Rich Franklin vs. Michael Bisping Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Even though Rich Franklin is seeing his storied career wind down, there are still some good fights waiting to be made for him, and one in particular—a bout against Michael Bisping—has the former middleweight champion smiling.

In an interview with MMAWeekly.com, Franklin shared his optimism about such a fight.

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“I look at my twitter, and a lot of people are talking about Bisping,” said Franklin. “That would be an exciting fight and something the fans would want to see. I’m an exciting fighter, he’s an exciting fighter; we both like to throw down.”

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So, how would such a bout go down?

Let’s explore all the areas of possible advantage for both men.

Strength

While both Rich Franklin and Michael Bisping have spent time in the light heavyweight division, Franklin honestly appears to be the stronger man.

While Bisping is taller, he’s certainly not the larger of the two, with Franklin nearly always looking like a light heavyweight come fight night.

Bisping is really a natural middleweight, and no weakling by any stretch of the imagination, but Franklin is just the bigger, stronger man.

When it comes to who can push who against the cage or keep them on bottom on the ground, the edge should go to Franklin.

Edge: Franklin

Takedowns

This one is honestly very hard to say with any real accuracy.

Michael Bisping is going to get the edge here because he honestly uses takedowns to keep his opponent guessing. Franklin, no doubt, has takedown skills—he just doesn’t use them that much.

To be honest, Bisping is apt to try and take Franklin down a time or two should they ever meet in the cage.

But will his takedown skills be enough to thwart the sprawls and takedown defense of Franklin?

It’s a question that cannot have an honest answer until the two actually meet, but Bisping makes use of this tool far more than Franklin, and so…

Edge: Bisping

KO Power

This one is honestly easy to call.

Rich Franklin has some serious power in his strikes, stopping Nate Quarry, Chuck Liddell, Matt Hamill, Evan Tanner and others, and that is to say he stopped them with serious authority.

Michael Bisping is more of a volume puncher who can stun or hurt an opponent just enough to overwhelm them and earn the TKO.

Both men have some power, to be sure, but Franklin is the man who has proven he is swinging the heavier lumber.

Edge: Franklin

Striking

While most middleweights would find a hard time dealing with the striking of Rich Franklin, Michael Bisping has turned into an excellent fighter when it comes to moving in and out and landing his one-two.

Both men know how to use their footwork. Although, Bisping did have an abysmal night against Dan Henderson, constantly circling the wrong way—right into the right hand of Henderson.

But he’s come a long way since then, picking his shots while maintaining the kind of favorable range that keeps him safe from heavy counters, for the most part.

But Franklin has his own attributes when it comes to throwing punches, and for MMA-style boxing, he’s got damn good hands.

It’s intriguing because both men really like to throw punches more than anything else, although they occasionally throw kicks and knees.

It’s really hard to see who has the true advantage (at least on paper) given their styles of striking.

Edge: Even

Wrestling

Both Rich Franklin and Michael Bisping know how to wrestle, but as they favor striking, we don’t really know just how deep this aspect of their game is.

One could guess that the advantage should go to Franklin, given how much time he spent training with men like Matt Hughes, but Bisping has trained with some powerful wrestlers himself, including Rampage Jackson.

Franklin was able to deal with the wrestling game of their common opponent, Matt Hamill, far better than Bisping did, but that mainly speaks to takedown defense, and probably strength as well.

Bisping also proved capable at stopping a great takedown game when he managed to stymie a shocking number of attempts from Chael Sonnen.

We just don’t know enough to be sure.

Edge: Even

Submissions

It’s been a long time since either man has scored an actual victory via submission.

For Rich Franklin, it was via armbar against Jorge Rivera at UFC 50; for Michael Bisping, it was via armbar against Ross Pointon in the CWFC.

However, Franklin has scored more actual submissions than Bisping, but not by much.

In the end, if these two great fighters meet, it probably won’t be decided by a submission, but since you never know…

Edge: Franklin

Conditioning

Both men come in shape and know how to fight hard.

Some would argue that Rich Franklin should have the advantage, since he’s actually fought hard for a full five rounds in his career—on more than one occasion.

But Bisping is dedicated to his conditioning, is younger and has been fighting more frequently than Franklin of late, and that must be factored in.

But both men know what it takes to get into shape for a long, hard bout, and that is why this one is a wash.

Edge: Even

Speed

Rich Franklin has a lot going for him as a fighter, but when it comes to speed, he’s just not as fast as Michael Bisping.

Franklin relies more on timing and reach, where as Bisping honestly does use his speed to dart in and out, throwing some quick punches.

He’s also quicker when it comes to evading strikes, and in transitions he can be shockingly fast.

Edge: Bisping

Chin

Both Rich Franklin and Michael Bisping have been knocked out; this is well known.

So at this point in their careers, it becomes a question of which man has had their ticket punched the most.

Thus far, Bisping has been stopped twice, where as Franklin has been stopped five times, not to mention getting floored by Wanderlei Silva in their last bout.

But does that mean Bisping has the stronger chin, or does it mean his style is more about avoiding those kinds of situations?

I am inclined to think it is the latter, to be honest.

Franklin has a style that is action-based, and that seems to put him in harms way more often.

In the end, I think if they really start throwing heavy leather, Franklin’s chin will be able to withstand the blows of Bisping, where as Bisping won’t be able to take the best shots Franklin has to offer.

Edge: Franklin

Experience

While Rich Franklin has been involved in five UFC title fights and Michael Bisping has been involved in none, both men have been fighting on the biggest stage for some time now.

Franklin has fought the best the division and sport has to offer: Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort, Chuck Liddell and many others.

Bisping has a good resume as well, facing men such as Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen.

Experience is usually either a decided advantage or not really any advantage at all; the difference found normally when one has vast experience and the other very little.

But in a bout against each other, it seems close enough to call it even.

Edge: Even

Prediction

This really would be a great fight, given the style clash alone.

Michael Bisping would be on his bike early, moving constantly, trying to dart in and land his one-two, then darting back out and circling again.

Rich Franklin would be trying to walk him against the cage, all toward the end of boxing him in and shipping him out with heavy punches.

The real question becomes: Can Bisping avoid Franklin all night long?

In a three-round bout, I say yes, he can, earning a close decision victory.

But as this would probably be a bout in the co-headliner slot, thus being five rounds…

Prediction: Franklin via TKO in Round 4