After some much-needed time off to recover from several nagging injuries, former UFC middleweight champ Rich Franklin tells the Dayton Daily News we’ll see him in the best shape in years when he faces former light heavyweight champ and UFC hall of famer Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC 115 on June 12 in Vancouver:

“I really didn’t plan on fighting until maybe July or August this year. At the end of the day, you’re fighting Chuck Liddell. It’s Chuck Liddell. … Even though Chuck has taken a couple losses, people are going to remember it’s Chuck Liddell. A year from now, five years from now, whatever — it’s a win over Chuck Liddell. That’s what people are going to remember.

“I saw Chuck recently. Chuck, to me, physically looks better than he has in his entire career. He looked like he was in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in, and so I honestly believe I’m going to get the best Chuck we’ve seen in some time. You’ll also see the best Rich Franklin you’ve seen in years.”

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Pictured: Rich Franklin