Double E Pictures to Produce ‘Ace’ Franklin Bio Pic

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Rich Franklin’s journey from math teacher to world champion will soon be brought to the mainstream.

Double E Pictures has announced plans to turn the life story of the current UFC light heavyweight contender and former middleweight champion into a feature film. Headed by “Hamlet 2” producer Eric Eisner, Double E Pictures will commission “The Guardian” creator David Hollander to pen the script, according to the official release.

“I’m excited to see the story of my career as a fighter brought to the screen, and I feel confident that the team assembled will do a great job in telling this story,” Franklin said in a statement.

Titled “American Fighter,” the film will reportedly chronicle the rise of mixed martial arts from pay-per-view sideshow to legitimate sport in addition to the Franklin-centric storyline.

“[The film tells] the unlikely story of how Franklin, a family man and high school math teacher, taught himself mixed martial arts, quickly emerged as one of the dominant figures in the sport and ultimately became champion of the UFC,” the release states. “The story also chronicles the rise of mixed martial arts as the fastest growing sport in the world and transformation into a billion-dollar industry.”

Franklin debuted with the UFC in 2003 and won the promotion’s middleweight title two years later. “Ace” defended his belt twice successfully before running into current 185-pound king Anderson Silva at UFC 64 in 2006. After falling to the Brazilian in devastating fashion, Franklin rattled off back-to-back wins to earn another shot at “The Spider” and the title. Unfortunately for the American, he was once again knocked out, this time at UFC 77. Since that loss, Franklin has posted an Octagon record of 4-3, fluctuating between light heavyweight and 195 pounds depending on his opponent.