Forrest Griffin circa 2005 had the heart of a lion (and the face of a gremlin).
Forrest Griffin became a household MMA name after his run through the original Ultimate Fighter show. Goofily charming, Griffin had already amassed a record fitting a UFC fighter before appearing the show, with names like Dan Severn, Travis Fulton, Jeff Monson, Jermey Horn, and Chael Sonnen on his record. But it was Griffin’s gritty determination to fight and win that so impressed audiences back in 2005 that made him a fan favorite. His three round finale win over Stephan Bonnar, hailed as one of the most important fights in MMA history, was an instant classic not because Griffin thoroughly outclassed Bonnar, but because both fighters showed so much tenacity and desire in the fight. If you don’t mind me throwing the term around, Forrest Griffin won over fans because he showed a great deal of heart. It was clear just by watching him that Griffin wanted to fight, more than anything.
Six years later, Griffin is still with us and still somewhere in the top tier of light heavyweights, with a rematch against Shogun Rua to prove that Griffin belongs in that tier. Griffin said in interviews prior to the fight that a second win over Shogun would “validate” him as an elite light heavyweight.
And then he lost.
Leading up to the fight, Griffin had been a bit less sanguine about his fight than usual. Oh, Griffin still had jokes — he’s always a guy that will crack off a one-liner at any given time — but reading between the lines, some wondered whether Griffin still had the competitive fire that once burned so brightly in him. And after a loss to Shogun in which he looked slow and disinterested, some have begun to seriously ask: has Griffin lost the heart to fight?
Forrest Griffin circa 2005 had the heart of a lion (and the face of a gremlin).
Forrest Griffin became a household MMA name after his run through the original Ultimate Fighter show. Goofily charming, Griffin had already amassed a record fitting a UFC fighter before appearing the show, with names like Dan Severn, Travis Fulton, Jeff Monson, Jermey Horn, and Chael Sonnen on his record. But it was Griffin’s gritty determination to fight and win that so impressed audiences back in 2005 that made him a fan favorite. His three round finale win over Stephan Bonnar, hailed as one of the most important fights in MMA history, was an instant classic not because Griffin thoroughly outclassed Bonnar, but because both fighters showed so much tenacity and desire in the fight. If you don’t mind me throwing the term around, Forrest Griffin won over fans because he showed a great deal of heart. It was clear just by watching him that Griffin wanted to fight, more than anything.
Six years later, Griffin is still with us and still somewhere in the top tier of light heavyweights, with a rematch against Shogun Rua to prove that Griffin belongs in that tier. Griffin said in interviews prior to the fight that a second win over Shogun would “validate” him as an elite light heavyweight.
And then he lost.
Leading up to the fight, Griffin had been a bit less sanguine about his fight than usual. Oh, Griffin still had jokes — he’s always a guy that will crack off a one-liner at any given time — but reading between the lines, some wondered whether Griffin still had the competitive fire that once burned so brightly in him. And after a loss to Shogun in which he looked slow and disinterested, some have begun to seriously ask: has Griffin lost the heart to fight?
Before appearing as a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter, Griffin competed at Heat FC 2 against Edson “Paredao” Silva. During the fight, he blocked a Paredao kick that broke his left arm. Griffin won the fight, via knockout. He would go on to have surgery on that arm after his TUF win two years later.
Griffin and Bonnar gained tons of fans (including Dana White) through a combined force of will — a double-team assault of heart so palpable that audiences could feel it watching at home. Even Forrest’s first win over Shogun was a show that win times got tough and the water got deep, Griffin dug down and pulled through.
Griffin seemed different after losing his fight with Anderson Silva, which is the closest thing anyone in contemporary times has ever seen to hand to hand combat with a Jedi. His confidence took a big hit, and his self-deprecating humor took on a tone that was uncomfortably close to a disclaimer. Griffin laughed as he talked about how ineffective he felt in that Silva fight, and we all laughed along, but really? Yeah, he really did look like a slow, slow white boy getting beat up by his dad.
Now, Griffin’s comparing his acceptance of the Shogun rematch with the stages of grieving. He doesn’t talk about wanting to be the number one fighter in the world, he talks about not wanting to be poor. He’s not talking about how he’s going to smash Shogun, he’s talking about wanting to smash some sweet potatoes, but he can’t find any in the far-off mythical land of Brazil.
Those aren’t the visualization habits and lofty motivations of a world beater. If all that matters is not being poor, one could argue that Griffin had made it. His five years with the UFC before the Shogun fight were probably lucrative enough to prevent worry about going back to a campus beat and Top Ramen, not to mention White’s oft-repeated loyalty to one of the fighters that helped save the UFC.
Couple all that with another shattering loss in the Octagon, this time against the guy who catapulted Forrest to the top of the division and a title shot in 2008, and you have to wonder where Griffin’s head is at. If he’s lost the desire to compete that made him such a fan favorite, can he regain it? Is Forrest Griffin, sans heart, a fighter that can stay at the top of the UFC’s dangerous 205 division?
As a fan of Griffin’s, I really hope so. I hope that this poor performance was just a result of traveling far from home, dealing with an unfamiliar culture, and having a really tough fight with a guy on his home turf. God knows, Griffin had plenty on his mind. But part of me does wonder if Griffin’s heart is still in it.
After a spectacular night of fights at UFC 134 in Rio, we’re going to try to make sense of it with a little game called ‘Buy, Sell, or Hold’. I’ll take a fighter and either buy, sell, or hold him like a stockbroker would. (It’s kind of like the real stock market, except you won’t want to throw yourself off a building afterwards.) Take my advice and you’ll end up with a nice MMA portfolio. Without further ado…
Anderson Silva: Buy! Buy! Buy!
‘The Spider‘ has everything you’d want from a blue chip stock: an x-factor that makes people want to see him fight, major corporate sponsors, and hilariouscommercials. Oh yeah, and his fighting isn’t that bad either. Silva’s complete and utter domination of Yushin Okami at UFC 134 just reinforces what we already knew — we are witnessing the greatest fighter of all time every time he steps inside the Octagon™.
Yushin Okami: Dump it like your autographed picture of Carrot Top.
He is currently ranked as the #3 best Middleweight and yet it seems all for naught. Okami showed up to a gunfight with a pair of flip-flops and a bag of Skittles against Silva. Despite working with the only man to dominate the champion, he never once came close to showing a spark in Brazil. I have a feeling he’ll face the same fate as Jon Fitch while his stock becomes more cursed than Monster.
After a spectacular night of fights at UFC 134 in Rio, we’re going to try to make sense of it with a little game called ‘Buy, Sell, or Hold’. I’ll take a fighter and either buy, sell, or hold him like a stockbroker would. (It’s kind of like the real stock market, except you won’t want to throw yourself off a building afterwards.) Take my advice and you’ll end up with a nice MMA portfolio. Without further ado…
Anderson Silva: Buy! Buy! Buy!
‘The Spider‘ has everything you’d want from a blue chip stock: an x-factor that makes people want to see him fight, major corporate sponsors, and hilariouscommercials. Oh yeah, and his fighting isn’t that bad either. Silva’s complete and utter domination of Yushin Okami at UFC 134 just reinforces what we already knew — we are witnessing the greatest fighter of all time every time he steps inside the Octagon™.
Yushin Okami: Dump it like your autographed picture of Carrot Top.
He is currently ranked as the #3 best Middleweight and yet it seems all for naught. Okami showed up to a gunfight with a pair of flip-flops and a bag of Skittles against Silva. Despite working with the only man to dominate the champion, he never once came close to showing a spark in Brazil. I have a feeling he’ll face the same fate as Jon Fitch while his stock becomes more cursed than Monster.
Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua: Buy it like they’re giving it away for free.
The ‘Shogun’ Rua that showed up Saturday night is not the same man who fought and lost to Jon Jones earlier this year. He proved that he has completely recovered from his past knee surgeries, and destroyed a Top 10 light-heavyweight fighter without breaking a sweat. Rua will once again rise to the top — you can bank on that.
Forrest Griffin: Sell
The two-time New York Times bestselling author and former UFC Light-Heavyweight champion is an open book when it comes to his feelings about fighting overseas, training, and why he continues to fight. Likewise, I too shall be an open book about where to put your money in the MMA stock market, and it’s not here. In his last five fights, Griffin has won only twice against guys who peaked five to seven years prior. Liquidate whatever stock you have in the TUF 1 winner.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: Sell*
At the ripe old age of 35, Big Nog did the unthinkable in knocking out a rising star in 28-year-old Brendan Schuab. Modern medicine, or maybe witchcraft, has given Nogueira an unforgettable night in front of his compatriots and you’ve gotta know he deserves it. Nevertheless, that in no way means you should buy Big Nog stock considering the likelihood that he’ll retire in the next few years and won’t be getting a crack at the title anytime soon.
*Note: If the UFC returns to Brazil in 2012, you’d be best served to make a Bed and Breakfast deal on this stock. Just be sure to dump once you think you’ve hit the tipping point.
Brendan Schaub: Hold
People have been a little high on the Hybrid. Sure, he’s promising, but his seemingly glass chin gives me pause. You won’t get rich on him, but you could definitely go broke on him. Let’s slow down on Schaub and watch it play out.
Edson Barboza: Buy
Buy this stock now and sell it early next year, right before the bubble pops. Like we mentioned here yesterday, Barboza barely got by a hand-picked opponent. Not convinced? Consider his fight against Anthony Njokuani at UFC 128 where he struggled to take home a decision win. Listen, you’re only as good as your last night and there will be a sucker that only remembers he beat a guy who won The Ultimate Fighter and will line your pockets with hundies.
Ross Pearson: Hold
There are too many talented fighters in the Lightweight division to buy more stock of the TUF 9 winner. Although he lost, he did look much better than he has in the past, so there’s no reason to sell what stock you already have. If the Brits didn’t have such a bad reputation for having a non-existent wrestling game, I may have bought some of this stock myself.
Luiz Cane: Sell
Winning just one of his last four fights — and that was against a guy who is no longer employed by Zuffa — Luiz Cane is a sinking ship. He is the only Brazilian to lose at UFC Rio, which will stick with him for years to come. He is now the answer to a trivia question. Get out while you still can and cut your losses.
Spencer Fisher: Sell, Sell, Sell
Jordan Breen said it best on Twitter last night: As much action as he’s given us over the years, Spencer Fisher is a spent force as an enterprising UFC lightweight.
I know this hurts right now, Big Nog, but it will all be worth it in a minute. (Pic: UFC.com)
UFC 134 was the outfit’s first return to Brazil in thirteen years, and with plans for four more Brazil-based events in 2012, Zuffa needed to make a lasting impression. The fighters delivered, big time, and for their efforts three of them walked away with a cool $100,000 bonus in their pockets. That’s a lot of Bony Acai.
Much was made of the homecoming to Rio, Royce Gracie’s home, the birthplace of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Yet in the land that helped transform hyper-extending limbs into an art form, there wasn’t a single submission landed. Brazilian fighters have evolved just like the rest of them, and last night they chose to showcase their fists.
I know this hurts right now, Big Nog, but it will all be worth it in a minute. (Pic: UFC.com)
UFC 134 was the outfit’s first return to Brazil in thirteen years, and with plans for four more Brazil-based events in 2012, Zuffa needed to make a lasting impression. The fighters delivered, big time, and for their efforts three of them walked away with a cool $100,000 bonus in their pockets. That’s a lot of Bony Acai.
Much was made of the homecoming to Rio, Royce Gracie’s home, the birthplace of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Yet in the land that helped transform hyper-extending limbs into an art form, there wasn’t a single submission landed. Brazilian fighters have evolved just like the rest of them, and last night they chose to showcase their fists.
Multiple fighters were able to shatter the tenuous bonds that link our bodies and our brains, with Shogun, Erick Silva, Nedkov, Anderson Silva, Tavares, and Nogueira all scoring wins by KO or TKO. All were impressive in their own right, but in the end the check went to the war-torn Big Nog, whose win was not only meaningful to the heavyweight landscape but completely unexpected. Coming off an 18 month layoff that saw a rushed rehab from multiple surgeries, few gave the local hero much of a chance against the quickly rising Schaub. For Minotauro, the win buys him some more time to recover and another shot at proving that there’s still life in that high-mileage body of his. For Schaub, losing to a legend isn’t as great as beating one, but it is a learning experience that will help him in his young career.
Edson Barboza edged out Ross Pearson in a split decision battle that earned both men the $100k nod at the end of the night. Pearson’s strategy of applying constant pressure and pushing Barboza backward paid off for much of the fight, limiting the full range of the Brazilian’s Muay Thai arsenal. But when he found any bit of room, Barboza was ready to uncoil a spinning kick of one variety or another. Was his win a case of style over substance or perhaps home-cage advantage? I don’t know, but FightMetric seems to think so.
It’s the UFC’s triumphant return to Brazil and we’ve got a treasure trove of questions to work through tonight. Will there be enough carrots to get the fighters to and from the stadium safely? With Joe Rogan absent, can Kenny Florini fill the void in nut shot and cup-related conversation? Will the raucous Brazilian audience make good on the riots that Vancouver expected?
There are probably some questions related to the fights as well, and time permitting we will answer them. Join us after the jump to catch the punch-by-punch PPV action and to explain why your favorite fighter just lost and/or had an off night in the comments section.
It’s the UFC’s triumphant return to Brazil and we’ve got a treasure trove of questions to work through tonight. Will there be enough carrots to get the fighters to and from the stadium safely? With Joe Rogan absent, can Kenny Florini fill the void in nut shot and cup-related conversation? Will the raucous Brazilian audience make good on the riots that Vancouver expected?
There are probably some questions related to the fights as well, and time permitting we will answer them. Join us after the jump to catch the punch-by-punch PPV action and to explain why your favorite fighter just lost and/or had an off night in the comments section.
And we…are…LIVE!!!!
Whoa, an homage to Brazilian MMA to kick off the evening. Nice change of pace. Soak in that Gladiator intro while you can; it will be going the way of the dodo soon enough. If you’ve been watching thus far, you’ve been treated to some questionable scoring, premature stand-ups, and all around crazy in cage action. We’ll keep the details to ourselves for now in case we get to revisit the fights on the PPV.
No time to waste. It’s time to throw down.
Luiz Cane vs. Stanislav Nedkov
R1: I’m curious who the crowd will be rooting for here…Oh, it looks like they’re behind Cane. Shocker. A bit of feeling out here. Neither man letting go of the hands. Nedkov comes in with a wild overhand. Both men exchange and Nedkov swings wildly as he tries to rush Cane, but Cane circles out. Body kick by Cane and a counter by Nedkov. Nedkov just tucking his head and winging in that right. Cane misses with a kick and slips to the mat, but pops back up. Cane putting together some combos on Nedkov’s face. Cane crowding Nedkov to the fence and picking his shots. Nedkov is cut and bleeding under his right eye. Nedkov connects with a big shot and Cane is rocked! Cane is on his bike trying to get away, but Nedkov is right there chasing him down. Nedkov with a big flurry punches him down and follows up with a series of big shots on the ground! Yamasaki calls the fight!
Nedkov def. Cane (TKO): 4:13 R1
Pretty slow stoppage from Yamsaki. Is he concerned about making it back to the hotel safely?
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Brendan Schaub
R1:Herb Dean in control of this bout. Schaub is circling, Nog ties him up and Schaub pushes him to the fence. Schaub pushes off and takes tot he center of the cage. Schaub looks to be faster in the standup. Now Nog drives him to the cage, but Schaub circles out after some dirty boxing. Schaub connectswith an uppercut, then they briefly return to the fence. Nog is moving forward as Schaub backs away. Nog with a decent combo. Schaub with another uppercut now he continues to put his punches together with success. Nog with a big combo and SCHAUB IS DOWN AND OUT, face first on the canvas! Nog backs off on his own, no intervention needed.
Did the crowd like that? Yeah, I’d say the crowd liked that.
Nogueira def. Schaub (KO): 3:09 R1
A reshowing of a Facebook fight from earlier:
Erick Silva vs. Luis Ramos
R1: Both men moving well.Leg kick from Ramos as they circle around. BIG right hand by Silva and Ramos crumbles backward. Silva sprints toward him and pounces with rapid shots, forcing Herb Dean to shove him off.
Silva def. Ramos (TKO) 0:40 R1
So between Facebook, Spike, and the PPV, we’ve been treated to that fight thrice now. I for one am quite pleased that they didn’t rely on Ed Soares for the post-fight “translations”.
Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson
R1: I expect leg kicks here. Barboza misses a big head kick and both men are slugging. Pearson chasing Barboza back as they exchange. He’s backing Barboza up, which will keep those kicks at bay (he hopes). Checked kick from Barboza. Pearson connects with a left and pushes him to the fence, but Barboza circles out. Body shot by Pearson, front kick by Barboza. Pearson’s game plan to pressure Barboz seems to be paying off. Spinning body kick by Barboza, but Pearson eats it and looks no worse for wear. Both men with a leg kick, but Pearson follows up with a nice combo. Body kick by Pearson. Barboza is faster,but Pearson is throwing combos and chasing him backward. Pearson shoots for a takedown against the cage, but Barboza works free at the buzzer.
Pearson’s corner calling for more combos. Barboza’s corner is speaking some gibberish I don’t understand.
R2: Body kick by Pearson, but Barboza cracks him with a big right and drops him, but Pearson’s back on his feet. Both men trade some punches, and another big body kick from Barboza. Pearson got dropped, but he’s recovered well. Pearson blocks another body kick. “Real Deal” putting pressure on Barboza once more. Inside leg kick by Pearson. Pearson shoots for a low single but gets stuffed easily.Barboza connects with another big shot, but Pearson is unphased. Barboza with another spinning body kick, but Pearson doesn’t seem to really give a shit. Must be nice! More body kicks from Barboza. Let kick by Barboza, followed by a spinning head kick that catches nothing but air.
R3: Pearson moving forward, keeping that pressure on. Missed flying knee from Pearson, but he’s unable to drive Barboza to the fence. Inside leg kick from Pearson. Now Barboza misses with a flying knee. The Brazilian misses with a head kick. Pearson swings away and drives Barboza to the fence, but he’s denied the takedown again. Flying knee by Pearson misses the mark and we’ve got two minutes left in the bout. Pearson shoots in again, but Barboza’s having none of it. Pearson connects with a combo, and now they’re swinging! Pearson bleeding from the right eye with swelling over the left. The sense of urgency is here as Pearson moves forward. Now Barboza is denied the takedown.
We’re moving along at a pretty steady pace here. It’s already time for the co-main event.
Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua
Forrest runs to the cage almost as quickly as he ran out of it after the Anderson bout.
R1: Both fighters are moving around while the crowd starts their chants. Shogun is diving in with punches. Forrest throws a right and Shogun counters with a nice uppercut. Shogun with a nice combo. Forrest is lobbing out some leg kicks. Another big right from Shogun and Forrest drops. Shogun swarms with violent hammer fists and we’re all done here!
Rua def. Griffin (KO) 1:53 R1
Finally, a break from all of this fighting to catch a sneak peak at “Shark Night 3D”. I know where I’ll be September 2nd. Enough dicking around- it’s time for our main event!
Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami
“The Middleweight title has not changed hands since October 2006.” It just sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Herb Dean is calling the shots for this five round affair. Not a lot of Americans got love tonight, but it sounds like Buffer has a huge groupie base in Brazil.
R1: Neither men touch gloves in the pre fight instructions. Silva circles quickly around the cage as Okami plants in the center. Silva judging his range with the lazy jab. Okami charges in but finds nothing but the fence. Neither man is lettin loose. Okami with a punch and a brief clinch, but they break apart and Silva lets a single hand fly. Silva’s starting to let the leather go. Big right from Silva misses. Silva circles more and switches his stance. Okami lands a shot and forces Anderson’s back to the cage. Okami clinching Silva, who isn’t bothered at all. Now Silva uncorks a few knees to the stomach. Okami answers in kind as they stay tied up on the fence. Anderson may be working for the Thai clinch, but he’s not forcing the issue. Silva with more knees as Okami dirty boxes. Okami drops down for a takedown, but Silva gets underhooks and stands him back up. And they’re off the cage to the delight of the crowd. Anderson with nice head movement as he ducks and slips a few punches from Okami. Anderson with a low kick and an uppercut. Solid head kick by Anderson just before the bell.
Okami stays on his feet between rounds.
R2: Okami swings and misses with two big punches, but Anderson is getting aggressive with his hands. Anderson taks a punch from Okami just for kicks then floors Okami with a solid punch. Anderson lets him up and is now looking to trade with his hands by his sides. Okami with a swing and a miss. Anderson drops him with another big punch, but this time he follows Okami down and is choosing his shots as Okami spins around slowly. Anderson continues to pick and choose his punches, and it’s a only a matter of time. Okami wants no more and Herb Dean obliges with the stoppage.
Yeah, so what we all already knew was convincingly confirmed. Anderson can knock you senseless without even trying.
Silva def. Okami (TKO) 2:04 R2
So that’s nine consecutive title defenses for the Middleweight Champ. Thanks for joining us tonight. I’m out for the evening, but if they show the Miller Palhares fight and you didn’t catch it earlier, do yourself a favor and stay glued to the broadcast.
We’ll be here in the morning to explain what all of this means in one way or another.
The latest Dana Vlog opens with a montage of the UFC kingpin battling his way through a torrent of media obligations stateside, including a cell phone convo in which he puts archenemy Bob Arum on blast. Once the final interview has been granted and the last F-bomb dropped, we see him jet off to Rio courtesy of some broke-ass “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” graphic.
While mingling with the segregated Brazilian and American camps, Dana makes a few weight inquiries which reveal that a disgruntled Forest Griffin was walking around at 216 lbs. one day removed from the official weigh-ins while Shogun was hovering just above the limit at 207 lbs. As for Middleweight challenger Yushin Okami, he was tipping the scales at a solid Thursday89 kilos 196 lbs.
Full weigh-in results after the jump. And if you didn’t get to drop your predictions in our Fight Picking contest, you’ve still got time to tell the Nation how it’s all going down tonight!
The latest Dana Vlog opens with a montage of the UFC kingpin battling his way through a torrent of media obligations stateside, including a cell phone convo in which he puts archenemy Bob Arum on blast. Once the final interview has been granted and the last F-bomb dropped, we see him jet off to Rio courtesy of some broke-ass “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego” graphic.
While mingling with the segregated Brazilian and American camps, Dana makes a few weight inquiries which reveal that a disgruntled Forest Griffin was walking around at 216 lbs. one day removed from the official weigh-ins while Shogun was hovering just above the limit at 207 lbs. As for Middleweight challenger Yushin Okami, he was tipping the scales at a solid Thursday89 kilos 196 lbs.
Full weigh-in results after the jump. And if you didn’t get to drop your predictions in our Fight Picking contest, you’ve still got time to tell the Nation how it’s all going down tonight!
Arianny Celeste and Chandella Powell don the colors of the Brazilian flag in their UFC Rio Ring Girl bikinis. And now… I’m thirsty for a can of Sprite.
Arianny Celeste and Chandella Powell don the colors of the Brazilian flag in their UFC Rio Ring Girl bikinis. And now… I’m thirsty for a can of Sprite.
