The champion: Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, a talented fighter that built his MMA success by way of Japan's PRIDE organization. Entering Pride in 2001 and making his way into the UFC in 2007. In February of 2007 he avenged an earlier career loss by defeating Marvin Eastman at UFC 67. Then in a stunning upset, Rampage defeated Chuck “Iceman” Liddell for the UFC Light Heavyweight title.
The Challenger: Forrest Griffin, an unknown fighter that would end up launching the UFC into one of the most popular sports organizations being witnessed today. On January 17th, 2005, the first season of The Ultimate Fighter begins and a nation witnessed the birth of what not only was a rise in a now popular UFC, but the birth of a champion. Griffin was part of team Liddell and despite early injury during season one, Forrest Griffin perseveres and becomes the “Original Ultimate Fighter”. No one would have ever predicted he was on his way to becoming UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
After 3 years of hard work, on July 5th, 2008, Griffin brought an all around good fight that shook the MMA world. Early talk of this match up found champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as the favored fighter. The two shared some quality coaching time on season 7 of the Ultimate Fighter. The two jokesters had minimal confrontations during the show and even the small tiffs that were had were more comical than tense. However, this match would prove be one of the most phenomenal fights this year.
Some have said that one kick turned the fight in Forrest's favor, I would have to disagree. Quinton is a talented fighter and devastating power hitter, but that was just not what would stop Forrest on that night. Being hit seemed to wake up Griffin as apposed to the expected knockout. He did take some heavy blows from Rampage but was firing back. On the stand up there was an even exchange of hands. When the fight was taken to the ground, Forrest ran the show. It seemed to me that the fight was going in Forrest's favor already. The kick to the knee of Quinton was icing on the cake. The precision in which Griffin found the Achilles heal of the mighty Rampage was proof of how well rounded his game was that night. To be exact, there was more than just one kick to the knee. That sweet spot was found over and over again. Funny how people have been saying that one hit changed it all. Quinton is a very tough fighter. To the untrained eye, he seemed to still fight with courage and never stopped pursuing his prey. Forrest just knew how to take the giant down and did so with great dignity and talent. Not even Quinton disagreed at the end of the fight, that Forrest Griffin is a great fighter and won.
Both fighters showed incredible heart. This fight was the best I've seen so far this year. Quinton was a great champ and I am very excited to watch any of his future match ups. I know I'm not alone in saying that a rematch between Forrest and Quinton would be another electrifying bout. These two had non-stop blows and an incredible, edge of your seat battle worth seeing again. Until then I am interested to see what our new UFC light Heavyweight Champion, Forrest Griffin, has in store for us in his first and future title defends.
