Former middleweight champion Rich Franklin has been one of the busiest fighters in the UFC in recent years, with no less than 13 fights in the past four years, plus starring as a coach on The Ultimate Fighter Season 2.

Now, after a knockout defeat to Vitor Belfort at UFC 103 in September it appears that Franklin is taking a break from his battles in the octagon to recharge his batteries.

“(After the Belfort fight) I was at a point in time in my career where I needed some down time,” Franklin told mmacanada.net. “Physically I had a couple of things I needed to take care of, mentally just kind of…you know I’ve had to get up for some big fights over the last couple of years and been really busy.”

He does however reveal that the UFC initially had other plans for him.

“They called me to fill in on the January show and I said ‘look you know, I need some time down,’ and then actually they called after the January show to fill in for the November show…when Coleman got hurt, and I said, ‘look I really need some time down,” he says, laughing.

It’s an interesting statement, revealing that perhaps Franklin, rather than Forrest Griffin was in the UFC’s mind to fight Tito Ortiz at UFC 106.

As for when we are likely to see the 35 year old back in the UFC, Franklin reveals that it’s likely to be, “sometime in the Spring, or early Summer.”

Watch the full interview with Franklin below.

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