UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin 2 ? Main Event Preview & Analysis

("Axe Murdering" ? a Wanderlei Silva highlight film by Potato Nation hall-of-famer Perdew.) By George Shunick If it wasn?t for the utter disintegration of UFC 149, UFC 147 might be the most disappointing card of the year. Originally supposed to feature the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen in Brazil, then Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva, we are now stuck with Rich Franklin squaring off against the latter Silva. Of course, it?s cards like this that always end up surprising all the naysayers with copious amounts of glorious violence, so maybe there?s hope after all! OK, so while you?re not going to go out of your way to buy this card any time soon, at least the main event still might be worth pirating online. (Sorry Dana, you?re the one who?s trying to charge $50 for this.) Now I may be in the minority on this one, but I?m actually more excited for Franklin-Silva than I was for Belfort-Silva. Why? Because it?s not a glorified squash match. Look, I?m a big fan of Wanderlei. I can?t think of something more enjoyable than watching that bloodthirsty sociopath do more damage and evoke more terror in Japan in eight years than Godzilla did in over half a century. But between his once-granite chin being reduced to rubble, his age compromising his speed and cardio ? all while retaining the punching technique of a wind turbine ? Silva is no longer the force he once was. Against a heavy-handed striker, he?s in trouble. Against a striker of Belfort?s caliber, he?s toast. Fortunately for Silva, Rich Franklin isn't quite as dangerous. Despite a permanent role on UFC highlight reels with his knockouts of Nate Quarry and Chuck Liddell, Franklin can no longer be considered one of the top strikers in the middleweight division. Like Silva, he?s alternated wins and losses since their last meeting. Both have suffered a brutal knockout loss since then as well; Franklin to Belfort and Silva to Chris Leben. In fact, Franklin and Silva match up fairly well with each other; both have solid stand-up and sound ? if unspectacular ? ground games. Much like their previous meeting, this has the potential be a close, dramatic fight.

Source: http://www.cagepotato.com/ufc-147-silva-vs-franklin-2-main-event-preview-analysis/

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