UFC 93 Main Event Breakdown - Franklin vs Henderson

Although there’s no doubt that some Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Mark Coleman fight to be the main event in UFC 93, the UFC 93 promoters definitely got it right.

For BetUS online sports fans, the best fight on the card without a doubt is the main event bout between Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson. Both guys are well-respected in fight circles with Franklin being arguably one of the toughest men to ever step into the Octagon.

Franklin is undefeated in the 205 lb weight division. Henderson is a master wrestler who, should the fight go to the ground, be able to dominate Franklin.

Which man will reign supreme? Let’s first take a look at the weaknesses and strengths of both men. Then, we can analyze the fight from an online betting perspective.

Rich Franklin Ev vs. Dan Henderson -140

Rich “Ace” Franklin

Strengths: Rich Franklin is a Cincinnati boy with the ability to strike with both hands. He’s a terrific boxer and his movement inside of the Octagon is some of the best that I’ve ever seen. His record of 26 and 3 shows how tough he is and the fact that he’s lost only to Anderson Silva in his past 13 bouts means that he’s still one of the best fighters in the UFC. Franklin has the ability to slyly move his opponent into submission while looking like he’s holding on for dear life on the ground. He’s also good at striking with his feet and there’s absolutely nobody in UFC who goes into the Octagon in better shape than Rich Franklin.

Weaknesses: Franklin isn’t a very good wrestler. Unlike a lot of other UFC fighters, Franklin didn’t hone his craft in high-school gyms on the mat or in colleges wearing ear protectors. Franklin is a hard-nosed, straight in your face, Midwest fighter and usually that wouldn’t be a problem but he’s facing one of the best wrestlers he will ever face in his career in Dan Henderson. Will Franklin be able to overcome Henderson’s wrestling ability should this fight go to the ground?

Dan Henderson

Strengths: Dan Henderson is a two time Olympic wrestler which means he no doubt knows what to do once a fight goes to the ground. But that’s not all he can do. He has excellent balance like most wrestlers in UFC. Henderson has found a way to use his balance to develop amazing power in both hands. If he can catch a fighter with a good shot, then he can win most fights on a knock-out. His record of 23 and 7 may not look all that great on paper, but Henderson has fought some of the best fighters in the world. He also doesn’t get down on himself if a fight isn’t going the way he expected it to. His mental toughness is a huge advantage he has over most of his opponents.

Weaknesses: Henderson tends to rely on his right hand too much which means cagey fighters, like Franklin, can anticipate and counter-punch. Henderson also at times won’t pay enough attention to his best ability, wrestling, and instead will want to stand up straight and go toe-to-toe with a fighter. That helps his reputation as a tough guy but it also hurts him in the win column. Will he use his best strength, his wrestling ability, to take out Rich Franklin?