Contrary to some of the rumblings over the past few weeks about the marquee level of the participants at the FIGHT FOR THE TROOPS, this free card was one of the best of the year from the Zuffa boys. And that’s not even taking into account the beauty of the gesture to some unsung but deserving heroes. One could complain that with all the talent in the UFC stable, why not at least one more big name grudge match to really sweeten the pot for the cause and the card. However, sometimes in MMA the names don’t really matter as much as the atmosphere and we’ll have to assume that something in the air at Fort Bragg produces pumped fighters and brutal knockouts and stoppages. There were plenty in Fayetteville tonight! FULL STORY
One sure way to know if an MMA fan is an asshole (and unfortunately, as it is in life, there are plenty of them), is to ask that certain someone their opinion of Forrest Griffin. It shouldn’t matter whether we’re talking about the pre-UFC 86 Forrest Griffin, or the current 205 lb. UFC Champion. It makes no difference. Either way, anyone who doesn’t like this guy’s style and his story is not someone you really need to get to know.
After 86, it is sure to say, there can be no lingering doubt about the “reality” of the Ultimate Fighter series, and the metal of the show’s contestants. They have been tested. The fact that 2 different “show” winners have now worn the belt, along with the fact that blowouts on the show itself are uncommon, tell a fairly clear picture of just how elite the contests participants are. In the case of Griffin, who in consecutive fights, has now beaten both the UFC 205 lb. reigning champ in Rampage, and just several months ago a fighter that many fans and analysts alike perceived to be the pound for pound best (top 3 easy), Shogun Rua. That a direct route to the UFC is possible via the show, let alone that fact that the Championship of the World hangs out there like an apple on a tree, will insure that the ranks of talent lining up to be on the show will likely continue to double or triple overnight. The talent pool for the sport in general will explode the way none has in American sports for a hundred years. Without getting carried away, it is reasonable to say that an era of “glory days” in combat sports may be in the future rather than in the past. It will almost certainly not be in the realm of boxing.
In the coming decade, young athletes from all over the world will come to the U.S. the way they do for baseball, hockey and basketball, to make their mark and taste the glory of winning on such an elite level. There is no way to predict exactly how the dominance and emphasis of the “mixed” in MMA is going to propel the science and execution of the sport, but one thing is for certain… fans are in for a real treat if the growing worldwide talent pool produces exponentially more Fedors, GSPs, Fabers, Penns, and god help us, Anderson Silvas.
Let us pray for a steady stream of Forrest Griffins as well. Fighters like Griffin make the blue collar crowds that cheer for him grin from ear to ear as he wins. They cheer for a simple reason. He’s like they are. Yes he’s famous now, and yes he’s got a ‘bit of money also, but relative to other professional athletes, he makes very little for a lot of incredibly hard work and dedication. They love him because he doesn’t talk shit. Let’s repeat that because of its importance. Forrest Griffin doesn’t talk shit. He looks like a carpenter. You could easily envision him popping his head out from underneath the head of your car at your local gas station. He is a model for the sport for that reason among others. Thankfully MMA has a comparatively large number of humble heroes. When compared to other pro sports, the difference is glaring. This is what made it so hard to root against Rampage, another treasure that the UFC would be wise to continue coveting. For all of the volume and cheers from the audience at UFC 86, this reporter did not hear anything louder than the applause for Rampage when he said to Joe Rogan, quite simply, “he just whooped my ass!”. A man that got paid a mere $225,000.00 to perform in five rounds of war just graciously told us how it is. And the crowd went wild for it, because of the novelty of the statement. Oh, if were that simple in any of the other major leagues.
-- www.GueRRillaRadio.com – 7.09.08
