re: Hendo vs. Franklin II to headline UFC 103 in Dallas

Mixed martial arts journeyman Kimo Leopoldo died last night from complications caused by a heart attack, according to several published reports. He was 41 years young.

The UFC veteran last competed inside the Octagon at UFC 48 in 2004, losing to Ken Shamrock via first round knockout (knee). He fared no better in the last performance of his career, which was a technical knockout loss to Wes Sims at Extreme Wars 5: “Battlegrounds” in 2006.

Kimo (10-7-1) is perhaps best known for wearing down Royce Gracie in a losing effort at UFC 3, thus allowing Nebraska police officer Steve Jennum his 15 minutes of fame.

Throughout his 12-year career, Kimo struggled with substance abuse. He tested positive for steroids several times, including after his last fight with Shamrock and prior to a scheduled bout against Bas Rutten at the World Fighting Alliance that never materialized.

Kimo — who made an unsuccessful bid to become the executive director of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) — was also recently held by police for drug possession in Tustin, Calif., after authorities spotted the ex-fighter wearing a Long Beach Police Department jumpsuit complete with patches and a cloth badge.

It’s unclear at this time if drugs played any role in his untimely death or if it was due to natural causes. R.I.P. Kimo: Jan. 4, 1968 to July 20, 2009.

I believe so.

I thought hendo should get the maia/marquart winner and then that winner get Silva. Franklin needs to fight a true 205lber as one poster said earlier. That being said, they are prolly my two fav fighters and the first fight was exciting and very very close. I might fly to Dallas to watch this.

Franklin was destroyed by Anderson Silva twice. He is done at 185 as long as Silva holds the belt.

If he would have beaten Henderson the first time then followed that up with the win over Wanderlei I think things would be unfolding differently.
Franklin would probably be more in the mix at LHW.

Now he is relegated to the guy who the UFC calls to plug a weak card.

Henderson has said multiple times he only wants to fight at 185 if it means a shot at Anderson Silva again. Otherwise, he likes being at 205.

too soon?

I know you were. Was it too soon for either? I bet you are spot on.