Now that Forrest Griffin is the UFC light heavyweight champion, who does he fight next? A few possibilities: Rematch with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson: After last night's fight, with its somewhat controversial decision, this is a distinct possibility. The person who will make the decision, UFC President Dana White, said after the fight, "Rampage wants a rematch. Forrest said he'd give him a rematch. A rematch would probably be good for everyone involved. But there's a lot of different things involved."
And yet I don't see it happening. The UFC's light heavyweight division is so stacked that I just don't think White wants to let an entire year go by with only Jackson and Griffin fighting for the title. I think someone else is going to get the first crack at Griffin's belt. And that someone else will most likely be ...
Chuck Liddell: If Liddell beats Rashad Evans at UFC 88 in September, I think he'll be Griffin's next opponent. Liddell and Griffin are arguably UFC's two most popular fighters, and this would be a huge fight. If Evans beats Liddell, Evans would say, "I'm undefeated. I deserve a shot at Griffin." But I think a more likely undefeated opponent would be ...
Lyoto Machida: The undefeated Machida is the guy no one wants to fight because he has such a unique, frustrating style. But if he keeps winning he's eventually going to get a title shot.
Anderson Silva: The current UFC middleweight champion and world's best pound-for-pound fighter, Silva is moving up to light heavyweight to fight James Irvin in two weeks. He's then expected to move back down to middleweight to defend his title, but could UFC make a change in plans to give him a title shot?
Wanderlei Silva: He'd be a great opponent for Griffin, but I don't see it happening, mostly because UFC would probably rather put him in the Octagon with Rampage first.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-07-2008 @ 7:47AM
dawsonjason said...
Great fight but how can he not get a rematch? I think the fight was a tie and Rampage should have kept his belt. After getting hurt in the second he finished pretty strongly for someone with a badly hurt leg. If the UFC goes after money instead of what's right then it will be more like boxing. I also think it is funny how UFC only fans dog boxing when now days it is the strong striker (boxer) that has the best advantage and usually wins. MMA has just as many boring fights as boxing but they do get more premier matchups.
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7-07-2008 @ 10:27AM
drshannon17 said...
I dont see how anyone can say that fight was controversial or how it could be a draw. With the exception of getting knocked down in the first round Forrest dominated the fight no question. I like Rampage but even he admitted getting beat. I hope Liddel beats Evans because I'd love to see Liddel vs Griffen.
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7-08-2008 @ 8:16AM
jeff said...
Did anyone bother to take into consideration the "damage" inflicted by either fighter? Let's see, Rampage looked better at the end of the fight than he has on most interviews, and Griffen looked like he got his ass kicked. I rest my case. I dedected a smile on Rampage's face when he said Griffin beat him up pretty good.
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7-08-2008 @ 6:06AM
PB&J said...
As far as who will be up for Griffin, obviously Dana will decide but there are some things to consider here. First while I thought that Rampage deserved the win and deserves a title shot in the near future I also think that it would be good for both Forrest and Rampage to fight another fighter before fighting again assuming forrest doesn't lose the title by then. I'd like to see Rampage fight Wanderlai Silva the guy who Ko'd him twice in Pride. I think that Lyota has earned a title shot. I realize ppl don't consider him exciting but he has earned a shot at the title regardless.
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7-08-2008 @ 11:38AM
dave said...
Jeff-
Who "looks" better? That means nothing. GriffIn is a bleeder, he has lots of scar tissue and it almost always opens up. He pushed the action the whole time, and if we're talking about looks, it "looked" like Rampage could barely walk at the end of the fight after taking those leg kicks from Forrest.
Look at Sherk's title fight against Florian, Sherk looked horrible, but he won, and convincingly. MMA is full of those types of situations.
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7-08-2008 @ 12:39PM
ajandrej3 said...
Rampage didn't say griffin beat him up "pretty good"
he said i got my a$$ whooped twicw he said that so he knew himself who was better even though you could see griffin saying o please o please waiting for the decision
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8-07-2008 @ 5:45AM
roman said...
Chuck Liddell Vs. Forrest Griffin
I Wanna See That!
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8-18-2008 @ 10:59PM
kappy04 said...
it has to be the winner of liddell vs evans. Both of them are at the very top of the weight class right now. It cant be Anderson Silva as he has only won one fight at that level, he has to work his way up like anyone else. Wanderlei Silva has to win probably 2 more fights against top ranked guys before he gets another chance. If he had beaten Liddell it would be a different story. Machida has atleast another fight or 2 before he gets his as well.
Id say its Liddell vs Evans.. winner gets the title shot.
the loser will probably fight rampage, if rampage wins, then he'll get his rematch against forrest.
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8-19-2008 @ 5:27PM
Ken said...
Lets do what is right! REMATCH .....Rampage & forrest again please.// the last fight was too close....way too close, AS a Huge fan & former fighter ...i can feel your NO Loss Rampage!!!...I would be sick if i were too lose that way.
I think you would see me Knocking out my neighbors...lol
anyways....Mochida & griffin would be a great fight!!!!
another rematch...Chuck & silva/.....Be totally different than last fight, ask Jardine
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