Joe Ferraro

Rich Franklin, right, is coming off a loss to Vitor Belfort.

Rich (Ace) Franklin is due for hernia surgery, but look for a comeback in Montreal

Former UFC middleweight champion, Rich (Ace) Franklin is expected to be sidelined for the next few months.

"I'm taking some time off," he said. "I have hernia surgery scheduled next week. I have a slight tear in my upper stomach. I need to get it taken care of. Once I do that, then I'll get back to a normal training regimen."

The injury is the type that can progress to something much worse, so Frankilin is looking to fix it as soon as possible.

"It's a smaller tear so I'm taking care of it before it becomes a bigger problem."

While some types of hernia surgeries can sideline a patient for over six months, Ace is optimistic that his recovery will be much quicker.

"You never know till afterwards, but we're hoping for six-to-eight weeks."

Franklin's last two bouts were at a catch weight of 195 lbs, but he wants his next bout to be in the light heavyweight division.

"I'm assuming that the UFC wants to keep me at 205, which is where I started in this organization."

While the former champ is recovering from surgery, he is hoping the time off will help him beef up, to match the size of some of the division’s best, who are physically much larger than he is.

"What I'm trying to do is put on enough weight so that I'm actually a sizeable 205 pound fighter. I'm not a big 205 pound fighter, and I realized this, so I'm hoping to put some size on in the meantime. We’ll see what happens."

Franklin was recently called out by Canadian middleweight Patrick (The Predator) Cote, who is hoping to take on Ace in his return bout. Franklin did not appear interested, but did state it was up to the UFC to make that decision.

But it is something that is much too difficult to predict.

"If they decide that they want me to move back down to 185 and try some fights there, and possibly make another run for the title...you just never know what's going to happen a year from now."

Franklin left the division after the organization asked him too, especially due to the fact that current champion Anderson Silva was dominating everyone in his path, including two victories over Franklin.

Fighting for the middleweight title is intriguing to Franklin, but not if Silva is still the champ; the two are now friends.

"Anderson could retire or perhaps want a third fight with me, but I'm not interested in that, since I trained with him. He helped me get ready for Wanderlei (Silva)."

The bout with Silva was a testament to Franklin's international appeal, as it was contested in Cologne, Germany. Competing outside of his home country has become second nature for him, and something he welcomes anytime.

"I don't mind traveling," said Franklin. "Over the last year-and-a-half I've been in Ireland twice and Germany and they actually asked me to fight in Sydney (Australia)."

As for when and where Franklin believes he will be fighting next, his crystal ball believes the UFC will once again make it an international bout, likely north of the border.

"I'm hoping may maybe June," he explained. "I'm not opposed to going to Montreal at all. I've fought in Canada several times and I love the fans and they love me. I could see them (UFC) saying something about Montreal. I could see it."