Forrest Griffin to Miss Most of 2009 With Hand Injury

by Kid Nate on Jan 13, 2009 10:37 AM EST in News Comment 34 comments

From the UK Sun:

FORREST GRIFFIN could be sidelined for the rest of the year after sources revealed his hand injury is worse than first feared.

The former light heavyweight champion broke his fist during his unsuccessful title defence against Rashad Evans last month and has since had pins inserted into his hand to help the healing process.

Griffin was originally set to be out of action until May but industry insiders told SunSport he will not be back inside the Octagon until Autumn at the earliest.

If nothing else, this clears the way for Rampage Jackson to fight Rashad Evans for the belt without having to wish he was trying to get his revenge on Forrest first.

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wow

That sucks, Forrest is still an entertaining fighter to watch, so that throws out a lot of possible blockbuster fights. But yet that still gives somebody like Lyoto Machida, Thiago Silva and some other 205’ers to fight for this spot.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Jan 13, 2009 10:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Terrible

This is terrible for Griffin. Things change so fast in the MMA world that losing your first title defense followed by a year of inactivity could end his career. Griffin will need to do something huge when he returns to be relevant to a decision deep with hungry talented fighters who are not going to wait for anyone. My question is this; How does 1 year of inactivity affect Griffin in the rankings?

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 13, 2009 10:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I typed “decision” instead of “division” for some weird reason.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 13, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Shogun is still at #9 and he hasn’t fought in ages and his last fight was him getting choked out

by dbcb on Jan 13, 2009 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dana doesn’t care about rankings and he loves Forrest. I wouldn’t be too worried about Griffin’s career.

by FRANKIE on Jan 13, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This sucks BIG TIME!

Although I never agreed that he beat Rampage I always liked watching his fights up until that one. Hes a draw for the UFC. First Huerta and now this… :(

by xFenixKnightx on Jan 13, 2009 10:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would guess that we will never see Forrest holding the 205 title again. I think his win was a freak win against Rampage (Some would even say he didn’t do enough to dethrone the champ in that fight).

Their is too much greater talent for him to overcome and the talent is only going to get younger and better and hungrier.

by lbk on Jan 13, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I would guess that we will never see Forrest holding the 205 title again. I think his win was a freak win against Rampage

/insert eye roll
The guy went five rounds and won a decision. The best you can do is say it was a controversial decision, but come on man.. lucky win? Seriously??

(Some would even say he didn’t do enough to dethrone the champ in that fight)

Yeah, the losers camp said that (and fan drones repeated it). Apparently, even tho the champ is supposed to be the best, he needs help from the judges to win. He lost the fight, he lost the belt. Tell Rampage, next time, not to spend an entire round flopping around like a fish getting punched from above – then he might win.

by mythbuster on Jan 13, 2009 11:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you’re right, it was a dominating overwhelming victory from Forrest, who happened to be the challenger. What was I thinking to question the power of his victory.

by lbk on Jan 13, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Personally I scored it a draw but I can see how someone could think Forrest won the fight.

by Tonley on Jan 13, 2009 11:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you’re right, it was a dominating overwhelming victory from Forrest, who happened to be the challenger. What was I thinking to question the power of his victory.

Try again. What I wrote was:

/insert eye roll
The guy went five rounds and won a decision. The best you can do is say it was a controversial decision, but come on man.. lucky win? Seriously??

Your powers of logic need work, padawan.

by mythbuster on Jan 13, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Look, if you think that outcome was clear and decisive, that’s fine. I thought it was a draw at best with Ramapage clearly doing the most damage.

by lbk on Jan 13, 2009 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

First day of English? :(

by mythbuster on Jan 13, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WTF are you talking about guy? You are clearly in the camp that thinks Forrest won the fight. Am I wrong there?

Anyway, your boy got pounded out and is no longer relevent in the division. Sweet dreams.

by lbk on Jan 13, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very true

The guy who beat up Rampage and took his belt did get beat by someone else. See? I knew you could do it! I knew you would finally come up with something that made sense! Yay!

by mythbuster on Jan 13, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Play nice, but honestly, lbk did you not understand what mythbuster said or are you intentionally misrepresenting what he said?

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Jan 13, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

even Page said that Forrest whooped his ass. thats enough for me.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 13, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s too bad, Griffin is a big draw for the fans who started watching MMA via TUF.
Being out that long and losing the belt would seem to be a pretty stiff kick to the nards for Griffin IMO.

by pr0cs on Jan 13, 2009 11:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It does clear up the LHW division title picture for 2009. With Griffin out of commission, W.Silva probably dropping to 180, and Jardine playing the role of gatekeeper to the Top 5 (set to face up-and-comer Cane), we are left with a bit of a tournament for the LHW crown.

The winner of Henderson-Franklin could fight the winner of Machida-T.Siva for a title fight. Anyone who gets past 2 of those 4 fighters certainly deserves a shot. The potential match-ups against the winner of Evans-Rampage are tantalizing.

Meanwhile, Liddell would face the winner of Rua-Coleman. If Rua were to overcome Coleman and Liddell, he would deserve the next shot, and for that matter, if Coleman beats Rua and Liddell, he’d have a strong case for a title shot himself. As for Liddell, one victory might not be enough. Perhaps he could take on the loser of Evans-Rampage, and only be allowed a title shot if he avenges one of those losses.

by klown on Jan 13, 2009 12:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

i see where you're going with this...

… but “The winner of Henderson-Franklin could fight the winner of Machida-T.Siva for a title fight” would never work with the whole TUF thing they’re lining right now, with either Henderson or Franklin fighting Bisping.

by woooburn on Jan 13, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We seriously need to define the term “Tournament”.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Jan 13, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How did he break his hand with those little pitter-patter punches he was throwing at Rashad?

by mattio on Jan 13, 2009 12:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bet you a dollar you wouldn’t want to get hit with one of those – much less as many as he threw at Evans. It might not look like much on TV, but I don’t see the point of Forrest or anyone else throwing punches with any other intent than hurting the other guy.

by lhasafi on Jan 13, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I still can’t believe Forrest was ranked 1 in the world at LHW at one point during the last few mths. Just unbelievable to me. I know there are a lot of Forrest fanboys out there but the guy isn’t even top 10 IMO.

by lbk on Jan 13, 2009 1:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Say what you will about Forrest, and I’m not a fan, he beat two guys who were ranked #1 in the division at the time he fought them. And Rampage was maybe a bad call but he submitted Shogun.

by Kid Nate on Jan 13, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He did sub Shogun. I’m still scratching my head on that one. I think Shoguns next figtht will show if he is back to normal or if he’s cooked. I think the version that went up against forrest was not even close to the real shogun that we have seen in the past though. Regardless, he did lose.

I mean Forrest beats legends but then gets pounded out by former TUF guys. Maybe he fights on a higher level against guys like Rampage and Shogun I don’t know.

by lbk on Jan 13, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That blows.

Huge blow to the sport IMO. Forrest draws crowds and puts on good shows – despite what a handful of fans think. It will be a tough road back to the top but as long as there isn’t another injury, it sure will be fun to watch him climb the ladder again when he does come back.

by donkeypunch on Jan 13, 2009 1:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hardly a huge blow to the sport at all. We are talking about a fringe top 10 guy quickly getting ecliped by the real talent coming up the ladder.

by lbk on Jan 13, 2009 2:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

one loss in a championship match and now he is back to being a fringe top ten guy????

by dbcb on Jan 13, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

I’d love to know where the Forrest hate comes from. Despite all the guy has done, in another thread not too long ago a guy was saying he has a glass chin, now he’s a fringe top ten guy.

* ponder *

by mythbuster on Jan 13, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't get it

I can’t see where the Forrest hate comes from either. Less than a month ago he was the #1 LHW in the world. Fringe top 10? Please.

by donkeypunch on Jan 13, 2009 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ballsy Prediction

Forrest Griffin will one day hold the strap again.

by subo on Jan 13, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I still don’t see how anyone could think that Rampage won the Forrest fight, Griffin was clearly dominant and won 4 out of the 5 rounds the look on Page’s face before the decision said it all he knew he’d lost. Also I read somewhere that he might be back in late ’09 if things go well with his rehab on the hand so there is a chance we might see Forrest again in 8 to 10 months.

by Raker on Jan 13, 2009 5:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs