UFC 101 Preview: Forrest Griffin Handicaps Anderson Silva
by Nate Wilcox on Aug 8, 2009 10:00 AM EDT
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Forrest Griffin talks to Dave Meltzer about his strategy for Anderson Silva:
"I think what you can’t do is be a big, slow guy that follows him around and be too aggressive about trying to attack him," said Griffin. "He’s still a great counter-fighter, and that’s why his last fight wasn’t so exciting, because he’s a tough guy to attack. But you’ve got to come in smart and just try to land punches, not big ones, little ones. Just laying out something, you know, just make contact and stay as loose and relaxed as he does."
He sees this as a completely different fight than his loss to Evans.
"With Anderson, it’s the reach," he said. "You’re worried about the incredible length with both his feet and arms. With Rashad, it was the explosiveness, inside power. So it’s obviously a different game plan."
Forrest has shown that he is the most dangerous underdog in MMA. He's also shown that he can execute a smart game plan. Very few gave him much of a chance against Shogun Rua or Rampage Jackson. Here we are again, sending the first Ultimate Fighter champion into the Octagon against a prohibitive favorite.
We'll find out tonight.
-- photo via Sherdog.com
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But you’ve got to come in smart and just try to land punches, not big ones, little ones. Just laying out something, you know, just make contact and stay as loose and relaxed as he does."
Am i reading this correctly, is he going to try to outpoint Silva?
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I think that’s just Forrest’s style , he doesn’t have big KO power most of the damage he does comes from many “little” punches or kicks. So when he stands with Silva he’s going to be careful and not bull-rush into the arms of a great counter striker – that’s what he’s saying . He didn’t say here he’s not going to try take Anderson down , of course he’ll try ( if he’s not stupid…). And who knows , maybe Forrest can take a decision…
Ryo Chonan was out-pointing Silva before he got that submission. Granted, Anderson had a broken ankle in that fight and thus had difficulty moving around on his feet. But nevertheless it can be done.
if he pulls off the win...
… what does it do for him? it’d be a pretty huge victory, and he’d rightfully be close to another title shot if shogun and rampage/rashad weren’t ahead of him. i’d really like to see him fight rich if he beats belfort.
of course, that’s alot of very big ifs i just threw out there. i’d love to see him pull it off though.
Bit overrated
Not to undermine Forrest’s talent, but he beat a mentally unstable Rampage and a Shogun that just came off knee surgery… the wins are legit but he did not beat both fighters at thier best.
Griffin has size, thats it. And size might present a problem to Silva. Griffin will not knock him out or submit him. His only hope is get this fight down to the ground away from the pinpoint accuracy of Silva, avoid submissions and ride him out for a 3 rounds for a decision.
Dont see him wining any other way… it better be a real boring fight if he wants to pull of the upset, if he stands with Silva… its over.
based on the unstable theory
Silva’s record should say-Has beaten mostly average fighters, Is Lutter, Cote, Irvin, and Leben deserving of this silly mass overblown worship? If so then GSP should be made king of the world-he’s fought 100x better competition.
Doesn't anybody think before they speak/post anymore?
by Big Boob Lover on Aug 8, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
You would think GSP is the king of the world based on the randomness with which his fan-boys bring him into discussions that have nothing to do with him. And to say he’s fought 100x better competition is ludicrous. It could be argued that he’s fought some better guys, but not by any significant margin. Henderson and Marquardt are better fighters than anyone GSP has faced, with the exception of maybe BJ Penn.
But anyways, to get back on topic,
Everybody that has fought Anderson has had the tools to defeat him. That said, this is Anderson’s fight to lose. He’s probably a better grappler, and certainly the better striking technician. What Griffin needs to do is stay on the outside and use the one advantage he has – size. That’s dangerous, though, considering the versatility that Anderson presents on the feet. Forrest should get as many points as he can standing without endangering himself, and then take the fight to the ground as soon as he can get a body-lock (a shoot won’t work). From there, he needs to pass to at least half-guard and from there score the points.
^ this
I was just about to mention Henderson, Marquardt and Franklin as above average fighters. Whoever is put in front of Silva he fights, its a shame that he dominated the 185lb division so easily that you think welterweights are 100x more talented.
Also Silva hasn’t lost in 5 years. Ryo Chonan was his last legit loss and he was winning that fight up until the most unlikely sub happened, amazing sub btw. GSP got his ass handed to him by Serra and Hugues because he didn’t have his mental game in order.
GSP will be much better than Silva as he is showing now. He will be p4p best for a while because he is at the beginning of his prime. Silva is at the end of it I believe. So to compare them and to even say GSP is 100x better is just ignorant.
If I have to lose an MMA fight, this is how I want to lose it:
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
that should so not be illegal
I think if you’re on your back, any kick should be ok.
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by Nate Wilcox on Aug 8, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed
& it’s not illegal.. With the “unified” rules that the UFC follows, it’s a completely legal strike and it shows just how strong his core base is to generate that kind of force from that angle with relatively no room for momentum…
It wasn’t legal at that particular fight.. Which both Okami & Silva’s camps admitted to not understanding the rule’s do to poor translation at that time..
Okami has admitted to being beat by Silva though and said he would like a rematch..
I was wrong..
They did in fact change that rule.. It’s considered a kick to the head of a downed opponent because he had “both” knees on the mat..
I had a brain fart and thought that Okami was bent over Silva and not sitting on both knees..
lol my bad…
It’s not legal. That’s a kick to the head of a downed opponent.
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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
roy jj is going to be at UFC 101 according to mmamania,
do you guys think he’ll try to just box and dance around forrest to try to impress his long time idol?
GSP would get smoked by Silva
Fanboy’s can argue all day long about it..
But the bottom line is GSP would worked by Silva..
GSP knows it…
Silva knows it…
& anyone with half a brain knows it…
There is a reason GSP is reluctant to jump straight up to fight Silva.. He admitted he would need a year to gain weight just to compete against him.. Silva is a HUGE guy.. Silva can be as big as most 205’er that cut from 220 and above.. Silva diets hard for 6 months just to make the 185 mark and stands 6’2..
GSP walks around at 185 year round and stands at 5"10-5’11 tops.. GSP is a great fighter.. But he isn’t going to jump up and just start beating champions of higher weight classes. He’s an average size guy off season.. He is a very small MW.. Would not make it as a 205’er..
But he’s gonna walk through a 6’2" MT & MMA world class striker that has the size to stop GSP’s top game from even being a factor ??? He’ll have to get through almost a 8-10 inch reach from a pin point world class striker thats just as fast as he is… A guy that would hit a HELL of a lot harder than Matt Serra or BJ Penn… Yeah ok… I’ll take $1000.00 hard cash on Silva if that fight EVER happens…
I have never said
GSP would beat Silva, never, He’s too small and reach is too short like you said, I may try to start the occasional debate, but am not without common sense.
Doesn't anybody think before they speak/post anymore?
by Big Boob Lover on Aug 8, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Brock Lesnar would destroy Anderson Silva.
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by ronniebonnie on Aug 8, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes he would...
But what’s your point ??
I doubt anyone is going to argue Brock Lesnar beating anyone in any of the weight classes below his.. lol Who’s going to stop his TD ??? No one !!!!
He’ll rag doll everyone in the LHW division and down…
I was just poking at you a little bit with the GSP would get destroyed by Silva comment. GSP is a smaller man than Silva in the same way Silva is a smaller man than Brock.
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;)
I know… I was just poking back and forgot the smiley at the end.. :)
Ignorant????
please! anyone who thinks Marquardt, (who’s not beaten anyone great himself) Franklin and Hendo (who is a HOF-er) are better comp than Fitch-#1 ranked at the time, Alves, #1 ranked at the time, Penn,2x top five p4p, and Hughes a hall of famer 2x is crazy, not to mention the other top WW he’s dominated, Do I have to list every one of Silva’s opponents? Fryklund-who? Leben-mediocre, Cote-overrated, Leites-see Cote, Irvin-27th ranked LHW, yeah what a challenge, and lets bring up his losses to Chonan, Takase, and Azeredo, I’m not saying he’s not a dominating middleweight, he is and I love watching him fight, but someone has to start this debate about his opponents, I don’t see anyone on any MMA site saying anything about him but man love and frankly, I feel it’s my responsibility to start an argument-ask my wife, she lets me start them, but I don’t get to win, By the way I never said GSP was 100x better, just his competition based on their rank at the time, and the obvious weaknes at MW, can’t anyone argue without being insulting? It’s never personal, If everyone always agrees it’s kinda boring.
Doesn't anybody think before they speak/post anymore?
by Big Boob Lover on Aug 8, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
GSP has faced higher ranked competition. This is not debatable.
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by ronniebonnie on Aug 8, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
You're right.. possibly..
The UFC has always had the grasp of WW fighters in the world.. It was never a debate as to who the best WW in the world has been because the UFC has had them all.. However, I dont disagree that GSP has faced better competition as a whole than A. Silva.. What I will point out is that the talent gap in WW is far thinner than it is in MW.. There has never been a stable of MW’s in the world that brought enough debate as to who the best really is.. Silva is far and above the best out of what’s to offer.. He’s beat everyone put in front of him. Since Cage Rage till now he hasn’t even really been pushed at all outside the Lutter fight. He’s without question been unstoppable.. He is so far and above talented that the MW class isn’t competitive anymore.. There’s Silva and then EVERYONE else.. It makes the division less than compelling because he has no real challengers at this point.. The same can’t be said for GSP.. While he a great fighter, the talent gap in the WW division is thin.. There is a lot of guys with equal talent and thus it makes the division very competitive and produces great challengers.. Who’s fault is that ?? Not GSP nor Silva’s..
GSP has taken out all the real worthy contenders, but so has Silva ??? Silva hasnt lost in the UFC, GSP has.. Maybe it’s a case of Silva actually being that much better than all his competition, thus he has to search for bigger challenges in a higher weight class ?? GSP is stuck because his next available weight class has Silva sitting atop.. Not a good fight for GSP, and when GSP self admittedly claims that he is not ready for Silva now.. I think that should tell you something, does it not ??
Trying to discredit Silva because of who he has faced is absurd.. The guy beat the “best” his division had to offer.. He beat Hendo, Franklin, Marquardt etc… The guy has but 3 fights left at MW that make any sense.. Belfort, Maia & Okami.. After that it’s all recycled fights.. Not his fault.. He did his job and cleaned out his division… Maia had to work his way up, Belfort just recently came back to anything of significance & Okami can’t seem to keep it together long enough without getting hurt.. Most people forget that Okami was in line for a shot at Silva and got injured and they had to let Cote step in his place.. Silva’s fault ?? Nope.. Marquardt had lost so he could not get his rematch at the time of the Leites fight.. Hendo was already slated for Franklin and that left not too many people for a shot … Silva’s fault ?? Nope… It boils down to giving the guy his due props.. If ya dont like him then ya don’t like him, but regardless you cant try to discredit his accomplishments none the less.. He is now the “lone” record holder of most consecutive wins" inside the Octagon.. Does that not count for something ?? Liddell, GSP, Couture, Penn, Hughes, Ortiz and the list goes on has not even accomplished not even accomplished that feat.. And regardless the guy stepped in with who they had for him and beat them.. He never took a night off, etc.. He showed up and did his job each and every time.. Because his fans claim him to be great is one thing, but the proof is right there in front of you for their case.. He’s no different than Fedor.. Fedor has a great record with debatable opponents on some fights.. Does that mean Fedor is over rated too ??
did you forget
About the two rounds he beat rashad before getting caught and put on the canvas? Did you forget his fight with tito? Loss or win Forrest has shown that he isn’t overrated and he can hang with anyone at 205.
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by xtremecouture on Aug 8, 2009 12:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don’t think even Rampage himself ever said he lost the fight because he was “mentally unstable”… that’s a pretty wild theory . So Rampage was mentally stable against Chuck and Henderson , then miraculously became mentally unstable against Forrest , but then his mental state was stabilized against Wanderlei ? I agree that Rampage went kukoo but that was well after the fight , not before and not during the fight . Probably losing had a bad effect on him.
How about Rampage came into a tough fight , gave a good performance , but still lost to the better man that day (much due to the fact that he doesn’t block kicks – and if u look at his Wanderlei and Jardine fights u can see he STILL doesn’t block low kicks . has nothing to do with his mental state).
Additionally,
Very few gave him much of a chance against Shogun Rua or Rampage Jackson.
His fight against Shogun was very close but a) he was losing the fight until the third round, b) (at the risk of sounding like a broken record) he was still semi-injured, as his knee was at about 75% after having surgery.
Having watched the Forrest/Rampage fight about seven times by now, Forrest did not win that fight. I know it’s semantic, but the fight was a draw. Rampage probably had less overall “points scored” but he also nearly knocked Forrest out a couple of times. I can’t recall specifics but the fight was a draw, and in my little world I don’t really believe in the lineage of the LHW Championship. Not that Machida isn’t deserving because he is, but I definitely don’t think Forrest and Rashad were meant to be in there anywhere.
Nick Diaz
That’s what his game plan sounds like to me. It’s a Nick Diaz game plan. Bother him with the quantity of strikes and take it from there. Problem is I don’t see that working against Silva. He may not even be able to hit him all that much with that game plan.
This guys begs to differ that Forrest is the most dangerous underdog in MMA
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by Day Man on Aug 8, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Personally...
I feel the odd’s of Silva winning are greater than than the odd’s of Forrest winning..
Clearly based on all vaqriables, I would predict a TKO stoppage in round 2.. Silva TKO 2rd..
Size wont be an issue in this fight as Forrest isn’t an overly powerful guy to begin with.. Yes he is big, but he’s not a “power” guy so the size doesn’t factor in outside of wrestling which he can use pure body weight to his advantage.. For as big as Forrest is he should be putting guys to sleep and mauling guys.. He’s a great fighter and has a chance to win as does anyone. I wont take anything from him because I personally like Forrest and he’s a favorable fighter for me.. But Silva is a different breed of fighter. He doesn’t take any damage in fights. He’s fought all styles and came out with little to no damage at all.. Forrest on the other hand is notorious for taking “too much” damage in fights and that tends to wear on you over the years.. Silva could fight well into his 40’s because he doesn’t get beat on.. He avoids a lot of damage even on the ground.. Everyone talks of his lack of ground skill’s but I beg to differ.. Other than a couple fluke submissions, he’s still never taken any punishment on the ground.. His ground is solid enough to shut down most peoples offense on the ground. His length and reach make it difficult for people to mount any real offense on the guy, both standing and on the ground.. His body triangle should be noted more often.. He uses it to shut down his opponents top offesne.. It’s hard to transition when the guy has you wrapped in a body triangle.. It’s also hard to hit the guy with much effectiveness because he is so long and his reach keeps you pushed back from really diggin in.. Side control and mount are the only 2 options you have to work offensively against Silva on the ground.. But he has a great scramble and uses his ground much like Liddell uses his wrestling.. It’s more unorthodox and defensive than anything.. It’s using it in reverse for the most part..
just think if forrest did knock out anderson!?!?
not saying its would really happen, but this is mma, things are more likely to happen then the satistics would say. who knows though, i want forrest to win, but anderson is most likely win.
early 3rd round tko=anderson
Everyone has a game plan, untell they get hit.
I posted my predictions before and I picked Silva to win this fight. On the other hand I know I’ll cheer for Forrest. He is a very likable underdog. If he actually pulled this off he’d probably soar into Randy Couture levels of adulation by the fans.
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