RICH “ACE” FRANKLIN’S SHOULDER SURGERY A SUCCESS
For Immediate Release:
October 13, 2011
RICH “ACE” FRANKLIN’S SHOULDER SURGERY A SUCCESS
Cincinnati, Ohio – Former UFC Middleweight
Champion Rich “Ace” Franklin underwent shoulder surgery yesterday to
repair his torn labrum, an injury that occurred during a grappling practice last
month. Franklin’s manager, JT Stewart, announced today the surgery was a
complete success and that he is expected to make a full recovery.
“I spoke with Rich, he’s feeling great and as soon
as the doctor gives him the go-ahead, he’s ready to start training again,” said
Stewart. “If everything goes as expected, UFC fans could see Rich Franklin back
in the Octagon in late summer.”
The surgery took place yesterday morning in
Franklin’s hometown of Cincinnati. He will require several months of rehabilitation
before returning to a full mixed martial arts training schedule.
Franklin was scheduled to fight Antonio Rogerio
Nogueira as the co-main event of UFC 133, but the fight was pulled from the
card when it was announced that Nogueira was injured and unable to compete.
Franklin last fought at UFC 126 on February 5,
2011 in a light heavyweight bout against former 205-pound champion Forrest
Griffin. Overall, he holds a record of 28-6-0, 1NC and has battled the
who’s who of fighting legends in the UFC including Chuck Liddell, Anderson
Silva, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, Yushin Okami and Matt
Hamill.
Holding a Master’s Degree in Education, Franklin
was a high school Math teacher when he first started training in mixed martial
arts. After finding success as professional fighter, he eventually left his
career in education to pursue the sport full-time. In 2005, he reached
the pinnacle in mixed martial arts when he defeated the late Evan Tanner to win
the UFC middleweight title.
Since then, Franklin has risen as one of the
most popular fighters in the world and a UFC fan favorite. He serves as a
spokesperson for Disabled American Veterans, runs the successful lifestyle
brand of clothing “American Fighter” and has recently entered the
world of acting with roles in “Cyborg Soldier” and “The
Hammer.”
In July, it was announced that Eric Eisner’s
Double E Pictures will produce a film chronicling the story of Franklin’s life
titled, “American Fighter.”
For more information about Rich “Ace”
Franklin, please visit www.richfranklin.com, and Facebook.com/pages/RichFranklin and follow
on Twitter @followace.
Press Contact:
Jen Wenk, APR
jen@starprlasvegas.com
702.635.0995
@jenwenk
“The Hammer” hitting Theaters Oct. 27th
“The Hammer” (formerly titled, “Hamill”) is finally hitting theaters on October
27th! I play Matt Hamill’s Purdue wrestling coach in the film. Please go to www.TheHammerPremiere.com for
theater information. Also, for more information on the film visit www.TheHammerFilm.com. Thanks for the
support!
Welcome to the NEW RichFranklin.com
We updated the website to enhance the overall image of Rich through not only his fighting career, but the other levels of projects he is involved with, such as, acting, nutrition, etc.. We hope you enjoy the new site!
My Daily Diet Plan
UFC Champ Rich Franklin’s Story Headed to the Big Screen (Exclusive)
David Hollander is penning the script for “American Fighter,” with Eric Eisner and Sean Sorensen producing.
The story of Rich Franklin’s remarkable rise from math teacher to mixed martial artist and UFC champion is headed for the big screen.
Eric Eisner’s Double E Pictures and Motion Theory have optioned the life rights to Franklin’s story, and set David Hollander (The Cleaner, The Guardian) to pen the script.
Eisner will produce American Fighter with Motion Theory’s Sean Sorensen.
“I’m excited to see the story of my career as a fighter brought to the screen, and I feel confident that the team assembled will do a great job in telling this story,” Franklin said.
A family man and high school math teacher, Franklin taught himself mixed martial arts, and quickly emerged as one of the most dominant figures in the sport.
American Fighter also will chronicle the transformation of mixed martial arts into a billion-dollar industry.
Eisner’s previous producing credits include Hamlet 2. Other current projects include Havana Nocturne, Greenhat Enterprises, Garcia and Just Cause, based on Eidos’ video game franchise.
Motion Theory, a commercial and music video production house, launched its feature film division in 2008, with producer Sorenson at the helm. Motion Theory also controls the rights to film projects Command and Conquer, Berzerk and One Red Paperclip.
Mathew Cullen of Motion Theory is executive producing American Fighter.
“I’m happy to be in business with Sean and Motion Theory, and look forward to working with David to capture the story of Rich’s remarkable life,” Eisner said. “This is a truly inspirational story that we are excited to tell.”
Eisner, Sorensen and Hollander are repped by CAA.
Rich Franklin hires former UFC head of PR- Jen Wenk
For Immediate Release:
June 14, 2011
JEN WENK, APR, SIGNS UFC® LEGEND AND FORMER CHAMPION RICH “ACE” FRANKLIN
Las Vegas, Nev. – Jen Wenk, APR, today announced that her firm, StarPR Las Vegas™, has signed a deal to with UFC® legend Rich “Ace” Franklin to serve as his public relations representative and counsel. Franklin is a former UFC Middleweight Champion, and is one of the most popular UFC fighters in the history of the sport.
StarPR Las Vegas™ will provide public and media relations services for Franklin to further expand his presence in the sports industry, while developing media strategies to support his future endeavors and professional pursuits.
“Rich Franklin is a legend, a champion, an ambassador for the sport, and simply one of the most respected athletes in the business,” said Jen Wenk, President, StarPR Las Vegas. “Over the years, he has helped the UFC crossover into the mainstream and become the fastest growing sport in the world, and it is absolutely my honor to work with him.”
“I have worked with Jen Wenk since 2005, and I know her track record and what she accomplished for the UFC through public relations,” said Rich Franklin. “I am excited to have Jen on my team, and I look forward to a long and successful relationship with her and StarPR Las Vegas.”
Rich “Ace” Franklin (28-6-0-1) is one of the most competitive fighters to ever step into the Octagon™. He made his professional fight debut in 1999, running off an undefeated 12-0 streak before entering the UFC. In his first bout with the promotion at UFC 42, he vanquished the late Evan Tanner. After a 7-1 run, Franklin earned a middleweight title shot against Tanner, setting up an anticipated rematch between the two. “Ace” enjoyed arguably the crowning achievement of his career when he stopped the title-holder in the fourth round of their bout, becoming the new UFC Middleweight Champion.
During his time in the sport, Franklin has faced the virtual “who’s who” of top fighters, including Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Chuck Liddell, and Forrest Griffin. There is much more to “Ace” than what happens within the confines of the cage, however. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, as well as a master’s degree in education, and is a former high school math teacher. Franklin, along with associate Jeff Adler, created the Keep It In The Ring Foundation, a non-profit organization that advocates non-violence and builds character in youth. “Ace” also made his film debut when he starred in Cyborg Soldier in 2008. In addition, he has served as the spokesperson for the Disabled American Veterans organization since 2008.
In his next fight at UFC 133, Rich will face off against light heavyweight Antonio Rogerio Nogueira as the featured co-main event of the night.
Through StarPR’s existing client, Authentic Sports Management, Jen Wenk also represents “Suga” Rashad Evans, who competes in the main event of UFC 133 against Phil Davis. StarPR is excited to represent fighters in both the main and co-main events of UFC 133 taking place August 6th in Philadelphia. In addition to Rich Franklin and Authentic Sports Management, StarPR also represents the national mouthguard maker Jawzz, Inc. and “The FightDentists” Dr. Silva Battaglin and Dr. Adam Persky.
For more information on Rich Franklin, please visit his website at http://www.richfranklin.com/ or follow Rich on Twitter @FollowAce.
About StarPR Las Vegas™ LLC – Starprlasvegas.com
StarPR Las VegasÔ LLC was founded by Jen Wenk, APR, long-time public relations director for the Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization. After six years of record accomplishments with the fastest growing sport in the world, and 10 years of practicing public relations in New York, Wenk started her own firm in Las Vegas. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English and History from Hunter College in New York City and an APR (Accreditation in Public Relations). Wenk is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and serves on the board for the Caring Place, a non-profit organization in Las Vegas committed to helping those with cancer or who are touched by cancer. She resides in Las Vegas with her son, Jalen. Follow Jen on Twitter @jenwenk.
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Press Contact:
Jen Wenk, APR
StarPR Las Vegas
702.635.0995 cell / text
@jenwenk
Evolve MMA-Singapore
Matt and I taught a seminar at Evolve MMA in Singapore. If you have a chance to visit, the facility is awesome and the talent of the trainers is unbelievable. Orono (the Thai instructor holding mitts in the photo with me) kicked me more times than I would like to admit. The Thai fight pics are pics at lumpinee stadium in Thailand. We did a little sight seeing on the river and saw the snake show before the fights.Singapore’s main industry is import/export. There is a great pic of the shipping yard. At anytime you can see nearly 100 cargo ships in the ocean. There is a pic of the only beach in Singapore, and it is man made…on an island.
Click here to see more pics!
Celebrity Waiter
Title: Celebrity Waiter
Location: The Palm- Nashville, TN
Description: Make a Wish Foundation is having a celebrity waiter charity event at the Palm in Nashville. Come be waited on by Rich, its for a good cause
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2011-04-12
End Time: 22:00
JT Stewart – One of the Best and Hardest Working Managers In the Game
American Fighter has been in the mixed martial arts’ world for a number of years and one of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s biggest stars, Rich “Ace” Franklin, is at the front of the company.
Franklin’s business manager, JT Stewart, has played a vital role in helping to build his career and the American Fighter brand. When the relationship first began between the three of them, Stewart was working with numerous professional athletes.
“In the beginning, I got hooked up with American Fighter and Rich was a little later in the mix,” Stewart said. “I was actually representing NFL players and Nascar drivers at the time, when someone told me that American Fighter wanted to sponsor a Nasser truck and I happened to representing a kid who was a truck driver. So, I sat down with Jeff (Adler) and he told me all about American Fighter and then we talked about how to market American Fighter. I told them why don’t you retain me, we talked about it, I threw a number out and after they checked my references they said okay we want to work with you and that’s how it how started.”
From then to now, Stewart, American Fighter President Jeff Adler, and Franklin have grown to be like family and according to Stewart his biggest enjoyment comes from working day-to-day with them.
“The funnest stuff from day-to-day is interacting with Rich and Jeff, these guys have become like brothers to me.”
Franklin, who has had one of the most successful mixed martial arts’ careers of anyone in the sport, has also found success in other avenues such as the movie industry. A part of his career outside the Octagon that he feels Stewart has greatly supported him in.
“Quite honestly, at times JT has had more faith in me than I have had in myself when it comes to other avenues of business,” Franklin said. “With that being said, I would love for things to happen in such a manner where he ends up making really good money based off the things he and I do together. I’d like to see that happen and like I said, he definitely had more faith in me than I had in myself when it came to the movie process and that type of stuff.”
A major building block for any successful relationship, whether it is personal, business, or both is trust and that is what Stewart has formed with Franklin and Adler through the years.
“He (Rich), Jeff, and I work together well and we make things happen,” Stewart explained. “The thing that really makes this whole thing work is trust.”
Of course, each gentleman has their own duties and Stewart’s schedule is far from relaxing as he spent in excess of 100,000 miles in the air in 2010 and clocks a full schedule throughout the day when home in Cincinnati.
“Everything runs through me, that way Rich doesn’t have to deal with any of it,” Stewart explained. “For example, I travel with Rich when he does appearances and he never has to go by himself. I did 120,000 miles last year flying just on appearances and we probably did 50 appearances easy. When I’m home, in the morning I see what’s important and pertinent and respond to my emails, try to go to the gym, and come back home. It’s all day long, my phone is glued to my ear and it’s all making sure that Rich is taken care of.”
Stewart’s hard work and passion for his career and the careers around him has paid huge dividends and with a professional of his caliber involved the sky is the limit.
For additional information on Stewart and more follow him on Twitter.





