Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans: Underrated
by Luke Thomas on Dec 2, 2008 2:27 PM EST
in MMA News
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PrintI couldn't agree with Josh Gross more:
A testament to the star-building power of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV, UFC delivers a main event on Dec. 27 featuring two men reared on the reality show -- Season 1 and 2 winners, respectively -- who are now known more for their success in MMA than their time on television.
Because most year-end awards seem to come with time left on the clock, pundits likely won't make Griffin (16-4) "Fighter of the Year." But if people are willing to wait, and he manages a victory over Evans (12-0-1), the No. 1-ranked Griffin, who took the title against "Rampage" in July, could qualify.
One bout after handing Michael Bisping the first loss of his career, Evans earned the top-contender slot in the UFC's deepest division with a stone-cold knockout of Liddell in September. Evans should possess an edge in speed and power. Best fight of the month, hands down.
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I think this fight has a potential snooze fest written all over it personally. Especially since it will be following Page/ Wand III which will be fireworks as usual.
I understand the “bigness” of the fight (2 TUF winners, belt on the line in the deepest division, main event of the last show of the year) I just don’t see this fight being super entertaining. Neither of their BJJ is great, neither of them have great striking… this could end up as a brawl I suppose but Forrest has been getting away from that.
What might be interesting is the game plans drawn up between two of the premier camps in North America (jackson and couture)
Actually
Griffin’s BJJ is largely underrated.
This fight is the best fight of the month because there are simply so many variables and unknowns in this fight. In Rampage/Wandy and Aoki/Alvarez you pretty much know what each brings to the table and how the fights will go for the most part.
http://mma4real.net/
Exactly. Both of these guys aren’t on the roll they are each on for being one dimensional fighters. While Nog-Mir is two world class submission fighters and Page-Silva is going to be a standup war, Forrest v. Rashad is a fight between two incredibly well rounded fighters. Forrest has just beat the consensus No. 1 and No. 2 fighters in the division while Rashad has never lost a fight.
Would have much rather seen them give Rampage another shot at Forrest. Regardless, I don’t see Forrest holding the belt much longer. He has a lot of heart, but I don’t think he is one of the top 5 LHW in the UFC right now. The cream of the crop will get him eventually. I don’t know if Evans is the guy to do it.
Personally, I am most looking forward to Wandy/Page. That fight is going to be ridiculous. You don’t see genuine hate too often in MMA. These 2 hate each other.
I don’t think he is one of the top 5 LHW in the UFC right now.
That is absolute crazy talk. The guy just beat two guys in a row who, at the time, were considered the consensus No. 1 in the division. A guy does that once, than you can make excuses. If he does it twice, how do you not say he’s number 1? And, if for whatever reason, you don’t see him as number one, how do you possibly not put him in the top 5?
I was telling my friend when we were watching the Lesnar v. Couture card that of all the matches from that point until the end of the year, Griffin v. Evans is the most intriguing to me.
On the one hand, you have the original TUF winner, a guy who seems to win against all odds.
On the other hand, you have the second TUF winner who is undefeated.
Something, as they say, has got to give.
Forrest Griffin is due for a nap......
I can’t wait for this fight. I see Griffin trying to take Evans out of his game with leg kicks and getting caught. Holy Shit! Anything can happen in this fight. Both these guys are young, fast, strong and with something to prove.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
"Forrest Griffin is due for a nap…… "
Yup, and maybe some more water works. :) Courtesy of another Jackson “nipple twisting” camp member.
I’m going for Evans and Rampage all the way because I really wanna see Rampage/Evans go at it.Pfft! IMO Griffin shouldn’t even have the belt.
by xFenixKnightx on Dec 2, 2008 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
are you brain dead
do i have to mention fight of the year
wandy vs page 3 and your saying two boring ass hell fighters srry may i say one griffin is funn love seeing him run into to shit and have an expression like ok not doin that agian but seriously i hate rashad rlly i do if he couldnt finish bisping nor tito
but he lucks out on the night chuck decides to not keep his hands up same with the salmon knockout dude is an opportunist lol fuck em
war griffin defend that title so wandy cain can kill you!
Umm
All fighters are opportunist. You should cast your hate of a fighter aside to realize what they are capable of.
http://mma4real.net/
If taking advantage of an opportunity is a bad thing...
…then I’m not really sure what this sport is about. You look for the opportunity to land a punch or secure a submission or score a takedown..etc. This isn’t running headlong into walls…it is technical fighting.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Dec 2, 2008 4:31 PM EST up reply actions
Here’s the deal around here: this isn’t Sherdog.net. If you don’t agree with me, say as much. But if you feel the need to insult me or others, you’re gone. This is your formal warning.
by Luke Thomas on Dec 2, 2008 4:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
FOTY....
andres vs. proper punctuation, sentence structure and the english language.
by Frank_Castle on Dec 2, 2008 5:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
It’s tough to imagine Rashad getting decisioned. I have been a fan of his since the show and enjoy the way he’s continued to add to his game since we first saw him.
I think Page/Wand may be a more exciting fight, but I am most interested in Rashad out of all of these guys.
You have to respect Wand for being a tough guy, but I absolutely despise the lack of any discernable strategy in his fights. I did not enjoy his bout with Liddell (what fighter gets gets outsmarted by Chuck?), and his fight with Jardine was over too quickly to get excited about or interested in.
As an aside, does anyone have more fierce leg kicks than Forrest right now? I mean he crippled Page with kicks.
Crippled? Wow, really?
Rampage was up and jumping in the 4th and 5th. Don’t know how you can call that crippled. Anyway to answer your question, yes, GSP has better leg kicks than Griffin.
by xFenixKnightx on Dec 2, 2008 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
Did you not see the look on his face when Forrest caught him in the 2nd? He staggered and looked dazed by the kick. He def affected Rampage with the kick. That kick changed the whole fight IMO.
by lbk on Dec 2, 2008 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
GSP’s kicks > Forest Griffin’s kicks
Fixed!
by xFenixKnightx on Dec 3, 2008 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
Is twisting your opponent's nipples illegal?
Both these guys win when they’re not supposed to. I pick whoever comes out as the betting underdog. If its Forrest, decision win, and if its Evans, R3 Rear Naked Nipple Twist.
I once pinched a guy in a wrestling match. Although, I wouldn’t call it pinching. I grabbed his fat roll (he was 130 pounds and had a fat roll) and he screamed “He’s pinching me ref”. I ask, What is the defrence between that and grabbing a wrist? I mean the roll grab should be a move, right?
Goddamnit, some guy did that to me last week! I’ve lost 80 pounds since I started training BJJ, so it wasn’t a fat roll, just extra skin. Either way, he went for my lapel, missed, and got a chunk of skin and proceeded to try and sweep me by yanking on it. In his defence, he didn’t know he was doing it, but I almost punched him in the mouth out of sheer reflex.
Of course, for real fighters, this technique only works against Ricco Rodriguez.
"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."
by AJB on Dec 2, 2008 5:52 PM EST up reply actions
I’m hoping this fight doesn’t turn out to be another Rashad/Bisping styled fight.
I think both fighters have the ability to put on an exciting fight, it just depends on which Forrest or which Rashad shows up to the Octagon that night.
Hard for me to imagine this being dull.
I think this is a very bad fight for Rashad stylistically. His wrestling advantage is kind of nullified by Griffin’s immense size and iron guard. He basically toyed with Quinton and Shogun from his back, Rashad will get some takedowns, but it’s hard to imagine him ever passing. Forrest also has a reach advantage I believe, but the biggest factor is cardio. Evans’ cardio has always been suspect, will he be ready to go 5? I got my doubts.
by Michael Rome on Dec 2, 2008 10:37 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
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