Quinton "Rampage" Jackson lost his UFC light heavyweight title Saturday night to challenger Forrest Griffin at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Griffin won by unanimous decision much to the shock and dismay of MMA fans.
The decision by the judges to award the win to Griffin was very controversial and unfair. Rampage did enough to win the fight and I had him winning at least three of the five rounds. Griffin won the second round and prehaps you could give him the last round.
Griffin had Jackson in full mount in the second round and could not even do much damage and end the fight.
Some fans on Internet message boards are so angry about the controversial decision that they have promised to never buy another UFC pay-per-view ever again.
You can't blame fans if they think the fix was in. Dana White would love nothing more than to have the first winner of
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The crowd reaction in the arena for each fighter was basically split along racial lines. There were more white fans in the arena so Griffin got the loudest cheers and Rampage got the loudest boos. C-list celebrity Mandy Moore was seen on the pay-per-view broadcast rooting wildly for Griffin.
Griffin looked surprised that he had won after the decision was announced. He had a sheepish smile on his face as he was being interviewed by UFC commentator, Joe Rogan.
The judges need to be investigated as they have as much credibility now as NBA referees. Dana White is acting like David Stern and Vince McMahon rolled into one.
If Griffin had lost, he would not have complained at all. Griffin's fans may have had a legitimate gripe when Griffin lost to Tito Ortiz by decision a few years ago, but they cannot honestly say that he got the better of Rampage last night.
There will probably be a rematch and rightfully so. Jackson said he may have had some cage rust due to not having fought in nine months.
Griffin did not deserve the victory at all and this match has put a cloud of suspicion over the UFC and Dana White.
I think it was during round three or four that Rogan said on the broadcast that Griffin was clearly winning the fight.
I should have realized something fishy was going on after Rogan's surprising comment.
Controversy sells and a rematch between the two fighters would make the UFC a lot of money. Unfortunately for the UFC, many fans are pissed off and refuse to pay for another UFC event ever again.
You can count me as one of those fans.
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about 1 month ago
I don't usually comment, in fact this is the first time, but I just have to say that I feel when the racial card gets played like this it is from a fan that is disgruntled and looking for excuses.
I am a fan of both Forrest and Rampage. I couldn't decide who I'd rather see win more. Forrest deserved to win the fight, granted maybe not by unanimous decision, but he should have won.
Even for people that believe that the judges decision is a bad one, before suggesting that it was based on racial lines, some thread of evidence should be produced. As for Mandy Moore, are you telling me that it is not simply possible she is a bigger fan of Griffin than Jackson.
Sure some fans are angry, but I'm almost willing to bet there would be an equal amount of fans that would be angry if Griffin lost.
I believe Forrest won. I'd like to see a rematch, and the real Rampage show up. If Forrest doesn't elevate his game, it will be a short rein.
One last question, the judges made another controversial decision when Bisbing defeated Hammil. Do you think the judges are prejudice against the hearing impaired. May it just be that the judges may have pre-determined notions, don't see everything the way we think they should, and lets face it, people can make mistakes. Only solution, finish the fight, don't leave it to the judges. To bad Rampage couldn't do this. Griffin won, and nobody will ever convince me he was so clearly out fought that he clearly lost.
about 1 month ago
Oh, I almost forgot, Forrest has long since been a fan favorite, he would get louder cheers than most fighters, regardless of color.
When GSP fought Hughes for the second time, the crowd was clearly favoring Hughes (the American) at the start. By the end of the fight GSP (Canadian) was getting more cheers, despite being in the USA. Fans cheered for Forrest for the same reason they cheered for GSP, the size of their heart.
about 1 month ago
thanks for the comments Scott. I don't think Rampage would have looked so tentative if it wasn't for an injury during training camp. This was not the Rampage that we are all used to seeing. Be that as it may be, I still think he won every round but round 2. I like Griffin too but he should not win and be a champion this way.
I don't even know who the judges are. Maybe one of them is even black. I don't know. But this decision wreaks of Shawn Michaels/ HBK match in the WWE a while ago.
The whole show stunk. Hopefully AFfliction's card on July 19 will be much better than last night's fights.
about 1 month ago
Hey now! It was a great card! Forrest won. Rampage didn't look or fight as he usually does. Unless the racial thing you speak of was Forrest's fish belly whitness "blinding" Rampage so much that he couldn't see his head to knock it off his shoulders, you are beating a dead horse. This is not a question of color. On Saturday night I think any of Rampage's former opponents could have beaten him--he wasn't the same guy that usually enters the octagon with fire from his belly reflected in his eyes. And as much as I love and admire pert little Mandy Moore, I don't believe she is an MMA expert or knew of a conspiracy, even though she has been seen in the company of Dana White. We all have our favorites, Rampage is mine. He lost, I am over it; although I will never be over the Hamill-Bisping thing!
about 1 month ago
Using the race card is a poor way to make a point. I understand sour grapes but please keep in mind (for future articles) that unless you have actual PROOF of racial discrimination you walk a thin line of libel for calling Dana White or his UFC organization racist.
from about 1 month ago
This is not sour grapes here. This is the truth. Dana White hsa made racist remarks in the past. No lawsuit here. I speak the truth
from about 1 month ago
D....you do realize that Griffin is the only white American champ right? You've got a native Hawiian, a francophone Canadian, a black Brazillian and a latino Brazillian as the champs in the other division.
Damned racist judges, UFC, Dana White, whatever other BS you wanna throw in there.
about 1 month ago
The comment that "There were more white fans in the arena so Griffin got the loudest cheers and Rampage got the loudest boos" doesn't make sense. Yes, there were more whites in the arena, but I don't think they are all racist and just pull for whitey no matter what. I like Jackson just as much if not more than I like Griffin. That has everything to do with his fighting style and personality and nothing about the color of his skin.
If you remember, during the post fight interview with Joe Rogan you could hear the crowd loudly booing Griffin. This entire article is unfounded garbage.
from about 1 month ago
They were booing the decision because even the biggest Griffin fan cannot justify a Griffin win on Saturday night. The result was atrocious!!!
about 1 month ago
Dude, Griffin won the fight, fair and square. Other than a flash knock down, in the 1st, he was in control of the octagon and pressing the action the whole time. He stuck to his game plan and won 3 of the five rounds, as I thought he would. There is no racisim in the octagon, just skill sets and game plans.
about 1 month ago
have you looked at the people holding the belts in the UFC?????? 2 Brazilians (one being of African decent), a Hawaiian, a French Canidian, and Forrest. Stop wining about a really good fight, Rampage will be back, in better shape, he will bring his A game, and it will be another great fight. period, end of story.
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