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14/03/10 - Couture's next opponent is Franklin, says Dana
Randy Couture’s next opponent will be former middleweight champion Rich ‘Ace’ Franklin, according to UFC president Dana White. White made the announcement in a Twitter post yesterday in which he simultaneously scotched rumours that Franklin was being brought in to replace Tito Ortiz in a TUF 11-ending fight with Chuck Liddell.
“Not true! We are doing Couture vs. Franklin not Chuck” White posted after initial reports of Franklin-Liddell surfaced.
Couture is a former heavyweight and light-heavyweight champion. He has been back in the 205lb division since losing the heavyweight title to Brock Lesnar in November 2008 then dropping a decision to Rodrigo Nogueira in August last year.
Since returning to light-heavyweight Couture has won both of his fights. One was a controversial decision over Brandon Vera in November and the most recent was an RNC submission win over Mark Coleman at UFC 109. Couture’s only other RNC win came in his 1997 pro debut.
Franklin is the former UFC middleweight champion and has been fighting at light-heavyweight and catch weight since 2008. He has gone 1-1 in his 205lb bouts and 1-1 in his catch weight bouts, with wins over Matt Hammill and Wanderlei Silva and losses to Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort.
White did not state when the Couture-Franklin fight would take place but it has previously been rumoured for the summer, possibly UFC 115 in August.
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