After stringing two wins together, Forrest Griffin finds himself in familiar territory once again.
Griffin will meet Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 134; with the winner likely edging themselves closer into title contention. Griffin previously defeated Rua at UFC 76 and went on to challenge for the UFC light heavyweight title, which he ultimately won later that year.
This time around, however, things are different.
Griffin’s lack of desire to compete remains questioned following an embarrassing loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 109. Since then, he has beaten mid-tier level competitors Tito Ortiz and Rich Franklin. Rua’s recurring knee problems continue to haunt him, as he was recently defeated by Jon Jones at UFC 128, losing the light heavyweight title in the process.
It’s safe to assume that both competitors need this win to stay relevant in the 205 lb division. Anything less would eliminate them from a title shot and likely hinder their chances from ever receiving one again, and at 32-years-old, it might be Griffin’s last chance.
He is undoubtedly one of the most popular fighters in UFC history but unfortunately mixed martial arts does not base its rankings by popularity. Griffin has always been the one to embellish the underdog role, but his recent performances have not done him any favours to persuade fans to consider him a favourite to beat Rua a second time. Call a case of déjà-vu, but Griffin’s luck could very well run out.
Even if he is to lose, Griffin will still remain in competitive bouts and a respectable draw within the company. It’s possible that Griffin finds himself in a third matchup with Tito Ortiz, which Ortiz has been requesting. Also, a bout against Phil Davis would serve as a good test to determine where Griffin is at in the division.
Bleacher Report’s Mike Hodges