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UFC 119 in Indianapolis still needs a headliner, but one regional fighter won't be available for the September event.
Due to the broken arm he suffered in a recent knockout win over Chuck Liddell, Cincinnati-area fighter Rich Franklin is unavailable for main-event duties at the show, which takes place Sept. 25 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
J.T. Stewart, Franklin's business manager, today told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) that Franklin expects to be sidelined until December.
Franklin suffered the broken arm early in the first round of his UFC 115 headliner with Liddell. Franklin, though, persevered and scored a late-round knockout with his other arm to pick up the win.
Stewart said Franklin will meet with his doctor on Monday. At that point, it's possible his full-arm cast will be removed and replaced with a shorter forearm cast. He'll also learn if surgery is required, though such a procedure now seems less likely.
Franklin, in fact, is making the initial cast (autographed by both him and Liddell) a raffle prize. Franklin's charity, the Keep it in the Ring Foundation, is hosting the raffle, and all funds will benefit breast-cancer research through Susan G. Komen for the Cure (formerly The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation). Tickets are $5 each at American Fighter, and autographed mouthpieces, shirts and photos also will be awarded.
Franklin, of course, has been one of the UFC's go-to guys when main-event slots prove hard to fill. His past four fights all have been headliners, and his past 12 UFC fights have been main events or co-main events.
A fight in Indianapolis, which is just two hours away from Franklin's home in West Chester Twp. (north of Cincinnati), could benefit from the former champ's involvement. But with his unavailability, the slot instead could go to available fighters such as Frank Mir and/or Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. (Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ryan Bader meet in the co-main event.)
Due to the broken arm he suffered in a recent knockout win over Chuck Liddell, Cincinnati-area fighter Rich Franklin is unavailable for main-event duties at the show, which takes place Sept. 25 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
J.T. Stewart, Franklin's business manager, today told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) that Franklin expects to be sidelined until December.
Franklin suffered the broken arm early in the first round of his UFC 115 headliner with Liddell. Franklin, though, persevered and scored a late-round knockout with his other arm to pick up the win.
Stewart said Franklin will meet with his doctor on Monday. At that point, it's possible his full-arm cast will be removed and replaced with a shorter forearm cast. He'll also learn if surgery is required, though such a procedure now seems less likely.
Franklin, in fact, is making the initial cast (autographed by both him and Liddell) a raffle prize. Franklin's charity, the Keep it in the Ring Foundation, is hosting the raffle, and all funds will benefit breast-cancer research through Susan G. Komen for the Cure (formerly The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation). Tickets are $5 each at American Fighter, and autographed mouthpieces, shirts and photos also will be awarded.
Franklin, of course, has been one of the UFC's go-to guys when main-event slots prove hard to fill. His past four fights all have been headliners, and his past 12 UFC fights have been main events or co-main events.
A fight in Indianapolis, which is just two hours away from Franklin's home in West Chester Twp. (north of Cincinnati), could benefit from the former champ's involvement. But with his unavailability, the slot instead could go to available fighters such as Frank Mir and/or Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. (Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ryan Bader meet in the co-main event.)