Red Ink: Belfort vs. Franklin

In six years of UFC competition, only two men have defeated Rich Franklin, both of whom happen to be the two best middleweights in the sport. Franklin’s secret appears to be that he wants it as badly in the closing thirty seconds of a bout as most do in the opening thirty. His motivation doesn’t wither. And that’s a pretty big deal.

Vitor Belfort’s motivation has been the anchor of his career: he has all the natural talent anyone could ask for, top-notch training, and a particular skillset -- fast, dangerous, heavy hands -- that you can’t replicate. But he wants things to go his way. And when they don’t, he checks out.

Belfort throws straight down the line; Franklin loops. Belfort fades late; Franklin sucks it up. It’s not about who has heavier hands, but who can keep them up longer.

Might Look Like: Belfort vs. Chuck Liddell, with Belfort dropping a decision to the busier striker; or Franklin-Wanderlei Silva, with Franklin eating some artillery, covering to regroup, and picking at an opponent tired of hitting him.

Third-Party Investor: The UFC, which is in dire need of a middleweight contender to excite both fans and champion Anderson Silva. Belfort in a win over a durable Franklin sends him right to the edge.

Who Wins: Franklin. He’s too cautious to suffer a blitz, too strong to toss, and too conditioned to outlast.