Franklin Avoids Surgery for Next 3 Weeks

Rich Franklin will bypass surgery for now after breaking his left ulna bone in the opening moments of Saturday’s UFC 115 headliner against Chuck Liddell in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The 35-year-old former middleweight champion broke the forearm bone blocking Liddell’s high right kick, but impressively pushed on to knock out his second UFC legend at 4:55 into the first round.

Franklin’s manager, Monte Cox, said the fighter’s physician recommended a three-week period in a cast to see if the bone heals naturally on its own. The doctor will then re-assess the injury to see if surgery will be needed. Regardless, Cox said Franklin will remain in a cast for two months.