UFC News: Jon Jones vs. Rich Franklin? Franklin Wants to Fight Jones

There have a lot of names tossed out for Jon Jones to face, and he hasn't even defended his title one time yet.

But that hasn't stopped people from mentioning names like Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and even some have tossed out aging veteran Randy Couture.

But one name no one has thrown out there is former UFC middleweight champion, Rich "Ace" Franklin.

"The very first time I saw Jon Jones fight, I remember coming home and talking to my business partner at American Fighter and saying, 'This guy is going to be a stud,'" Franklin said in an interview with the Springfield News Sun. "I knew it right away. He's got an 84-inch reach, and he's 6'4''. It's just crazy."

Franklin has recently started fighting at light heavyweight and has lost his last fight against Forrest Griffin by unanimous decision at UFC 126.

Franklin won against legendary Chuck Liddell after filling in for Tito Ortiz at UFC 115. Franklin won by knockout.

But his age and ranking inside the light heavyweight division hasn't stopped Franklin from wanting to fight Jones.

"You see guys like that, and you're like, 'They're bigger than me, and they're stronger than me,' but I'm a fighter, and there's a part of me that still wants to fight them and see how I'd do," said Franklin.

If Franklin were to face Jones he would be facing a significant size disadvantage.

Franklin's reach is eight-and-a-half inches shorter than that of Jones (Franklin has a 76 inch reach) and is three inches shorter (6'1'').

Can't question Franklin's strength and love of competition though.