Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin hasn't fought in awhile, but never said he was retiring, just yet. Now, it looks like the UFC star is close to signing with Asian MMA promotion ONEFC, as an executive.
According to UFC president Dana White, that possibility hasn't strained relations with Franklin. In fact, being a vice-president at ONEFC wouldn't even preclude Franklin fighting again in the UFC.
"You know, we have a good relationship with Rich. Rich got offered a really good opportunity to go work with those guys and I'm happy for him," White said at the UFC on Fox 11 post-event press conference.
"Hey listen, how can be upset with a guy for trying to better his life or taking a great opportunity somewhere? You can't. It's the sneaky guys that lie to your face and all that stuff."
Should Franklin want to fight again, he's still under contract with the UFC and White seemed to suggest that they'd be happy giving him another bout. "He's still under contract to fight, if he ever wanted to fight," White said of Franklin.
"It's not like if he takes this job that's it, we'll never have him fight in the UFC again. If he came back and wanted to fight he's still under contract with us, and he hasn't officially retired. Rich is out there making some moves. He started a business, he's got this business that he's running and he's putting all his time, effort and money into it, but he needs another source of income for more money to come in. So these guys gave him a huge opportunity and he's going to take it."
Follow Elias on Twitter @EliasCepeda & @YahooCagewriter
Ralek Gracie Renzo Gracie Rickson Gracie Rodrigo Gracie Roger Gracie
No comments:
Post a Comment