Jul 05 2008
UFC 86 Preview
The UFC has done it again. They will prove tonight that when it comes to top rate MMA, the UFC is superior. Many organizations try to imitate the UFC, but fall short due to a lack of talent.
UFC president Dana White has made MMA relevant to the public. Tonight, 2 of his most outgoing and talented stars will face off in the Octagon. Forrest Griffin (15-4-0) will face UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (27-6-0).
Both are coming off convincing wins in their last bouts against top tier opponents. Jackson defeated former Pride Light-Heavyweight Champion Dan Henderson in his last fight. While Griffin pulled off a huge upset in defeating who many called the best light-heavyweight in the world, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Some have said that the loss was credited more to Rua injuring a knee than Griffin out-classing him.
If you watched the Griffin-Rua fight, you will have noticed that Rua seemed lost in the large Octagon like so many other fighters from Pride. The truth is that many fighters that came from the former Pride organization do not look comfortable in the Octagon. Pride fighters had a standard square boxing-ring.
Mirko “Cro-Cop” Flipovic was one of the biggest names that the Octagon ate up. He failed to even catch a sniff of a UFC Heavyweight championship. Some fighters from Pride have had success like ”Rampage” Jackson who captured his Championship by defeating one of the greatest Champions in the UFC, in Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell.
Another Pride fighter having success is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. It seems that the UFC has the best talent in the world of MMA. Back to tonights title bout, Griffin will not give up until he is unable to fight anymore, a quality that won him over one of the largest fan bases in the UFC.
Jackson is an elite fighter with a talent for winning the big fights. He is also one the biggest names in MMA, but someone has to lose. The loser will have a loss and the winner a win and a title, the real winner here is the UFC because they continue to put the best fights possible together.
