Former Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC) middleweight champion and veteran Rich "Ace" Franklin has confirmed that he will be retiring from competing in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) after completing the last fight in his UFC contract.

Franklin has fought all around the globe, with 10 years in the UFC.

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He was once the undisputed middleweight champion of the UFC, until Anderson Silva began his reign in the octagon.

His record, 29 wins and seven losses, is peppered with amazing fights and finishes in light heavyweight and middleweight.

Twice he fought and won award winning performance against Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva.

He also has the distinction of retiring former light heavyweight champion, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, when he knocked out mohawk-ed fighter with a broken right arm.

Franklin last fought in 2012 against former Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le.

At the beginning of that fight, Franklin looked to be winning the round as he stayed active and turned in more significant strikes.

All it took was one mistake though; as Franklin threw a leg kick and prepared to throw a right hook, Le found his chin first and used the momentum against him. Le won via knockout in the first round.

Approaching 40, Franklin is confronted with the reality of retirement.

However, while he is retiring from competing in MMA, he looks to continue working within the fight game as the new Vice President of Asian MMA company, ONE FC.

Franklin flew to Manila with fellow mixed martial artist and UFC veteran, Brandon "The Truth" Vera because the latter has an upcoming fight in the Philippines on December 5.

There is no word as to who Franklin's final opponent will be. 

TagsRich Franklin, UFC, ONE FC, anderson silva, wanderlei silva, Chuck Liddell, Cung Le, Brandon Vera