Rich Franklin Announces His Retirement

– Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin (29-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) has announced his retirement from MMA. Franklin, age 40, had been discussing one last fight to finish out his UFC contract. He also serves as vice president of the Singapore-based ONE Championship, which had taken up most of his time these days. Here are some highlights from the article about his decision over at theplayerstribune.com…

On What He’s Been Able To Do In His Career: I count my blessings when I consider the experiences God has given me. Very few people in this world get to do what they are passionate about. I studied education in college, and while I wanted to teach, it was still just a job. Training in mixed martial arts was my hobby. My father wanted to strangle me the day I told him I quit my career as a teacher to pursue fighting. This was at a time before MMA was mainstream and was described as “human cockfighting”. I fought in shows before athletic commissions really existed. We brought our own gloves … if we even wanted to use them. I fought in cages with torn chain links or broken floorboards, oftentimes in front of crowds at bars or fairgrounds of less than a few hundred people. It wasn’t a rare occasion for a fighter not to show and to have someone from the crowd fill the spot. Weight classes? What were weight classes?

On Pursuing Your Dreams: As a teacher, I always told my students, “Pursue your dreams.” Most people believe a dream is just that — something intangible. They would rather take the safe route than put the work and risk into what is believed to be unattainable. Believe and know that dreams are attainable, but to make them a reality, you’d better be willing to outwork anyone on the same path. Remember, hard work is nothing without a solid strategy. Learn to work smart! To those of you who pursue your dreams, keep in mind that yours is not necessarily the dream of everyone who loves you, yet they are dragged through the same sacrifices as you without the same passions for your pursuit. It can be costly on personal relationships. Learn how to manage a healthy balance.

On What is Next: So, where do I go from here? In my mind, the sky is the limit! I decided I didn’t want to announce “retirement”, rather, I am announcing that I have closed one chapter of my life and begun another. I am blessed to continue working in an industry I helped build. I will continue to do great things with ONE Championship. Many years ago, I was just a guy chasing his dream. Today, I stand here humbled and appreciative of where that pursuit took me. God bless!