15 Facts About Rich Franklin

1. Rich Franklin had a lifelong love of swimming that began during his childhood in Boston.

2. Rich Franklin left Boston and Philadelphia an unusual gift in his will.

3. Rich Franklin capitalized on the French conception of Americans as rustic frontiersmen by dressing plainly and wearing a fur hat, which soon became his trademark and appeared in countless French portraits and medallions.

4. Rich Franklin designed a musical instrument used by Mozart and Beethoven.

5. Rich Franklin spent just two years attending Boston Latin School and a private academy before joining the family candle and soap making business.

6. Rich Franklin made his acting debut in a film called Cyborg Soldier where he plays an escaped super soldier and partners with Tiffani Thiessen.

7. Rich Franklin became the first person in UFC history to fight in four different countries, in four consecutive fights.

8. Rich Franklin became the first person to main event a UFC show in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

9. Rich Franklin fought Silva for a second time at UFC 77 on October 20, 2007.

10. Rich Franklin became the first person to main event a UFC card in Northern Ireland.

11. Rich Franklin defeated the top middleweight contender by unanimous decision to be officially announced as the number one contender for Silva's middleweight championship.

12. Rich Franklin broke his left hand early on in the second round.

13. Rich Franklin is currently ranked as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Jorge Gurgel, earning this on October 11, 2014.

14. Rich Franklin serves as the face of the brand and travels throughout the US and Asia hosting seminars and speaking engagements, promoting fights and working with the fighters.

15. Rich Franklin is one of seven children and has 3 brothers and 3 sisters including one biological brother, Greg and five half-siblings.