I love both Rampage Jackson and Forrest Griffin. They are exciting, skilled and charismatic fighters. However, there can be only one winner, and one of them is going to have to get the shaft on July 5.
I see Forrest Griffin getting it on Saturday. Forrest Griffin talks about having superior footwork, but he does not have superior footwork than Quinton Jackson. Rampage can hit with accuracy and power while walking with his punches; Forrest cannot. Rampage, at times, even ducks punches while he's throwing his trademark barrage; Forrest is a more stationary striker. Rampage transitions better than Forrest between ranges. All in all, Forrest Griffin is the better groundfighter, Rampage Jackson is a much more dynamic overall fighter.
I am convinced that Rampage will not be submitted by Forrest Griffin. Rampage Jackson is a guy that intuitively understands grappling and body alignment as well as any Jiu-Jitsu. Sure, he has brute strength, and that helps him avoid getting submitted, but you try to pick up a guy who's trying to peform an armbar or triangle choke from underneath, and you don't use leverage, you will snap your arm. However, Rampage, with his deadly combination of power and leverage, just picks up submitter wannabes and slams them. If you're unlucky like Ricardo Arona, you get your ass knocked out cold.
I don't think Rampage will pick up Forrest, and knock him out with a slam. Slams happen often; knockouts from slams are rare. However, I do see Rampage, outpunch, outmaneuver, and outpower Forrest standing up, outwrestle him, and do the same all over again on the ground. Rampage will back up his talk that the judges will have no say on Saturday, and Forrest will not be able to put a foot in Rampage's mouth.
Rampage Jackson over Forrest Griffin via TKO (ground-n-pound) in Round 3.
P.S. The original article carries videos that supplement the preview, so be sure to check that out as well.
I see Forrest Griffin getting it on Saturday. Forrest Griffin talks about having superior footwork, but he does not have superior footwork than Quinton Jackson. Rampage can hit with accuracy and power while walking with his punches; Forrest cannot. Rampage, at times, even ducks punches while he's throwing his trademark barrage; Forrest is a more stationary striker. Rampage transitions better than Forrest between ranges. All in all, Forrest Griffin is the better groundfighter, Rampage Jackson is a much more dynamic overall fighter.
I am convinced that Rampage will not be submitted by Forrest Griffin. Rampage Jackson is a guy that intuitively understands grappling and body alignment as well as any Jiu-Jitsu. Sure, he has brute strength, and that helps him avoid getting submitted, but you try to pick up a guy who's trying to peform an armbar or triangle choke from underneath, and you don't use leverage, you will snap your arm. However, Rampage, with his deadly combination of power and leverage, just picks up submitter wannabes and slams them. If you're unlucky like Ricardo Arona, you get your ass knocked out cold.
I don't think Rampage will pick up Forrest, and knock him out with a slam. Slams happen often; knockouts from slams are rare. However, I do see Rampage, outpunch, outmaneuver, and outpower Forrest standing up, outwrestle him, and do the same all over again on the ground. Rampage will back up his talk that the judges will have no say on Saturday, and Forrest will not be able to put a foot in Rampage's mouth.
Rampage Jackson over Forrest Griffin via TKO (ground-n-pound) in Round 3.
P.S. The original article carries videos that supplement the preview, so be sure to check that out as well.
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