By Michael David Smith
- Lead Blogger
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During today's conference call to promote
UFC 93, light heavyweight fighters
Rich Franklin and
Dan Henderson were so respectful of each other that I finally had to ask them: Don't you guys need to generate some anger to get motivated for your fight?
They both said they don't. In fact, Franklin and Henderson said that in training, they routinely spar with their buddies, which means they've long since grown accustomed to giving a good friend a kick in the face.
"I have a lot of respect for Dan and I like him as a person," Franklin said. "I've seen him at several events in the UFC and other things, and I've sat down and talked with him. Before the fight we're friends, and after the fight I'd be more than happy to buy him a beer if he wants one. During the fight we'll throw punches at each other and that's just how things happen. In training, at the gym, I punch some of my best friends in the head."
Henderson said he feels the same way.
"This is our sport," Henderson said. "It's just the way things are. We go into the gym and hit our friends, and that's what we do. I don't generate any anger or dislike an opponent. Even if I don't like him I'm not thinking about that, I just focus on what I'm going to do and my training and everything else. It's a sport and that's what it is."
I like that mindset. Just because Franklin and Henderson are going to be hitting each other for 15 minutes in the Octagon, that doesn't mean they need to feel any particular animosity toward each other. Not everyone has to be
Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz, and it's good for the sport that guys like Franklin and Henderson can show respect toward each other before and after the fight.
Read More: danhenderson, richfranklin, ufc 93, ufc93, front page, featured-stories, Dan Henderson (MMA), Rich Franklin (MMA)
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