Franklin fights for another title shot

The Ultimate Fighting star from West Chester says his rugged training is right on schedule for a March 3 bout in Columbus.

MIDDLETOWN — Dr. David Youtsler was running around answering phones at his chiropractic business on a cold and snowy Monday morning. Periodically, he'd check in on his prized patient, former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight title-holder Rich Franklin.

"Where's your help?" Franklin asked while using a cold laser to reduce soreness in his arm.

"She said she was stuck in Indianapolis from the snow," Youtsler said.

While the snow might have kept others from work, Franklin is all about business. You see, the words "former middleweight champion" don't ring very well with him.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Franklin makes his return to the UFC's octagon-shaped caged ring March 3 for UFC 68: The Uprising at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Franklin will take a 22-2 record into his nontitle bout against fast-rising Canadian Jason MacDonald (18-7-0). Current heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia and former welterweight champ Matt Hughes also are on the card.

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