UFC 86: Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin Reported By
OnlyUFC
Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Round One: Griffin connects with the first jab. He throws a series of punches from outside; none land. He delivers two leg kicks. Rampage comes through with an uppercut; Rampage appears far more composed at the onset.
High kick attempt from Griffin. Right hand from Griffin, followed by two more leg kicks. Rampage appears to be looking for a chance to explode. He grabs Griffin's head and throws a shot or two before Griffin pulls out. Rampage connects on a counter as Griffin tries for a looping right hand.
Rampage moves forward with a left hand and then some shots with a dirty boxing mentality. Rampage conencts with a left hook. Jabs from Griffin. Leg kick from Griffin. Another leg kick that almost trips Rampage.
Kick to the midsection from Griffin, but Rampage moves forward with a left hook that causes Griffin to stumble. Griffin moves right forward, however, and connects with some shots that send Jackson backwards. Another big leg kick from Griffin.
Griffin connects with a nice jab to Rampage's face. Griffin ducks forward as he moves forward and Rampage rocks Griffin with an uppercut. Griffin hits the mat immediately, but he's aware and is ready to defend. Jackson gets in Forrest's guard and moves Griffin towards the cage. He cannot do much, however, and Griffin gets right back to his feet. They start trading, with both men connecting a bit before the bell sounds. An absolutely awesome end to the round.
Round Two: Griffin hits another leg kick that clearly hurts Rampage's left leg. Jackson blocks the next leg kick attempt, but Forrest comes forward with a guillotine and starts firing knees to Rampage's head. He drags Jackson to the ground and is now working from Rampage's top.
Griffin is in half guard. Griffin starts working Rampage towards the cage, occasionally throwing some shots to Rampage's face and upperbody. Griffin finally passes to side control. He starts throwing some elbows and also looks at Rampage's right arm for a potential submission attempt. He tries for an americana, but he's having trouble gaining leverage on the powerful Champion.
He lets go of the hold and starts throwing more blows to Rampage's face. Griffin advances to mount and starts throwing elbows to Rampage's face. Griffin has not been able to find an opening for serious strikes, but Rampage appears to have no option for escaping (besides a possible stand-up). Griffin is getting a clean look at Rampage's face and starts firing elbows in. Rampage starts trying to force Griffin off, but it doesn't work. Griffin starts throwing shots, but it appears that he's not going to get the stoppage. The round ends, saving Rampage.
Round Three: Rampage's left leg is definitely in trouble. Rampage moves forward and connects with a right hand, the first notable strike of the round. Head kick from Griffin.
Griffin is attempting for more leg kicks to the left leg, but Rampage is dodging them successfully. Rampage moves forward and lands an uppercut combination. Griffin wildly tries for more leg kicks; he finally hits one, but it was higher so it didn't do as much damage.
Rampage catches an aggressive Griffin with a left hand; Griffin stumbles a bit.
Griffin ducks and Rampage understands the timing; he fires an uppercut back in Griffin's direction. More leg kicks from Griffin.
They start engaging a bit in the center, with Rampage's strikes appearing to have additional power. Griffin stops an advancing Rampage with a left hook to the face. Rampage then connects with a left-right combination. Leg kick from Griffin.
Rampage fakes upwards and then connects with a clean shot to Griffin's left side. High kick attempt from Griffin. Griffin moves forward with a shot, but Rampage dodges it and then connects to Griffin's face, clearly hurting him. Griffin's right back at Rampage, however, and he shakes Rampage off with a combination. Rampage fires right back, and they trade moments before the round comes to an end.
Round Four: They collide with blows fifteen seconds in. Rampage appears to be loose on his leg now, and he starts throwing wildly, catching Griffin with about three of five attempted strikes. Rampage starts opening up with uppercuts, and Griffin is forced to clinch up. They drop to the mat, with Rampage on top of Griffin. Griffin, who Joe Rogan has been favoring in the jiu-jitsu department, has his guard locked in.
Forrest looks for a triangle choke; he secures it, and Rampage raises Griffin up for a slam attempt. Griffin hangs on for a second, but as he tries to grab Rampage's head to reset the hold, Rampage slams Griffin and shakes the challenger off. He's back in Griffin's guard.
Rampage tries to throw some strikes, but Griffin is doing a great job of neutralizing Rampage on the ground. Rampage backs up to his feet; Griffin gets caught with a shot as he stands up, but he recovers quickly.
Rampage lands a shot, but Forrest keeps bouncing back. Two straight hick kick attempts from Griffin. Griffin then delivers a combination. Rampage connects with his signature left hook, further opening up a cut on Griffin's face. Rampage again hits a left-right combination.
High kick from Griffin, followed by a forward combination. But Rampage bounces right back. Griffin uses his high kick to lead, almost as a jab, but Rampage is prepared to block it and fires back some very solid punches.
Round Five: Griffin starts throwing some reaches to try and get something started. Rampage remains composed.
Another leg kick from Griffin. Griffin throws a kick to the midsection, but then ducks into a punch from Rampage. His ducking is opening up an opportunity for Rampage.
Another leg kick attempt from Griffin. Rampage fires back with a shot to Griffin's head. Griffin keeps using his left leg to control the distance. Griffin delivers a big leg kick, but Rampage is able to fire back with a shot. Big right from Rampage, followed by a big right from Rampage.
Left hand from Rampage. Griffin is moving forward, but he's not connecting as solidly at this point (even if he is doing so more frequently). High kick does land for Griffin, but it did not have any power behind it. Griffin lands a long right hand and then follows up with a combination.
He hits Rampage with another jab, finally showing his ability to time out Rampage's left hook. The striking this round has definitely been in Griffin's favor.
Rampage moves forward with some body shots and then a hook to Griffin's face, but Griffin is still ready to bang. Superman punch from Rampage, but Griffin responds with a knee to the body. Big right hand from Forrest, but Rampage is ready to fire back.
Griffin moves in with a left jab, but Rampage gets the better of the exchange with a counter combination of hooks. Rampage throws another left jab.
Thirty seconds remain. Rampage connects with another body shot, but Griffin counters with a knee. Rampage delivers an uppercut and then a left hand. Two more hooks from Rampage. Rampage is active as the round ends, but Griffin steps in and clinches with knees at the very end. An absolutely great fight that should be very close on the judges' scorecards. If one had to pick a holistic winner, it would be Griffin, but on a round-by-round basis, it was a very close fight. It would not be a shock if Rampage pulled off a 48-47 win.
Forrest Griffin won the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship via unanimous decision (48-46, 48-46, 49-46).
After the fight, the crowd is booing Griffin, which catches the new champion off-guard. He teases an obvious rematch.
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