Felipe Franco
Negao
Brazil
Picks up first UFC victory
Franco defeated Levi Rodrigues via TKO (punches) at 1:40 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Oklahoma City.
ANALYSIS
Franco made his UFC debut in March, dropping a late-notice fight to Mario Pinto at heavyweight. He was back at his natural 205-pound weight class here and looked much better. It took about three minutes for Franco to find his range, but once he did, Rodrigues was toast. The fact Rodrigues badly gassed certainly didn't hurt matters. Franco is 25 years old, has real power, and is in great shape. He's been wildly inconsistent to date, including a submission loss on Dana White's Contender Series back in September 2005, but he's not without physical gifts.
Franco made his UFC debut in March, dropping a late-notice fight to Mario Pinto at heavyweight. He was back at his natural 205-pound weight class here and looked much better. It took about three minutes for Franco to find his range, but once he did, Rodrigues was toast. The fact Rodrigues badly gassed certainly didn't hurt matters. Franco is 25 years old, has real power, and is in great shape. He's been wildly inconsistent to date, including a submission loss on Dana White's Contender Series back in September 2005, but he's not without physical gifts.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Next fight booked for July
Franco will fight Levi Rodrigues at UFC Oklahoma City on July 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Franco is set for another fight at the heavyweight division after nearly pulling off an upset in his debut over Mario Pinto in London. Rodrigues is set to make his UFC debut after receiving a contract last October at Dana White's Contender Series. He is currently serving a nine-month suspension for using a banned substance that is set to expire July 14.
Franco is set for another fight at the heavyweight division after nearly pulling off an upset in his debut over Mario Pinto in London. Rodrigues is set to make his UFC debut after receiving a contract last October at Dana White's Contender Series. He is currently serving a nine-month suspension for using a banned substance that is set to expire July 14.
Drops decision in late-notice debut
Franco lost to Mario Pinto via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in London.
ANALYSIS
Franco accepted this fight about a month ago and entered as a +650 underdog, largest on the entire card. When you take that into account, he looked pretty good in winning a round on all three scorecards and seeing the final bell. Of course, one of the reasons Franco managed to keep the fight close was because neither man did anything. It was a 15-minute snoozer in which Franco landed just 21 significant strikes and Pinto managed 2-of-14 takedown attempts. The obvious move for Franco, who weighed in at just 227 pounds for this heavyweight fight, is to drop down to light heavyweight moving forward.
Franco accepted this fight about a month ago and entered as a +650 underdog, largest on the entire card. When you take that into account, he looked pretty good in winning a round on all three scorecards and seeing the final bell. Of course, one of the reasons Franco managed to keep the fight close was because neither man did anything. It was a 15-minute snoozer in which Franco landed just 21 significant strikes and Pinto managed 2-of-14 takedown attempts. The obvious move for Franco, who weighed in at just 227 pounds for this heavyweight fight, is to drop down to light heavyweight moving forward.
Set to make UFC debut
Franco will face Mario Pinto in a heavyweight bout at UFC London on March 21, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Franco stepped in as the replacement for Michael Parkin (undisclosed). This will be Franco's first fight at the UFC level. He owns a 3-1-0 pro record but that loss came in the Dana White's Contender Series. It remains to be seen how he'll handle the uptick in competition.
Franco stepped in as the replacement for Michael Parkin (undisclosed). This will be Franco's first fight at the UFC level. He owns a 3-1-0 pro record but that loss came in the Dana White's Contender Series. It remains to be seen how he'll handle the uptick in competition.