Affliction's Loss Means UFC 103 Possibly Gains Rich Franklin vs. Tito Ortiz Bout

The originally scheduled headlining bout planned for UFC 103 was an expected rematch between Rich "Ace" Franklin and Dan Henderson.

Has the possible signing of Tito Ortiz back with the UFC changed this matchup?

UFC.com has taken down the originally posted Franklin/Henderson bout under the UFC 103 advertisement and replaced it with the following statement:

"[UFC 103] Featuring four pivotal bouts with world title implications as well as a main event still to be announced, the star power on the UFC card, which includes Mike Swick vs. Martin Kampmann, Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller, Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg and Tyson Griffin vs. Hermes Franca, will more than light up the Texas night."

Rumors are running rampant as to what the main event fight will be. However, with the apparent re-signing of Ortiz, according to the Twitter comment from Dana White (http://twitter.com/DanawhiteUFC), Ortiz might be ready for the UFC 103 event in Dallas, Texas in September.

The fight would not only make sense for Ortiz, giving him a decent warm-up fight since his loss to Lyoto Machida over a year ago, but it would also make sense for Franklin. A win would continue Franklin's rise in the stacked Light Heavyweight division.

Above all else, fans would be more than happy to watch this over another repeat fight between Franklin and Henderson.

In a recent phone conversation, Ortiz told Fox's Mike Straka that he would be about three months out in preparations for a fight with Fedor Emelianenko. Does that mean that a month and a half would give him time enough to prepare for a fight with Franklin in Texas? What about a bout with Henderson at the same event?

Looks like White has another option in an already stacked division. Thanks Affliction.