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I am being realistic. That fight happened before Machida made a permanent move to MW. Changing weight classes can have a real effect. Just ask Rockhold, who doesn’t lose to guys like Jan
All those fighters you listed were top ten at the time believe it or not, as was Jmac when they fought. I’m not saying he is for sure better than Chris or Luke, but I can see the argument. I’m not even sure who I would put in the number 3 spot.
Ok so let's act as if Machida and Franklin didnt walk around about the same weight and as if they never fough each other...
Jan would need to cut off a limb to make 185 btw, let's keep it honest. dont expect him to make a run to the MW tittle as Machida did. Franklin aso lost to Cung Le late in his career anyways.
Still you refuse to be honest. You even throw the name of JMcDonald who was not really a consensus ranked fghter but even if he was, he was as much as Boestch, Phillipou or Jardine were for a brief, opponents who arent even top5 wins at MW for Rockhold.
Jacare, Machida, Weidman, Bisping and even Branch were more established, consensus top10 ranked MWs than anyone Franklin beat in the division.
Top3 from USA are Henderson, Weidman and Rockold. There is no argument about it except in what order. Behind them it get way more open, but Franklin isnt even lock for top 5 from USA. Pretending Franklin is a top3 MW of all time worlwide with Tanner and a green Okami as his best wins in the weightclass its silly, there is no reasonable argument for it