Forrest Griffin will once again be a heavy underdog in a marquee fight when he takes on Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 86 on July 5, 2008.
It was Forrest’s most recent fight against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 76 that proved one thing. The underdog status is something Forrest doesn’t mind one bit. In fact, he thrives on it.
That night Forrest would shock the world with a third round submission of Shogun in arguably one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
What most people don’t know is that the Shogun fight was one he specifically proposed to UFC management after his unanimous decision victory over Hector Ramirez at UFC 72.
Shogun had just signed a UFC contract and Forrest wanted to go out of his way to test himself against a fighter who was, at that time, ranked #1 in the world at 205 pounds by most MMA publications.
What kind of a fighter specifically asks to pick a fight with the best fighter on the planet? It’s a guy who is extremely confident in himself and his abilities. A guy who has a lot of heart and courage and one that seeks out a challenge. It’s a guy like Forrest Griffin.
Forrest will step into the octagon against Rampage sporting a 15 – 4 professional MMA record. He’s beaten a number of great fighters already in his career including the aforementioned Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Jeff Monson, and Stephan Bonnar twice.
Two fights that Forrest has lost, against Tito Ortiz and Keith Jardine, have been just as important to his career as all the victories.
Fighters tend to learn from losses not victories and those two fights are prime examples. The Tito Ortiz split decision loss at UFC 59 taught Forrest that he could finally hang with the elite fighters in the light heavyweight division and that he was indeed talented enough to be one of the best.
The Keith Jardine fight was also a big learning experience. It taught Forrest that he needed to stick to a game plan instead of making himself one dimensional.
What fans wanted to see were two guys on their feet swinging at each other for three straight rounds. Those are the types of fights that are the most exciting and Forrest wanted to put on a show. However, when he got caught by Jardine late in the first round this type of mentality had cost him the fight.
Will Forrest be able to control the fight with Rampage and take his belt away? I don't think so, but on second thought, it wouldn’t surprise me. I shouldn’t doubt a guy like Forrest Griffin.
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4 months ago
Ok, you were setting me up with this one, Derek. I was thinking this was a fight breakdown with you explaining areas Forrest was better than Rampage and EXACTLY how you thought he would beat him.
I agree with the argument that you present here, however, barring that Rampage comes in injured, out of shape, or just catches the perfect shot and gets badly hurt I can't see him losing to Forrest.
I dont see Rampage losing to anyone outside of potentially Wanderlei, or Shogun. I would pick him over anyone else at 205, in any organization.
from 4 months ago
Rampage obviously has had trouble with knees in the clinch in the past courtesy of wandy and shogun. Hopefully someday he gets to fight those guys again.
I agree with you though. I don't think rampage is going to win. I just don't think anyone is giving forrest a chance at all in this fight and I don't want anyone to be surprised if he does pull it off. Nobody gave him a chance against shogun either.
from 4 months ago
*** sorry i don't think FORREST is going to win .... that was supposed to be the first sentence of my second paragraph
4 months ago
Yay! Glad to see someone else agreeing with me on Griffin's chances in this fight, especially someone whose opinion I really respect.
from 4 months ago
I like his chances if he can stay in close and use his knees .... i'm not sure if he will have enough to pull it off though. I just wanted to give him some respect b/c I haven't seen anyone else picking him to win this fight. He's a talented guy and like I said above I wouldn't be shocked if he pulled it off.
from 4 months ago
hendo went 5 rounds with rampage toe to toe and he is small for a light heavyweight.... if hendo can hang in 5 rounds, griffin can too
4 months ago
I agree I favor Rampage as well, but just look at who Forrest has fought and you will see that he has never had an easy road to where he is now, and it is more likely that Jackson will win, but not to the point of even being an huge upset. It would shock me about as much as Jackson beating Chuck to win the belt in the first place...it can go either way.
from 4 months ago
Okay, just making sure people won't be shocked. You're correct though, forrest is a grinder. And he appears to be a guy who likes to stand and bang a lot but in reality he has won the majority of his fights via submission. Rampage has only been submitted once in his career (Sakuraba) because he is such a strong guy with great wrestling skills. I'd love to know what forrest's game plan is ... can't wait for the fight though
from 4 months ago
Hey Derek I actually know Forrests Gameplan. its simple, DON"T DIE. I like Forrest and have a ton of respect for him for beating Shogun, but i just can't see a way of him beating Rampage. Okay maybe one way, during his walkout Rampage is howling and throws his neck out. His neck is so messed up his head slants horribly to the right and he can't move it. Forrest hits him with a nice shot and Rampage gets knocked out, Other than that I think Rampage is gonna add another victim to the list.
4 months ago
Forrest Griffin is always an underdog. He was an underdog against shogun who was arguably believed to be one of the #1 ranked fighters in the world. Shogun was a ju jitsu wizrard but ended up getting tapped by Forrest in the rear naked choke at the end of the third round. Not only that but Forrest dominated him the whole fight. That night Forrest showcased his skills and that he has evolved as an mma fighter. When Rampage and Forrest fight they are gonna want to put on a show cause of all the hype. Most likely they are gonna stand and bang. Any time fighters stand and slug anything can happen just like Rampage and Liddel. If rampage cant drop Griffon expect to see him takedown and utilize his ground n pound skills. To me this is a fight that cant really be called. Good luck to both.
from 4 months ago
indeed, should be a great fight ... hopefully it will last a little longer than rampage/liddell though
4 months ago
sad part guys is Forrest is from my town, and when he is in town, trains in my gym. So i have every reason to root for him to win, i just cant against Rampage.
from 4 months ago
you should have shown forrest how to throw some knees in the clinch at your gym ....
4 months ago
Page matches up well with Forrest. I doubt Forrest can sub him, or even take him down. KO by Forrest? Unlikely with Rampage's striking and chin. And it's hard to win a 5-round decision against the champ unless you clearly dominate for three rounds.
Forrest will have to clinch and trip Rampage to take him down, because he will not get him with a double leg. Also I think Rampage is stronger, which makes a difference in the clinch. Not to mention his nasty uppercuts from there (Eastman fight).
Then Forrest still has to try to sub Ramapge if he gets him down, and Rampage's sub defense will be improved. I doubt the champ will gas, but Forrest's best shot is to go for a sub or tko if he gets Rampage down.
Forrest will not have the size or cage experience advantages that he had against Shogun, and Rampage will not gas after going 5 with Hendo. On the feet, unless Forrest masters the Muay Thai clinch and its knees (which is Rampage's clear weakness) he has a long night ahead of him. Isn't Forrest training with Wand at Xtreme Couture? I think Wand could teach him a thing or two about Muay Thai knees :)
from 4 months ago
I can agree with your analysis. There will be no submissions and rampage is hard to knockout and like you said, I hope (for forrests' sake) wanderlei teaches him a thing or two.
from 4 months ago
Forgot to say you make a great point about it being hard to clearly win three rounds against a champion. You have to essentially dominate those three rounds to overthrow the champ and that is tough to do against anyone who is at that caliber.
The Hendo/Rampage fight is a great example of that. Neither guy really forced his will on the other. Hendo had success but he didn't overwhelmingly deserve to take the belt.
4 months ago
Well I'm not sure it's just as easy as Rampage being alot better than forrest. Since Forrest came to the UFC he has developed as a fighter alot more than I think Rampage has over the past few years. As good as Rampage's wrestling is He still likes to brawl in scrappy exchanges. Forrest has got the advantage if it comes to that...bet people have somthing to say about that lol. I think if Rampage lets his confidance run away with him , he may get a shock when he realises Forrest wont just give up. I dont think Rampage's ground game is good enough to submit Forrest and I can't see the fight going long enough for Forrest to submit Rampage in the later rounds. I would like to think Forrest will win. But whatever happens, it's going to be one hell of a fight!
from 4 months ago
If rampage wants to stand and bang with forrest anything can happen .... nobody has a rock for a chin if they get tagged on the button
4 months ago
On the topic of PRIDE and 'roids - There is no proof, and without it I wouldn't drop names, but there have been plenty of rumblings and rumors out there that a lot of the sub par showings by PRIDE veterans in US fights (be it in PRIDE, the UFC, or elsewhere) has been due to the stricter drug testing.
Again, I obviously don't know that for sure, and have no evidence, I'm just saying that it has been suggested more than once in fight circles.
4 months ago
I agree. The Pride fighters would use roids but I don't think thats the issue with them not winning. They all had ring rust...Plain and simple!!! Shogun faces Forrest for his first fight off a long lay off... Sokudojou first fight back was Machida who was undefeted... Wanderlei faught Chuck... Werdum faught Arlovski and Rampage faught Eastman ONLY because he argued with Danna because Danna wanted Rampage to fight Chuck for his first fight!!! Shogun was hurt BEFORE he entered the ring to fight Forrest. Nogierra is Heavywieght Champ, Rampage is Champ, Anderson Silva is Champ...How many more Pride fighters do you want to be Champs so you can stop saying Pride fighters are losing their fights.
from 4 months ago
You missed the point.
4 months ago
My best question is when will one of the light heavyweights go after the heavy weight belt? Henderson had a good match against Nogeira and was a 185lb. Henderson of course is no joke, him and Silva are both great 185ers. My point is UFC needs a better class at heavyweight. Couture was right in walking, nothing left for him to prove. Couture would beat anyone in the heavyweight class in UFC. So the winner maybe should start thinking of bacon cheeseburgers. Come on Dana, get some of the good heavyweights from PRIDE. Lets come up with some names that would win the belt. Mark Hunt, Josh Barnet, Fujita, and of course Fedor. I'm REALLY surprised at the lack of success of Mirko, so maybe I'm wrong with my philosophy. What is the thoughts from you all? I am impressed with some of the knowledge Ive seem here, and would like to possibly get more names listed. Don't say Kimbo, or you get the dunce cap!
3 months ago
I think rampage will win this fight unless he is to over confident which happens alot ..I love Forest he is one of my favorites but i don't think he is going to win this one
Since rampage changed camp and retrained he is an amazing fighter
by anonomous
3 months ago
Nobody can ever count Forrest out of a fight. He always steps up and rises above the challenge. Forrest will put on an excellent fight against Rampage but I just don't see him coming out on top. He will put on an amazing fight and show people that he isn't going anywhere in the Light Heavyweight division.
I can't wait for this fight.
3 months ago
Fight went all five rounds and Griffin won by unanimous decision
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