Both radio host TJ De Santis and reporter/columnist Mike Sloan have been enjoying debate winning streaks. They clash yet again, and this time they squabble over who will prevail in the ballyhooed showdown between Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Forrest "I'm So Tough I Don't Need a Nickname" Griffin. As usual, only one Sherdog staffer will have his keyboard raised in victory. Will it be Sloan or De Santis?
To answer the question that concluded the lame intro, it'll be me and the reasoning is quite simple:
Forrest Griffin (Pictures) looked sensational in training. He's hitting the bags so hard that they are leaking sand.
So what, you ask? Well, several weeks ago the Xtreme Couture staff filled those bags with limestone, basalt, gypsum rocks and the skulls of baby seals. Forrest has been on such a vicious routine, he's pulverized every single stone and bone in the bag.
He also has been launching training partners into orbit thanks to his throws, punches and kicks. I saw Forrest standing in the center of the training cage with several pro fighters' corpses like
Tyson Griffin,
Gray Maynard (Pictures),
Heath Herring (Pictures) and
Vitor Belfort (Pictures) littered about the canvas. Forrest was signaling gym owner
Randy Couture (Pictures) to enter the cage, but for the first time in his career, "The Natural" backed away from the challenge, tears flowing from his eyes and his lips quivering like California fault lines.
OK, I'm joking. But TJ, that's exactly what you'll look like when you stagger away from your black-and-white boob tube (with a melted Fudgesicle on the screen) on Saturday night as your paltry winning streak comes to a screeching halt. I don't care how strong or determined Rampage looks in training. He stands no chance of retaining his belt against Forrest.
Griffin looks more focused than I've ever seen him, and he's been training with a chip on his shoulder. That's probably because nerdy radio guys like you have virtually all picked against him. Most "experts" label Forrest as mere cannon fodder for the great Rampage, but people with brains (see: me) know better.
Rampage is stronger, yes. But he doesn't take kicks well, and that's one of Forrest's strong suits. Also, the No. 1 Achilles heel for Jackson has been his stamina. Granted, he no longer runs out of gas 30 seconds into his bouts because he is distracted or fasting or lazy or whatever. But a history of fatigue is a history of fatigue no matter how you slice it, and Forrest always has a never-ending supply of fuel.
He'll drag Jackson into deep waters and make him pay. I don't know if Griffin will be able to stop the howling soon-to-be former champ, but he will dominate from rounds three through five.
I never thought you -- a thin, little white guy -- would have so much in common with Rampage -- a muscle-bound, badass black dude, but it's true: Neither one of you should have agreed to this fight.
Sloan, you slay me. Seriously, you couldn't be more wrong about anything you just wrote. You're putting way too much stock in Forrest and his training. No doubt the Xtreme Couture camp is good. There is solid talent on the mat in the Vegas facility on a day-in, day-out basis. However, that is not necessarily a good thing.
Xtreme Couture has many top-name fighters that require high amounts of attention. Now I am not saying that Forrest is getting neglected. But Rampage's situation is vastly different.
Griffin trains in a commercial environment, sharing the mats with the likes of
Jay Hieron (Pictures), Tyson Griffin and Randy Couture. But anyone can train or walk in during the time that Forrest is getting ready. Now I am sure that they are separated from "The Ultimate Fighter 1" winner, but if guys like you wanting autographs can walk in whenever they want, distractions are going to occur.
Juanito Ibarra is in control of
Quinton Jackson (Pictures)'s training camp. Not only can "TUF noobs" like you be banned from walking through the door of Rampage's training camp, no other fighter wants to take attention away from the champ. All training partners are paid to give all of their attention to Jackson. Along with high-quality physical training, Quinton has something going for him that is more important than that: a manager, trainer and platonic soul mate.
Before coming to Juanito's camp, people were calling Rampage a shell of the fighter he once was. After becoming a born-again Christian, fans questioned the aggressiveness of the Pride veteran. Ibarra not only reinvigorated the struggling fighter physically, but he got inside of the man's head. He delved deep into Rampage's psyche and showed him how to balance his newfound faith and passion for the fight game.
Jackson will be stronger that Forrest. Know when I say that, that I am aware that Forrest is the bigger fighter of the two. But there is a difference between size and strength. I like Jackson's chance on the feet. You mention the kicks of Griffin; I think Rampage's are better. Going back to the Pride bout between Rampage and former UFC middleweight champion
Murilo Bustamante (Pictures), we saw a then-dubbed wrestler utilize muay Thai kicks to get ahead on the scorecards. Quinton has also showed improved dirty boxing and defense off of scrambles. Forrest will have his moments Saturday night and may even steal a round, but Jackson is on a completely different level right now.
Quinton and I do have some things in common. Among them is our passion for video games, a fondness of pizza and ketchup and come Saturday night we will both be winners. Also, of all the dumb things you were wrong about in the opening, one thing stuck out more than anything: You wouldn't consider me skinny, and in the De Santis household, Fudgesicles do not go to waste.
Both have been on a roll lately, though Almeida has been absent for a few years leading up to his return to the Octagon. Before it seemed as if Cote couldn't win in the UFC, and now it seems as if he can't lose. This fight should be as competitive as it is entertaining, and I like Cote to win via stoppage midway through the third.
You're even dumber than I thought. Almeida is light years ahead of Cote in the jiu-jitsu department. I like Ricardo to take a submission win in the first round. Maybe even a triangle CHOKE!
How will Stevenson bounce back from a lopsided and disheartening throttling at the hands of
B.J. Penn (Pictures)? With a sizzling second-round dismantling of Tibau, that's how. It'll be an emphatic return for "Daddy," and he'll quickly be reinserted into lightweight title contention.
You're finally right about something. Stevenson will make Tibau say uncle. Figuratively speaking, as this fight will go the full 15 minutes. Stevenson by unanimous decision.
Lytle is one of the best all-around fighters in the sport, but he isn't an absolute brute at any of his crafts. Koscheck needs a win like EliteXC needs to climb out of debt, and he'll trounce Lytle via second-round stoppage.
Koscheck is not getting a gimme in this one at all. Lytle has a tremendous amount of skill. Unfortunately for him, he doesn't have enough to put together a championship run. Lytle's only chance is winning this fight on the feet. Koscheck has enough striking ability to stay out of trouble and more than enough wrestling to put the Indiana native on his back whenever he feels like it. Koscheck takes this fight by decision.
Easily one of the most competitive fights Joe Silva could have arranged, this one's a toss up. Aurelio has some of the slickest submissions in the sport, but he showcased raw punching power in his last fight. Griffin is
right there in the title spectrum, and a win over "Maximus" would be huge. This one will go the distance, and Griffin's endurance and sheer aggression will prevail. Griffin via unanimous decision.
Coming in to this fight, Griffin has one blemish on his record. Leaving this fight he will still only have one loss. Tyson will get on top of Aurelio early and stay there the majority of the fight. You nailed it on the head when you said this will be one of the most competitive fights of the night. Unfortunately it will be one of the more boring bouts as well.
For some reason I've never been as sold on Gurgel as so many others. I can't explain it. Miller has a ton of potential, but he's coming off a loss and hasn't faced as many talented fighters as his opponent. With that said, I see Gurgel ahead in a close fight going into the third round, only to give the round away due to a combination of passivity and Miller's aggression. Look for Cole to steal a split decision.
I like this fight. Both are good jiu-jitsu players and can fight technical bouts. Gurgel is a logical pick in the grappling department, holding a BJJ black belt. But this isn't jiu-jitsu. I like Miller to get the better of Jorge off of scramble situations. The ATT fighter will take a close, yet unanimous decision.
In order to remain a viable contender within the UFC's lightweight division, Guillard
has to win. Siver is one of the toughest hombres in the game, and he'll need that grittiness to fend off the pressure of Guillard. That same determination of Melvin will backfire, and he'll get caught in a rear-naked choke late in the second.
What's that? Siver knows how to choke? OK, I will pick him -- submission, round one.
If Hill were an insect, he'd be a walking stick or a praying mantis. And he has about as much MMA experience as one of those critters. He's got talent, and his range will give most fighters fits. But Buchholz has been there too many times relatively speaking compared to Hill's career, and he'll score an upset in Generation TUF's eyes by submitting Hill in the second.
I agree with you here. Just because you're tall, lanky and a TUF veteran doesn't mean you can win against an experienced fighter. Buchholz by submission.
As promising as McCully has looked at times, this fight reeks of being a showcase fight for Gonzaga. One of the few marketable heavyweights under the Zuffa tent, Gonzaga desperately needs a win to stay afloat in the ole "viable contender" pond. If he loses to McCully, it'll be three in a row and then it's pretty much on to Affliction or EliteXC. McCully has been out for well over a year and has only fought four times in five years. If that's not a sign of bad omens for a man about to face a guy who nearly decapitated "Cro Cop," I don't know what is. Gonzaga by second-round ground-and-pound stoppage.
The losses to Randy Couture and
Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) have caused the Gonzaga stock to fall harder than the IFL's in the recent months. OK, not that bad. Gonzaga will use better striking to clip McCully on the feet, then finish him on the floor with a stoppage.
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