In terms of overall p4p career greatness - FRANKLIN or BELFORT?

Probably Franklin even though he was brutal KTFO by Belfort. I just think Franklin was more consistent at both weights in his career, won the title in a more convincing matter and held onto it for a few fights. Belfort has some good wins Couture, Wandy, Lindland, Franklin, Herring and a few others but nearly every big fight he has lost. Franklin has Liddell, Wanderlei, Hammil, Okami, Tanner 2x, Louiseau (big win then), Ken Shamrock at a time when it was a decent win.

 

Franklins win over Shamrock was never a decent win.

 

I'd say Belfort for sure. His win over Wandy was very impressive, and he's been fairly solid throughout, fighting bigger guys early on. Belfort has the better attributes as well IMO, Franklin has always been very workmanlike in his approach, which is good but Belfort is just the 'better' man IMO.

With respect to Jimmie, he contradicts himself a lot in his analysis. He says of Belfort that 'every big fight he has lost' and yet Franklin was massacred by Anderson x2, Belfort destroyed him, and his best single win is over a shot Iceman (lovely shot mind)

He also lists Hamill amongst his best wins. atsch

Neither fighter is a true 'great' IMO but both have been very useful for long periods of time.

 

How the hell was Belfort's win over Couture good? Jesus christ.

 

Beat me too it again fella
But it's a good question, Id have to go for Belfort. To trot out 'He hasnt fulfilled his potential'' cliché he still has some damn fine wins, relatively speaking

 

Could be argued either way.

Looking at their losses, Vitor lost handily to Randy x2 (and has one freak win), lost to Sakuraba, Ortiz, Liddell and Overeem x2. He also has a lopsided loss to Hendo and a KO at the hands of Silva.
Franklin only loss in his early career was to Machida, then Silva x2 then a close split to Hendo, then kod by Belfort and UD'd by Griffin.

Overall neither of the guys have any really embarrassing losses. Franklin has certainly looked more consistent, but since he lost the title he's been hit and miss, arguably because his competition has been of a consistently high level. Belfort's performances go up and down, motivation/mental issues, whatevs. When he's on he is ****ing on, but he crumbles when he's in a bad head space.

 

Exactly. Their first fight is far more reflective of both mens abilities, Vitor getting a hammering.

 

Good post.

 

WTF are you atsch at Hamill ? Is it because he is deaf ? The man is alot bigger then Franklin and has beat Bisping(**** the judges), Jardine and Tito and he beat Tito pretty damn easy compared to others. Matt also went the distance vs Rampage yet Franklin lit him up for 2 rounds before stopping him in the 3rd.

Also I dont believe I said Belfort lost every big fight I said nearly every big fight besides the Franklin, you can argue Wandy was a big fight in 98, Couture if you wanna count it and now im running out of fights. Franklin won and defended the title 3 times and any title fight is a big fight so you add those with his wins over Liddell, Wanderlei (big fights regardless) and even Okami. Franklin has lost a few big fights but hes almost even in that area.

 

I like belfort but he didn't dominate as a champion as long as franklin did so i gotta give it to franklin.

 

Belfort. He is a very significant fighter who's been around since the dawn of MMA.

 

Exactly.

He also has a win over ATG Tank Abbot :hey