Nobody said it would be easy. From the initial season of The Ultimate Fighter emerged a tall and goofy fighter who looked barely older than the childhood pictures of his youthful self. Dan Severn taught him that recognized MMA fighters were big time. Keith Jardine showed that he could be brought down. But better yet, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua proved that Forrest Griffin learned how to hang with the best in the world. And with that win over Shogun came a shot at the title against Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 86.
Griffin has the heart and the training to make many other fighters look weak. He doesn’t quit. He doesn’t let a little blood stop the fight. He doesn’t stop after a rounds of trading heavy punches. Forget about tapping too. Forrest Griffin wants to win. And on Saturday night, he did. Forrest Griffin executed a gameplan at UFC 86 to become the next light-heavyweight champion even after taking similar shots from Jackson that probably would have dropped many other fighters for good. While Quinton Jackson rightfully took the belt from Chuck Liddell at UFC 71 last year, and regardless of what people might say, Griffin did the same to Jackson this year.
Losers can’t make excuses forever. Although Jackson admitted that Griffin “whooped his ass”, I don’t expect his outspoken trainer, Juanito Ibarra, to say silent for long. But many make excuses for Shogun after his loss to Griffin via rear naked choke last November as well. His leg was injured. He wasn’t in shape. He shouldn’t have fought. But excuses are useless in a sport where you only get one chance. You better be ready or you better choose another profession. Griffin certainly didn’t let anything get in the way of his quest for the light heavyweight belt on Saturday Night. With leg kicks that proved that Jackson wasn’t an invincible standup fighter to ground control that did enough to keep the ex-champion from doing anything offensively in the second round of their five round brawl, Griffin knew what had to be done and he did it with his goofy, yet respectful, style.
The fight at UFC 86 was reminiscent of Griffin’s TUF 1 Finale fight with Stephan Bonnar back on April 9th, 2005 - a fight that Dana White calls the most important fight for the UFC. Both fighters stood and traded for 15 minutes and neither wanted to give up even though both fighters were gasping to stay alive. Griffin edged Bonnar in a controversial split decision similar to the UFC 86 scorecard that many believe should have allowed Jackson to keep his belt.
But, there was one round that allowed Griffin to become the new champion on July 5th. The second round is when Griffin brutally kicked Jackson’s leading leg and caused the then champ to nearly spin a complete 180 from the pain. Griffin then dominated Jackson on the ground for the remainder of the round to capture a 10-8 round in the mind of some of the Nevada State Athletic Commission judges and many fans. This 10-8 round was probably enough to influence two judges to give Griffin the nod to become the next coveted 205 UFC champion. Another judged scored the fight 49-46 in a decision that many are calling laughable. Either way, Forrest Griffin came through on Saturday night to go from The Ultimate Fighter to the highly respected title holder of the one of the most dangerous weight classes in the sport of MMA.
Dana White will be smiling ear to ear for the next month. And he should be.
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July 8th, 2008 at 9:33am
“Griffin has the heart and the training regime to make many other fighters look weak.”
I’m pretty sure the government had nothing to do with Forrest’s training.
“But many make excuses for Shogun after his loss to Griffin via rear naked champ last November as well.”
Neither Shogun nor Forrest was champion that night.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:55am
As for the “rear naked champ” - that was a typo.
I meant “choke”. I need an editor. 
July 8th, 2008 at 10:53am
LHW Notes.
Congrats goes out to Forrest. The LHW just got even more interesting. Quinton Jackson may get a 3rd fight against Wanderlei or even a rematch against Shogun. I prefer a Shogun fight first.
How great does Keith Jardine looks?!? After all he did soundly stop the current LHW champion and beat the former champ, Liddell.
Will Thiago Silva remain undefeated? Hopefully he’s fighting soon and hopefully its someone named Wanderlei?
Will Rashad Evans shock MMA?? It’s very possible if he can control Liddell on the ground or surprise him standing up and being elusive . . . oops, I meant fighting smart . . . you know stick and move, stick and move.
Will Shogun return to true form or get injured along the way?
I guess Chuck and Quinton will be very mindful of the power of low leg kicks and maybe employ them themselves or travel out to Thailand or something.
What happens IF* Anderson Silva soundly beats James Irvin?
How does he factor in the division?
*Note the big IF, I wouldn’t dare assume that Silva will automatically finish Irvin. I think fans are counting Irvin out too quickly.
. . . Machida’s next fight? (sound of cricketts and wind in the background) Let’s just say that I really doubt Machida will be fighting for the belt in 2008.
I know I said it before on this site, but doesn’t it really look like anyone can be the LHW champion?? Especially when the decision is left up to the judges?
July 9th, 2008 at 9:31am
I hope Rashad doesn’t beat Chuck. That would be terrible. Imagine a Machida vs Rashad borefest for 5 whole rounds…. I would consider passing that card…
I am not saying that Machida deserves a shot because he don’t, but this fight could happen in the future.
The 205 is deep, we could have 3 differant champs between now and next summer…but I would like to see Wand get his hands on it.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:14pm
Wand versus Forrest would be great although they both train with each other in the same training camp.
While Machida vs Evans may be a borefest on paper, I think due to their styles, Machida would finish that fight in the second or early third.
It would be cool to see both Tim Boetsch and Houston Alexander emerge as great possible contenders.
July 9th, 2008 at 4:17pm
Houston “please don’t punch me in the face or I will go to sleep” Alexander?
NO WAY!
July 10th, 2008 at 10:47am
^Willis, why not? He’s a great performer when he’s winning, although he looked completely horrible in his last two losses. So many fans questioned Liddell, Jardine, Wanderlei, Shogun, Griffin, etc. after their losses. Then many fans quickly hailed them as great fighters after their wins.
Let’s say Tim Sylvia defeats Fedor in a dominant fashion. How many people will then question Fedor’s legacy? His past opponents? If Irvin KO’s Anderson Silva, will people quickly forget his past victories and focus on the holes in his game? Make more excuses for the opponents he defeated? There are list of excuses for Henderson and Lutter.
I’ll celebrate the fighter who won and loss. Jardine looked great against Liddell and completely stopped Griffin, who’s tough as nails. But his losses against Alexander and Wanderlei did not look so great. Do we discount Jardine as a smart and tough LHW contender, or give immense credit to the victors?
I’m just saying.
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“Winning or losing is there, walking side by side. I already lost, I’ve won, and there were times I didn’t fight. It won’t be anything out of this world for me if I lose.” - A. Silva
July 11th, 2008 at 6:39am
Yea but they didn’t lose to a no one…and yes Irvin is a no one…
Houston was never a contender….and never will be. If he loses his next fight he will be packin his bags and begging someone to pay him to fight.
July 25th, 2008 at 3:25am
I love it!not 2 much to look forward to huh?other than 2o5.maybe you should get rid of submission fags like frank mir that nobody cares 2 see run around the ring after getting there ass kicked in a fight.and the nobody cares fight cards under 2o5.people at least know their gonna see a fight with elitexc card and kimbo slice!you wish!you were the real ultimate fighting championship.or u.f.c. Brock come on over well give u a fighter to compete against if u happen two lose.u.f.c?c’mon mir?thats why the money and fights people want are elitexc?fighting and fighters
July 25th, 2008 at 4:41am
Seriously,why do u have submissions in so called u.f.c.matches.that doesnt happen in a fight.imagine the sport that replaced boxing could and would become.true u.f.c!
July 25th, 2008 at 9:18am
If you don’t like watching submissions, you should watch *cue fanfare* kickboxing!
Submissions do occur all the time in real fights. How do you think a smaller fighter can subdue a much larger opponent? By trying to out-box him? Try that out and let me know it works. I’m a small guy and if a huge dude tries swinging, I’m going for the takedown in hopes he has no wrestling or jiu-jitsu/judo experience.
Also, the whole idea about MMA is being well-rounded. That’s what makes it better than boxing, wrestling, or any other martial art by itself. Combine them all and it’s fun for the whole martial art family.