strong and motivated, but the difference in this fight will be Silva’s ability to channel his inner raging demon and finish the fight when he has the upper hand.

Silva is one of the best finishers in mixed martial arts and the UFC and if he lands one of his trademark flurries of punches on Franklin, he has the ability to rush in and end the fight in a flash.

Franklin is a sound fighter who doesn’t make mistakes but he doesn’t have quite the explosiveness of Silva, and his clinch defense or lack thereof could also come into play in this one like it did in his first fight against Anderson Silva.

Franklin should make this a close fight, but Silva is the better bet here because of what this fight means to his career and because of his experience fighting on the big stage.

By Nick Meyer of BetUS