Evans/Forrest Could Do Liddell/Forrest Like PPV Numbers

by mmafiend on Sep 8, 2008 1:24 AM EDT Comment 2 comments

Rashad has proven that he has devastating KO power in both his kicks and his punches, while Forrest has proven that he has an excellent ground game and that he has the perfect gameplan when it comes to fighting guys like Rampage who can knock you out with one punch, by staying on the outside and pecking away.

The style-clash makes for an exciting matchup and it will be interesting to see how that translates in terms of PPV buys. Chuck Liddell vs Forrest Griffin would have done huge numbers, especially since it would have been hyped during UFC 91:Couture vs Lesnar, but MMA doesn't always work out the way Zuffa brass wants it to.

Rashad vs Forrest could come close to what a Liddell/Forrest superfight would pull in if the UFC Hype Machine pushes the TUF storyline and replays Rashad dropping Liddell over and over again the way they replayed Rampage slamming Arona. Rashad has now headlined two PPVs and has fought two of the most recognizable names in the business in Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. Forrest Griffin is one of the biggest fan favorites the UFC has, not to mention a proven PPV draw (Rampage vs Forrest at UFC 86 reportedly did over 500k PPV buys according to Dave Meltzer), having fought some of the top names in the sport as well.

It may not do Liddell/Forrest numbers, but there's no doubt the fight will still end the year with a bang.

http://mmafiend.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/rashad-evans-wins-title-shot-against-forrest-with-stunning-upset/

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I agree

especially with that Evans KO on ESPN, and Forrests like-ability factor, I think a PPV would be huge between the two.

The fight itself should be a snorer, but the buys should be good.

by mythbuster on Sep 8, 2008 10:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think this fight could do huge numbers. If you think about it, Chuck really became well known after he beat Tito, same for Rashad now. Forrest has his own fan base from TUF1. The numbers should not be too shy of what Liddell/Griffin would have been.

I must say that I would have rather seen Griffin rematch Jackson first, but Jackson kinda screwed himself on that one.

"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007

by lovingmma25 on Sep 8, 2008 11:58 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs