As of Sunday, UFC officials still were scrambling for a replacement.
For Franklin, a former UFC middleweight champ and Loveland native who now lives in West Chester Twp., the pickings are slim, though.
In fact, this past week, Phil Davis was forced out of the UFC 133 main event due to his own injury. Tito Ortiz, who staved off retirement with an upset of Ran Bader earlier this month, ultimately agreed to fight Davis’ original opponent, Rashad Evans.
Make no mistake about it, though: UFC 133 needs a marketable co-headliner under that Evans vs. Ortiz fight. Franklin provides some star power, but he needs a fellow “name” to really bolster ticket sales and PPV buys.
Unfortunately, most of the established names are already booked for upcoming fights or recovering from recent bouts. One possibility was Loveland native Matt Hamill, whom Franklin beat once before. But just days before Nogueira’s withdrawal, Hamill (10-3) stepped in for injured Vladimir Matyushenko (26-5) in a featured UFC 133 undercard bout with fast-rising Alexander Gustafsson (11-1).
Barring a fighter changing weight classes, the UFC poaching a competitor from its sister promotion Strikeforce, or a free agent being signed for UFC 133, Franklin’s future on the card appears to be uncertain.
Cincinnati fighter ready for familiar foe: Neville native and current Cincinnati-based fighter Roger Bowling (9-1) headlines Friday’s Strikeforce Challengers 17 event in Las Vegas, and he faces a familiar foe in Bobby Voelker (23-8) during the Showtime-televised event (11 p.m.).
“I know him,” said Bowling, who won the first meeting between the fighters but lost the second in 2010. “I know what he’s going to do. I know his strengths and weaknesses, and I know what I’m good at against him.”
A victory could put the hard-hitting Bowling back on the fast track. After two competitive bouts with Voelker, the Team Vision lightweight has struck up a friendship with his opponent. But he promises it’ll be all business on Friday.
“I bought Bobby a shot of Patrón after I beat him the first time, and he bought me one after he beat me the second time,” Bowling said. “I’ll be buying him the next one after I beat him again.”
Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008, 2009 and 2010 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to www.MMAjunkie.com.
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