PREVIEW UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin

The adolescent future King of Israel stands against the colossal Palestinian champion-warrior. Black Muslim radical and political activist pilgrimages to the birthplace of Humanity to engage a flag-waving Uncle Tom.  The venerated retired legend straps up the five-ounce gloves to return against the vilified, unstoppable ruler of the Heavyweight division.

On July 5, under the roof of the Mandalay Sports Center in Las Vegas, at UFC 86, live on worldwide pay-per-view, it’ll be the troubled youth from inner city South Memphis, Quinton Jackson (27-6-0), current holder of the UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship and the former Athens, Georgia law enforcement officer, Forrest Griffin (15-4-0), the improbable challenger to the title.

Grinding out a reputation in smaller fight organizations across the West coast, Jackson, 30, smashed his way onto the international scene with Japanese promotion PRIDE FC.  Though falling to mixed-martial-arts legend Kazushi Sakuraba in his debut, graced with superior power and the ground control of an All-State wrestler, Rampage—a moniker earned as a disorderly child—bullied and power-slammed other top-tier opponents, earning on two occasions title opportunities against division champion Wanderlei Silva. 

Jackson’s already bubbling popularity exploded in 2007 after signing with the largest MMA operation in the world, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a laidback demeanor, cool sense of humor, and boyish smile endearing him to American audiences.

That same year, the born again Christian resolved an eight-year chore;  standing in an eight-sided cage, at his feet a bloodied Chuck Liddell, UFC President Dana White straps an outsized gold belt around his taut waist—his first major championship.

Contrast Jackson’s journeymen saga to Forrest Griffin’s fairy tale rise to prominence in the fight game.  Soon after retiring from the police force to train full-time, TV producers recruited Griffin (28) for the first installment of reality-based series The Ultimate Fighter, where, in the season finale, the former lawman won a UFC contract by defeating Stephan Bonnar in their notorious bloody brawl. 

The next two years saw the Cinderella Man’s name vault to the top of the marquee with a paper-thin decision loss to superstar Tito Ortiz and a shocking rear-naked choke victory over top-ranked Light-Heavyweight in the world, Mauricio Rua.

This Saturday two disparate roads converge: Rampage Jackson steps into the Octagon against ‘The Original Ultimate Fighter’ Forrest Griffin for the 205 lb. championship and rights to call himself the best.   Heavy right hooks, facial bruising and blood splatter will tell the story.     

Entering the fight, odd-makers give Jackson the edge:  a (-260) to the (+200) of Griffin.  A stone-fisted, aggressive puncher with good hands, Jackson will look to keep the fight on its feet and feed the former reality star fistfuls of leather. 

Griffin, known to take damage, as evidenced by an often cut and contusion marred face, will likely comply—the man sometimes seems to relish taking punches, grinning through a blood mask in between rounds.  The conclusion of the fight might appear self-evident, a gory challenger dropping to the mat after daringly standing against the champion’s barrage in an early round; however, Griffin’s new sparring partner might change that fate, the man they call ‘Axe Murderer’.

Silva, who turned back Jackson’s attempt to take his title twice with a pair of stunning KOs back in PRIDE, possibly might educate Griffin on how to survive and conquer Jackson’s ‘rampage’ with his ring experience with the Memphis-son.

Also, some observers may note Jackson’s grapple and slam technique, a fallback when his hands fail him, puts the champ in a dangerous position – on the ground.  Griffin submitted Rua, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, back in September to earn his shot at 205 lb strap, the same fighter who last defeated Jackson.  With his ground skills and superb cardio—Griffin has a rep of having a ferocious appetite for—he could labor out a submission.

That all given, Griffin devotees should remember, this isn’t the same Jackson that Silva fought in 2004.  Since hooking up with Juanito Ibarra, Rampage has yet to suffer a loss; the veteran trainer focused Jackson in the gym, bettering his conditioning, while along the way sharpening his footwork and turning the wild swinger into a genuine boxer.

The champion retains or a new champion crowned; regardless, Jackson vs. Griffin will be a hard fought bout, the victor having to earn the win.  Expect a brawl-and-sprawl tactic from the defending title-holder, throwing tight, fast combos in the stand up then sprawling to evade the challenger’s take-down attempts, which means, per usual, Griffin’s face will take its share of shots.  If Griffin does manage to bring his opponent to the ground, the question will be can he hold him down long enough to stitch in an arm lock or choke.  It’ll be interesting to see how the story ends.