MMA Crunch

The work week is set to come to a close, although there are plenty of new stories opening up in the world of mixed martial arts. Forrest Griffin continues to get more respect, while a couple other fighters are trying to claw their way back to respectability. We’ll say TGIF as we get going with the Daily Crunch.

Sherdog.com updates its list of the top ten pound for pound fighters in the world. Forrest Griffin broke into the top ten for the first time following his upset victory over Rampage Jackson.

Kenny Florian shares his current views on UFC.com’s The Florian report. Check out what Kenny’s been up to as he prepares for his UFC 87 bout against Roger Huerta.

Phil Baroni has decided to drop down to the 170 lb. weight class in an attempt to resurrect his career. Baroni talks to Mmanews.com about the change and what’s in store for his future.

Todd Martin of CBS Sports talks to Brandon Vera who is apparently still very disgruntled over last month’s controversial loss to Fabricio Werdum.

Mark Hunt talks to MMA Weekly about his return to the cage and his upcoming bout at Dream 5.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s recent knee surgery may still delay his return to the octagon. Five ouncesofpain.com reports that UFC President Dana White is optimistic about a return this fall.

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Not a day has passed after Forrest Griffin handed Quinton “Rampage” Jackson the seventh defeat of his career and talks of a rematch have already begun to surface. Such an event would be a use draw and would also turn the tables. But instead of Jackson coming in as the heavy favorite, Rampage would likely play the unfamiliar role of the underdog. Griffin, now the UFC light heavyweight champion, would also head into another bout with Jackson equipped with the full respect of the media, audience and fellow fighters.

One of the main reasons that a rematch would be a smart move on everyone’s behalf is because the previous fight was extremely entertaining. Why wouldn’t anyone want to see a sequel to what was arguably one of the best fights of the year? However, there are more contenders in the light heavyweight division hungry for a shot at the title. Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans are both waiting in the wings.

Liddell has been thirsting for quite some time to get another shot at gold. And Evans will argue that an undefeated record is more than worthy enough to warrant a title shot. So who should be next for Griffin?

Simply because Jackson was the former champion does not give him the right to be the next in line to reclaim his title. Jackson did not fight for nine months prior to UFC 86 and perhaps he should see some more action before receiving another shot at the title. A Liddell victory over Evans at UFC 88 would build a heightening momentum towards his championship run.

The only thing audiences love more than a rematch is a comeback. Liddell is putting together exactly that and it’s hard to imagine that a win over Evans wouldn’t land him in a title bout with Griffin.

Mauricio Rua is among the top light heavyweights in the UFC, although he fell victim to Griffin via a third round knockout almost a year ago at UFC 76. That loss kind of pushes Rua to the back burner as he will probably have to wait his turn for another shot at Griffin.

In the meantime, Griffin is putting together his own impressive run as he will look forward to defeating a third straight top quality opponent. Actually, it could wind up being his fourth straight win as he put down Hector Ramirez before notching victories over Rua and Jackson. Regardless of who is next in line, one thing has changed for Griffin. As the light heavyweight champion, he is now the man to beat.

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This weekend’s bout between Rampage Jackson and Forrest Griffin feature two of the top light heavyweights in the world of mixed martial arts. There may only be a few voices disputing the fact that Jackson is the world’s top light heavyweight fighter, but where does Griffin fall among the elite? A victory over Jackson would surely thrust Griffin into the upper echelon of the division. Yet, for right now, Griffin ranks sixth on MMA Weekly’s list of top ten light heavyweights in the world. The list is as follows:

1. Quinton Jackson
2. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
3. Chuck Liddell
4. Lyoto Machida
5. Wanderlei Silva
6. Forrest Griffin
7. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
9. Keith Jardine
10. Thiago Silva

Multiple losses to Jackson hasn’t dropped Liddell too far down the list. Keeping that in mind, where will Griffin be ranked if he too loses at the hands of Jackson? Rua already split a pair of fights with Rampage and yet he remains slotted at number two. But despite what has happened in the past, Jackson is now the man to beat in the light heavyweight division. However, opinions vary and rankings always change according to who writes up the list. So if the ink was flowing from your pen, how would you rank the light heavyweight division?

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UFC’s highly anticipated showdown between Forrest Griffin and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson is now less than a week away. Next Saturday night, the two will finally take center stage and square off in the octagon. While Griffin is most recognized as the first Ultimate Fighter, Jackson carries with him the notoriety of the man who dismantled Chuck Liddell. Yet, this fight could be a defining moment for both men.

Jackson has since established himself as the man to beat in the light heavyweight division. A win would further cement the foundation he is building as one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC. Adversely, a loss may drop him down a notch and hinder his credibility. That doesn’t mean that Griffin is not a worthy opponent. But if Griffin can came out with a victory, he could find himself catapulted up to the same echelon as Jackson. Putting forth a game effort against Rampage just won’t be enough to elevate him to that same status.

A long time coming

Although the fight is still a few days away, the stage was set a long time ago. This past season, both Griffin and Jackson were coaches during the latest Ultimate Fighter saga. And that was by no coincidence. Throughout the season, the two seemed to get along. However, there always seemed to be an underlying tension in the air. In casting the two, UFC president Dana White carefully positioned them both as though they were chess pieces. Neither man made any bold moves during the Ultimate Fighter series, but rather waited until this week for the chance to say check mate.

In the past, both Griffin and Jackson also shared a similar opponent in Mauricio Rua. Rua was Griffin’s latest victim in a dramatic match that ended late in the third round this past September. Jackson is also no stranger to Rua as Rampage felt his wrath during a PRIDE match-up in 2005 in which Rua scored a first round knockout.

Needless to say, a lot of hype and history has led up to the Jackson-Griffin battle. More hype will follow in the week to come, and on Saturday both fighters will make history. There has been so much building up to this event, that anything less than the dramatic would be a bit of let down.

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