UFC 86: Jackson / Griffin. Upsetting Fight? You Serious?!

Mixed Martial Arts is probably the most difficult combat sport in the world. I can't think of another sport that requires more skill, speed, endurance and training. So why is it when we see two finely honed athletes display their skills that some people can't be satisfied?

I, like many, was glued to my set for UFC 86 on Saturday night. I had followed Forrest Griffin's career from the very first episode of T.U.F.  I remember telling my wife that someday Forrest was going to have to face Chuck Liddell (who at the time seemed absolutely unbeatable). I was only half right. Forrest enjoyed a meteoric rise from no-name brawler to T.U.F. Season 1 champion to now UFC Light Middle Weight Champion all within 3 years time. This was only possible for two reasons: 1. hard work   2. heart.  

On paper Forrest possessed almost no skills better than the more experienced Quinton Jackson. He was admittedly not a power puncher. He doesn't possess the  coma-inducing slams of Jackson and believe it or not he doesn't have the solid chin of Jackson. The only way Forrest should've won that fight is if the rules were changed to not allow Jackson to throw punches. Not likely.

Quinton Jackson is a beast in his own right. Nasty strong, granite chin and lightning fast right that puts more people on queer street than almost any other 205-er. As the reigning 205lb champ for the  UFC Jackson had a lot on his plate. There is a massive talent pool in the 205 division just waiting for their shot at the belt. (mark my words, this belt will be the most contested in UFC for the next few years) Jackson certainly had his work cut out for him.

Clearly Quinton has one basic fighting style: rough 'em up, slam 'em, pound 'em out. He's not know for his solid Jiu Jitsu or devastating head kicks. He's a brawler and a very tough one at that. There was never going to be any change in his game plan (if he had one) for taking on Griffin. Griffin on the other hand knew EXACTLY what he'd have to do if he was going to make it out of the fight alive. Whereas Jackson want's to pressure Forrest into standing in the box and banging, Forrest realizes that he'll need more than heavy hands to defeat Jackson. His plan of attack was simple and smart. Stay on the outside, pepper him with the jab to keep distance and wear out the front leg. Seems simple enough until you get caught with one of those nasty rights thrown by Jackson.

I won't go into a big discussion on the ref's scoring of the fight only to say this: Every MMA fighter knows there is one rule above all else; Do NOT leave it up to the judges.  I think the Michael Bisping / Matt Hammil fight taught us this several months back. I will say that I was very close with the judges score cards in how I called the rounds. 1=Jackson, 2=Griffin, 3=Jackson, 4=Griffin, 5=Griffin.  How did we arrive at this decision? It's very simple, whether you agree with it or not. Effective strikes landed and octagon control is more valuable than dizzying someone 3 times in 25 minutes.

Forrest stayed on his bicycle and utilized a strong jab with a reach advantage. This allowed him to score points but not much damage. In the first round alone I counted exactly 9 unanswered strikes from Griffin to Jackson. Now when Jackson DID retaliate it was worth it. Forrest went down and got on the wrong side of a good half guard. For several minutes Forrest covered up VERY well and controlled Jackson's posture with amazing skill. He demonstrated this skill earlier when he defeated Mauricio Rua. Rua expended all his energy on top but did very little damage to Griffin. Same situation applies here.

Round 2 was vastly different. Whereas Jackson started the fight as the aggressor and was supremely confident it was Griffin who came out ready to bang. A powerful chop to the right knee of Jackson sent him turning away, unable to put pressure on his right foot. Forrest saw this and for the remaining of the round attempted to wear this leg out all while scattering with multiple hit combos. Again, this was in contrast to Jackson's 1-2 combo he threw over and over. Forrest was throwing 1-2-10's and 1-2-1-2-8's in succession. Were they doing much damage? Only Jackson knows that but they were certainly scoring points.

At the end of the night the only thing that matters is how the judges scored it, not how we at home saw it. We witnessed two athletes at the top of their game display their talents for 25 minutes and nobody has any reason to feel cheated about that.

Now the question remains: Will Forrest have what it takes to defend his title against the deepest 205lb pool the UFC has ever known or he will relinquish it on his first title defense like Quinton did? Chuck Liddell and Sugar Rashad Evans will fight on 9-6-08 and their winner will get the next title shot. Will Chuck reclaim the belt he held for so long or is it yet another T.U.F. chance to hold a belt? I don't know the answer myself. I do know this though; I'll be at the fight cheering my head off.

"Let's get it on"

J.M.