When I’m doing drills I’ll get my blood pressure up to the low to mid 190s. The highest I’ve ever recorded was 203, and I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

    I usually jump out of bed and head to the road in front of my Cincinnati home, to get in 3 miles of running before breakfast. On Wednesdays and Sundays I do no running at all. 

    During the fall, on Sundays, I’ll spend some of my time like a lot of American guys. I go to church and then catch some football. 

    We are blessed.

    I’m back in Cincinnati and still trying to sort things out in my head. Many people have asked me how I feel about the fight with Dan Henderson on Saturday night at the O2 in Dublin. 

    This was my second time fighting in Ireland, and the people could not be more gracious. Those wild Irish fans are hungry for the UFC, and their excitement really energizes all the fighters.

    The old truth is that if you let a fight go to the judges you deserve whatever you get. I didn’t end the fight with a knock-out and I have to accept the decision.  When the result was announced by Bruce Buffer, I wasn’t devastated so much as dumbfounded. 

     Dan and I didn’t really talk after I offered my congratulations. I have no bad feelings at all towards Dan. At the same time, I won’t rest well until we have a chance to get better acquainted inside the octagon. I want a rematch. 

    Fighting at 205 is like being on vacation for me. I get to eat so much more. This beats walking around at 185, with the hunger pangs of a famine refugee. And I find that as I get older and deeper into my fight career, the more I enjoy it. After 8-10 weeks of exhausting training, to finally get into the octagon and fight isn’t stressful, but enjoyable.

    Since I won’t be filming Spike channel’s The Ultimate Fighter show, I have time to regroup before my travel and speaking schedule begins to quickly fill. I look forward to moving around the country and I hope to see you some place, some time. 

    Thanks again for being there for me. Your support is my O2.

I feel that if you had not gotten poked in the eye you would have been able to continure to pound him out.  I know it’s difficult to say whether the poke was intentional or not but I feel like you would have Won.

And, wonder if he didn’t think you were getting the best of him……and had to do something drastic on his part.        —Cathy A

Really glad to hear you are looking for a rematch. Without indulging negative opinions regarding the henderson match, I think it is sufficient to say that I would love to see a rematch where you kick his ass!
You are one of the most exciting fighters to watch out there. Really hope this result just drives you forward to being a better fighter.  Keep up the good work! Keep up the evolution!
Thanks,  Donnie

I could not believe the decision.  It WAS a close fight, but my friends and I (including the Hendo fans) could not believe he got the decision.  It looked like to us that you stayed busier, were more aggressive, and controlled the fight better.  Sure he had you down the first round and was doing his job.  I feel the judges severely lack in the area of deciding who was busier.  To see a guy take you down and not do much is not a fight either.  You were able to ride out the storm and stand back up.  It is kind of funny seeing a guy flinch every time you fake throwing a punch.  You have got real power and I was looking forward to a Nate Quarry punch to hit Dan.  Not that I wanted to see him hurt.  Just knocked out.  I can’t wait to see you in the ring again.  I can’t tell you how bad I wanted you to win and coach again, but I am not disappointed or frustrated.  Glad to see you made it out without any significant injuries. 

Here is to you and your health, and hoping if you are ever in Denver/Fort Collins CO, that our paths cross.  God bless you and your family. Safe journeys.      –Doug Seeley.    # 1 Rich Franklin Fan.

Rich, I had you as the winner in that fight…….sometimes things don’t always work out the way you think they do. You had him hurt in the 3rd round, and had you not gotten poked in the eye I think you may have finished it. I definitely think you can win a re-match, lets go get ‘em!!!   -Brian Lewis

I truly believe Rich was meant not only to win but to inspire others outside the ring.
YOU’RE A VERY UNIQUE HUMAN BEING AND FIGHTER. CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU WIN!
Best Regards, Carlos Arias