Rich Franklin will sign a new contract and then battle his own personal demons to lift the UFC light-heavyweight title.
Franklin revealed to setanta.com after his split decision triumph over Wanderlei Silva that it is time to negotiate a new deal with The UFC.
The Cincinnati man goes into those talks on a strong footing after out-striking Silva at UFC 99, a victory that Dana White later admitted will secure Franklin a 'big fight' at 205lbs.
With obvious contenders Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans locked up in TUF 10 matters, the temptation could be to give Franklin a chance at revenge against Machida - who was the first man to ever beat the former middleweight champion.
Franklin is not eyeing the golden shot though, insisting he is still fighting an inferiority complex that cost him the fight with Dan Henderson.
“I wouldn’t want anybody to think I didn’t approach the Henderson fight at anything over than 100 percent. Maybe I showed him too much respect. I didn’t attack him as much as I should have done," Franklin told setanta.com.
“Facing Wanderlei was the same situation, so I had to prep myself and tell myself I’m good enough to be here. I had to tell myself I’m every bit as good as these guys and I can’t let history intimidate me.
“I’m about at the point where I renew my contract with The UFC, so we’ll talk with Dana and see what he’s got lined up.
“Both myself and Lyoto are much improved from our first fight, but right now Lyoto isn’t in my sights. My last fight at 205 was a loss to Dan Henderson, so I’m not sure where a victory at 195 puts me.
“I’m not sure where I figure in the division right now, what with the new season of TUF and Rampage and Rashad acting as coaches...we’ll have to wait and see."
One thing that is clear is that Franklin can mix it with the best strikers in the world. He took all that Wanderlei had to offer and still nearly knocked The Axe Murderer out.
“The key to knocking somebody out isn’t about how hard you punch but punching in the right spot. Wanderlei caught me behind the ear, I’m not sure how hard the punch was, maybe he just caught me in the right spot. But he does have the capability to do the damage.
“To be honest, in that second round he was close to putting me away. I was dazed over and that could have been bad news for me.
“I caught him a couple of times in the first round and he looked a little bit dazed, and there was another time when I caught him and he stepped back looking glassy-eyed.
“Wanderlei’s been clipped a few times in his recent fights and people have been questioning his chin, but we didn’t want to rush in and make a mistake and then get caught in the blanket motion of his arms."