[The HOFF]

The Ultimate Fighting Championship will head to Dublin, Ireland, for the first time in the organization's history for a Jan. 17 pay-per-view event at The O2.

As MMAjunkie.com first reported on Tuesday, the event features a headline bout of former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (24-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC) vs. former PRIDE title-holder Dan Henderson (23-7 MMA, 3-2 UFC).

Additionally, the organization announced UFC hall-of-famer Mark Coleman (15-8 MMA, 6-3 UFC) will meet former PRIDE stand-out Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (16-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) in a long-awaited rematch.

[MMAJOE]

Dont get why 2 of the best 185lb in the world will be meeting at 205lb, I know Henderson wants another crack at A Silva Title. Im pretty sure Franklin is done fighting Anderson and will see what he can do at 205lb. Anyways shoulld be a good fight.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Originally Posted by MMAJOE

Dont get why 2 of the best 185lb in the world will be meeting at 205lb.

Agreed, but i'm pumped for this fight. UFC putting on some great fights coming up
Brandon Vera vs. Keith Jardine
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Luis Cane
Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote
Diego Sanchez vs. Thiago Alves
Cotoure vs Lesnar
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir
Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans
Rampage Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva
Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin
Showgun Rua vs Mark Coleman
GSP vs BJ Penn

f\*\*k i love MMA

[shady610]

i think rich will be too strong for Dan. I think rich will out work him and push the pace in the late rounds. ill have to see this one for sure.. i havent seen rich fight in his last 3 fights. somehow all 3 of his fights were shows i didnt order

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Originally Posted by shady610

i think rich will be too strong for Dan. I think rich will out work him and push the pace in the late rounds.

Strength wise i don't see Franklin with an advantage. Henderson did well against a stronger fighter like Rampage. Like Joe Rogan says he has the crazy wrestler strength. I see Rich trying to stay outside and throw punches, not taking it to the ground or in the clinch, i'd say Henderson is stronger in those areas

[I.R.B]

This fight will end with Hendo winning...

I see the odds like this..

Hendo -175

Franklin +140

[turbozed]

Currently the odds are:

Hendo: -140
Rich: +110

At these prices, I'm taking Hendo. At 205, Hendo seems to be a better fighter than he is at 185 for some odd reason. I remember him stating months before his fight with Silva at 185 that he would never want to fight at 185 again because he felt morer comfortable at 205. His track record at 205 speaks for itself: KO'ed Wandy and fought to a near draw with Rampage.

Franklin at 205 is a mystery. Some of his success at 185 was due to the fact that he cut weight well and was usually much bigger than his opponent. I think Franklin gets bullied around by Hendo and this fantasy matchup of the #1 185 lbers that happened 3 years too late ends up with Hendo winning.

[MMAJOE]

Hendo is the better all around MMA fighter, Franklin has the clear advantage on the feet ( has good technical and powerful striking) while Dan swings for the fences with heavy hands but uses those punches to get you thinking of striking then he goes for the clinch and takedowns. Dan has the Greco Roman wrestling the best for MMA and he took down Rampage and Nog in pride pretty easy to guys that are alot bigger than Hendo. I dont see either guy submitted anyone with both average or below average submission game.This is going to be a TKO for either fighter or its going to the judges. I am saying Dan Henderson via split Dec.

[sleung]

Franklin the most over rated fighter in MMA

who has he fought that was a top notch fighter

[turbozed]

Originally Posted by sleung

Franklin the most over rated fighter in MMA

who has he fought that was a top notch fighter

Anderson Silva

[vassman86]

henderson is a favourite to win this one, especially at 205lbs. he's got a jaw made of iron vs franklin's brittle glass jaw too. i think hendo will be willing to take a few punches to get close to franklin, and then answer with a few of his own.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

MARK COLEMAN +300
MAURICIO RUA -370

Wow this is on the same card, i'm taking a shot with Coleman at +300 !!!!!! Yeah he's old, but comeing down from heaveyweight and he's a wrestler fighting Showgun in the cage. Plus showgun coming off surgery looking less than impressive vs Forrest in his 1st fight in the cage, +300 i can't not have a play on that

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Dan Henderson -140
Rich Franklin +120

Mark Coleman +310
Mauricio Rua -370

Chris Lytle -110
Marcuc Davis -120

Alan Belcher +250
Denis Kang -325

[innovator]

Franklin said machida is a boring fighter yet he knocked him out in japan.


maybe he was bored after catching some z's on the canvas

[TheGovernor11]

It's a true statement though. He's not exciting but he'll always win. I say he's the PBF off MMA.

[innovator]

dude, he's mastered countering and timing. he reads people style like a book. and he's like a hypnotist in there..he mesmerizes everybody...


i'd say it's exciting and boring but more exciting to watch, boring cause he makes everybody look like some chump off the street.

[TheGovernor11]

For the same reason I say he's not exciting. I know he's going to whoop everyone's ass and how he's going to do it; it takes the excitement out of it. It's more exciting watching his fight the second and third time because you can break down exactly what he does frame by frame.

[walbjj]

i really hope kang has his game together, cos he has looked ordinary a few times. he should beat "the talent" belcher, as i dont rate him at all. i see kangs standup being as good, altho he has been put to sleep in the past, kang's plan should be to secure a td and work the ground, as he is superior here to belchers non-existant ground game.

i think franklin wins this fight, he is more athletic, and his striking is more than adequate to keep hendo's winging style off him. i dont see hendo getting him down, sure hendo is a better wrestler than hamill, but wrestling for mma is different to olympic wrestling, i see rich keeping it similar to the hamill fight and winning it with the strikes

[innovator]

machida vs thiago will be a great fight. I like both fighters alot.

[vassman86]

Yea, I agree with innovator. Machida vs Thiago Silva is definitely on my radar. Silva is a really good striker, and I'm excited to see how Machida handles him.

[brooks85]

Ha i read Thiago said " if Machida runs, ill chase him..""

I think other fighters tried that, with no success.

[Bread]

I will be partying in New Orleans for this event. I hope to find a bar that will have it. UFC in the Big Easy! Nice.

[brooks85]

In the big easy huh? Is their a special occasion, like some kind of holiday/event that weekend?

[The HOFF]

Originally Posted by Bread

I will be partying in New Orleans for this event. I hope to find a bar that will have it. UFC in the Big Easy! Nice.

Well that sucks, we are just going to miss each other. I'll be in Gulfport MS about 45 min from New Orleans, for the next one, UFC 94. Hopefully I'll get to see 93 this weekend. Because I'll be in Mexico for my Xmas present. I pray I can find some cheap Mexican whore-house with flat-screens.

[brooks85]

i got all over coleman +300 when it opened.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Looking deeper into the Belcher vs Kang fight and Kang at a -310 fav and higher seems way high. Kang is 3-3 in his last 6 fights and 2 of the 3 wins are vs no-name Koreans in that Spirit League. Belcher is no world beater, but he's a tough fighter and may have to take him at +250, even if its on a small parlay.

[Bread]

Originally Posted by brooks85

In the big easy huh? Is their a special occasion, like some kind of holiday/event that weekend?

Nothing special besides drinking mass amounts of alcohol and eating cajun food. I can't wait!! UFC will be a bonus.

[Bread]

Originally Posted by The HOFF

Well that sucks, we are just going to miss each other. I'll be in Gulfport MS about 45 min from New Orleans, for the next one, UFC 94. Hopefully I'll get to see 93 this weekend. Because I'll be in Mexico for my Xmas present. I pray I can find some cheap Mexican whore-house with flat-screens.

We coulda drank and gambled and UFC'd. We coulda been something...

[brooks85]

ya that food is amazing. Enjoy.

[Robyn]

Originally Posted by Bread

I will be partying in New Orleans for this event. I hope to find a bar that will have it. UFC in the Big Easy! Nice.

Have fun partying in New Orelans, bread!

[crazyguy1986]

hey there is ufc93 here

[Bread]

You catch on quickly crazyguy.

[fishbowl]

Odds for full card out!

Dan Henderson -126
Rich Franklin +116

Mark Coleman +320
Mauricio Rua -336

Chris Lytle +126
Marcus Davis -135

Denis Kang -271
Alan Belcher +275

Dennis Siver -160
Nate Mohr +130

Jeremy Horn +275
Rousimar Palhares -315

Ivan Serati +175
Tomasz Drwal -215

John Hathaway -200
Thomas Egan +160

Alexandre Barros +345
Martin Kampmann -425

Antonio Mendes -105
Eric Schafer -125

Source: http://www.bestfightodds.com

[goldengoat]

take hendo

matt hammil could have beaten rich if he wasn't a complete idiot

rich's wrestling is average

[brooks85]

Also, rich has had a cup-cake career in the UFC. Until he meet Silva. Henderson has fought the best in pride and now ufc. I also like Coleman, there is no doubt Rua can KO him. But, coleman is a beast and is coming back with something to prove. He took down fedor when he wanted too and i think he can get the takedown again on rua.