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Frankie was relatively unknown before he beat Penn in one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. I am among the few who still think Penn was not robbed in that fight, but in any case we know what happened in the rematch and beyond.
But going way back, I remember the first time I saw Frankie was against Tyson Griffin. Now, people won't likely remember Tyson, other than perhaps him getting flattened by Gomi, but he was a motherfucking beast. Well rounded, a bit wild on the hands, but a great wrestler, strong, and super conditioned.
The fight is a classic. People don't realize Frankie has a lot of mileage, and his knees are probably not what they used to be. Look at vintage Frankie, and he was even faster and more explosive than now, a much grittier wrestler as well, always with sharp hands.
He won that fight, and would soon fight Maynard. Little did we know, two future rivals fighting each other before their amazing title bouts. Maynard, before he fell in love with his hands, was a tenacious wrestler, very large at the time for the division. Maynard outwrestled Frankie, in what was also another great fight. Maynard was perceived to be quite boring, and so he had an extremely difficult title run, which would finally be against Frankie as champion. In turn, Frankie bounced very strongly, going after Franca and Sherk, the latter obviously having lost the title to the reigning BJ, and one of the best to ever do it. Frankie outboxed him, and he dominated Franca as well.
After winning against BJ, he fought Maynard in the classics I presume most are familiar with here. If not, go watch them.
Frankie was always small for LW, although many were at the time, like Sherk and Griffin. But he is probably one of the most consistent fighters I have ever seen in the octagon. He never underperforms, even when he loses. I also thought he won the rematch against Benson Henderson, though it was very close. One of the greatest to ever do it.
But going way back, I remember the first time I saw Frankie was against Tyson Griffin. Now, people won't likely remember Tyson, other than perhaps him getting flattened by Gomi, but he was a motherfucking beast. Well rounded, a bit wild on the hands, but a great wrestler, strong, and super conditioned.
The fight is a classic. People don't realize Frankie has a lot of mileage, and his knees are probably not what they used to be. Look at vintage Frankie, and he was even faster and more explosive than now, a much grittier wrestler as well, always with sharp hands.
He won that fight, and would soon fight Maynard. Little did we know, two future rivals fighting each other before their amazing title bouts. Maynard, before he fell in love with his hands, was a tenacious wrestler, very large at the time for the division. Maynard outwrestled Frankie, in what was also another great fight. Maynard was perceived to be quite boring, and so he had an extremely difficult title run, which would finally be against Frankie as champion. In turn, Frankie bounced very strongly, going after Franca and Sherk, the latter obviously having lost the title to the reigning BJ, and one of the best to ever do it. Frankie outboxed him, and he dominated Franca as well.
After winning against BJ, he fought Maynard in the classics I presume most are familiar with here. If not, go watch them.
Frankie was always small for LW, although many were at the time, like Sherk and Griffin. But he is probably one of the most consistent fighters I have ever seen in the octagon. He never underperforms, even when he loses. I also thought he won the rematch against Benson Henderson, though it was very close. One of the greatest to ever do it.
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