Fight Back with Jake Shields Rich Franklin Discusses His Career and His Christianity - Fight Back Ep. 94
Aug 2, 2025
Rich Franklin, a former UFC champion and current VP at ONE Championship, shares captivating stories from his early days in MMA. He discusses epic battles with legends, revealing the magic and mayhem of the sport’s evolution. Franklin dives into the importance of proper technique and critical thinking in training, and how personal beliefs shape his journey. He also covers self-defense strategies for urban environments and the absurdities of theft laws, all while emphasizing community values and the rich lessons learned through travel.
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Early MMA's Wild Era
- Early MMA was wild and unregulated, with fights in fairgrounds and unqualified medical staff present.
- Rich Franklin fought in such events, breaking a jaw with no paramedic ready, highlighting how much the sport has evolved.
Humbling Early Training
- Rich Franklin trained with top fighters like Dave Menet and faced humbling grappling experiences like being leg locked repeatedly.
- These moments pushed him to learn lessons in training rather than the harsher arena of fighting.
Practice Perfect Technique
- Practice technique with knowledgeable partners to avoid forming bad habits.
- Perfect practice leads to perfect execution; poor practice creates permanent mistakes.