Rich Franklin was one of the big early stars of the UFC’s Zuffa era. He had the incredible back story of being a former high-school math teacher, Hollywood good looks, Midwestern charm and an easy, natural charisma that made him relatable to fans.
That star quality — Franklin headlined several UFC pay-per-views from 2005 to 2012 — is what aided “Ace” in getting a nod for the UFC Hall of Fame. He’ll be inducted July 5 at the annual ceremony in Las Vegas. Franklin, of course, was a former UFC middleweight champion and has a sterling résumé, but he was a big name — and a tremendous ambassador — as the UFC took a turn for the mainstream in the mid-aughts.