UFC Pay-Per-View action returns this evening as Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin square off at the Mineirinho Gymnasium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (10:00pm ET start time). UFC Fight Predictions at Sportsbook.ag have Franklin listed as the favorite ($155 to win $100) in his second career meeting with Silva. The latest UFC 147 Odds have heavyweight Fabricio Werdum favored at 1-6 odds in his main card battle with Mike Russow.
Former middleweight champion Rich “Ace” Franklin has experienced more ups and downs of late as is custom for a fighter moving into the twilight of his career. Since defeating Matt Hamill in September of 2008, Franklin has alternated wins and losses in route to a 2-3 record.
Franklin’s two wins during that stretch did come against former champions, though, as he dispatched tonight’s opponent, Wanderlei Sivla, via unanimous decision and Chuck Liddell by first round knockout.
Franklin, who last fought in February of 2011 against Forrest Griffin, out struck Silva 52 to 38 in their UFC 99 battle (June 2009); he garnered winning scores of 30-27, 29-28, and 30-27 from the three judges on hand.
Silva, who was slated to face fellow Brazilian Vitor Belfort until an injury forced him off of tonight’s card, has pieced together a 2-1 record since his first meeting with Franklin. The former Pride Grand Prix champion sandwiched a loss to Chris Leben between a unanimous decision win over Michael Bisping (February 2010) and a first round knockout of Cung Le (November of 2011).
UFC 147 Fight Prediction: Take Franklin -155. The first scrap was an evenly matched affair, but Franklin was the better fighter as evidenced by the decision. Despite Silva's recent resurgence, his chin is suspect and I do not expect this fight to go the distance.
UFC 147 Silva vs. Franklin II Odds:
Rich Franklin -155 vs. Wanderlei Silva +125
Rony Mariano Bezerra -340 vs. Godofredo Pepey Castro +260
Yuri Alcantara -250 vs. Hacran Dias +190
Fabricio Werdum -600 vs. Mike Russow +400
Rodrigo Damm -185 vs. Anistavio Medeiros +155
Delson Heleno -145 vs. Francisco Drinaldo +115
Thiago Perpetuo -200 vs. Leonardo Mafra +160
Hugo Viana -185 vs. John Teixeira +155
Felipe Arantes -150 vs. Milton Vieira +120
Marcos Vinicius Borges Pancini -250 vs. Wagner Campos +190
UFC 147: Silva vs Franklin II Preview: It's a rematch of UFC 99's Fight of the Night between legends when Rich Franklin takes on Wanderlei Silva live Saturday, June 23 at UFC 147 from Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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