The Official MMA thread - Page 9

I wathced the fight and I think they should have went into over time.
I read what everyone said and everybody brings up good points however it was clearly not unamious and in a title fight as complicated as MMA there should have been more.
Griffon did fuck up jacksons leg however jackson dropped Griffin .
Griffon went for a submission but was thwarted. Griffon pressed the fight more but not enough to change the outcome on points.
In my opinion it wasn't clear enough for forrest to win.

Right after the fight, and before the decision came down, I gave the fight to Rampage by a 48-46 score. I gave Forrest the second round by a 10-8 score and the other four rounds to Rampage. After mulling the fight over for a day, I changed my decision to 48-47, Rampage. I don't think Forrest did enough in the second round to warrant a 10-8 score, and I thought that his triangle attempt in the fourth won him that round. Forrest may have been the aggressor, but it's not like Rampage was running away. And Rampage's strikes were doing a lot more damage. Forrest's leg kicks were ineffective after the second round. In any event, the fight was close and I don't have a major beef with the decision. Rampage clearly won the first round, Forrest clearly won the second. The final three rounds could be scored either way. I would be very surprised if the Chuck-Rashad winner did not get the first title shot. Dana is creaming his pants at the possibility of a fight between Chuck and Forrest. Rampage-Wandy III for the next title shot. Sorry, Lyoto, in Dana's world you've got to start knocking people out to get consideration for a title fight.

I had Forest with a close win. Waiting for the decision Rampage seemed to feel the same way. Had that look of knowing he didn't do enough.

Overall I think it was a good fight as I knew Forest had enough for the decision after that second round but Rampage was throwing some huge shots that could have ended the fight. Can't wait for the rematch with a pissed off Rampage.

Hopefully a pissed of Rampage that has picked up a muay thai trainer to teach him how to defend leg kicks (and maybe throw some knees in the clinch rather than just upper cuts).

I'd whup that fool...

it was a close fight, should have never been unanimous for griffin. sure forrest had rampage down for the 2nd round but was throwing a shitload of punches and most of them being parried by rampage enough to win?? not so much. rampage was way more accurate each time he threw and for the most part it was a boxing match(show's why they fight in a octagon ) does it really matter though? that belt is just being borrowed til anderson silva gets there

I gave the fight to Forrest. The outcome of the first two rounds are unmistakeable, but I think that the impact from the second round actually carried all the way through the fight, not just through round 3, when Rampage was clearly barely able to put weight on the left leg, and spent most of the round trying to avoid further damage.

In the fourth and fifth rounds, his explosive power was largely neutralized, although he did score. If you watch his other fights, you see that Rampage hates fighting on the periphery. He likes to take the middle of the Octagon (or ring) and pound his opponent into the corner/wall/whatever. His having to be wary with his left leg did not allow him to do this the way he normally does. Instead, he was pushed into the unfamiliar position of making his way around the Octagon while Griffin pushed him instead. I agree that Forrest did not do much damage, but Rampage spent a great deal of time and energy avoiding damage, which yield ring control and agression scores clearly to Forrest.

What I think is funny is that the entire top end of the LHW division is full of rock-paper-scissors style skill levels. Griffin beats Rampage and Shogun, but can't beat Jardine Chuck can beat Jardine and Wandy, but can't beat Rampage Wandy can beat Rampage, but can't beat Chuck Rampage can beat Chuck and Hendo, but didn't beat Griffin (though I believe he can) Hendo beats Wandy, but can't beat Silva in a lower division (though who CAN beat Silva?) This is until Silva steps into the LHW division and tears it all open. Either that, or Machida makes his way to the top.

A lot will be said for Silva once he gets in their against A. Someone with truly great ground game, and B. Someone with knockout power. I think Silva has exposed Franklin for what he is and that's a fraud and lutter could be good if he would actually train for endurance. Either way they are both garbage. I would still kill to see a Wanderlei v Anderson match. Hell Rampage can take that match now and doesn't have to wait for him to win a few fights. Since he's not the champ anymore Rampage could be the "stepping" stone. Everyone wins Dana gets his super fight Rampage and Anderson get super exposure and huge paydays and the fans win

Honestly, I wouldn't be too surprised if the Sandman KTFOs Silva.

I agree. Sandman has heavy hands.
For all those who play BJJ,thai boxing,boxing , mma etc skill at this level only get s you so far.
Todays top MMA fighters are WORLD CLASS ATHELETS conditioning , strenght and luck are huge componets to this sport.
Silva is at the top of his game right now but giving up to much weight is not good for him when you start moving into one punch knock out category. His skill level is retarded but there comes a point when you can only do so much when the other opponent is almost as good just as conditioned but out weighs you a 20 to 30 pounds.
It would be like me I fought at 134.9 fighting a dude at 165.00 if he was ok sure but if he was skilled and conditioned he could throw me around and muscle his way out of ALOT.
Am I making sense????

Thing is that Silva is a big guy, and given his height, I don't see it difficult to put on the extra 20 lbs in muscle. And given his extraordinary striking, I see him making the transition to LHW fairly easily. I see him doing *very* well against strikers. His range and power in both the hands and the knees will make him very dangerous, and his power is well above that of many of the top LHW. What I'd like to see is how well he does against a top tier submissions guy or wrestler at the LHW level. Yes, he beat Dan Henderson, but Hendo had trouble against Rampage on the ground, probably in large part because Hendo is a small LHW. And Travis Lutter is not a huge guy either.

As for the Sandman KO ing Silva, well, of course that could happen, but I would not put my money there. Silva has already faced guys with very heavy hands (Hendo, Franklin) and beat the crap out of them. It would be interesting to see him fight someone who fights close and tight like Wandelei.