The UFC Blog

When it rains it pours, more bad luck for the former champ.

From DailyPilot.com:

“Huntington Beach woman who was more than 16 weeks pregnant and who police said was injured in a hit-and-run crash with mixed martial artist Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson on the 55 Freeway two weeks ago has had a miscarriage, her fiance said Friday.

Holli Griggs, 38, was driving her 2007 Cadillac Escalade in the left lane on the southbound 55 Freeway just south of Bay Street on July 15 when Jackson’s gray-and-green pick-up truck sideswiped her as he drove along the median lane at about 45 mph, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Prosecutors have yet to file charges against Jackson, a former light heavyweight champion for the Ultimate Fighting Championship who remains free on $25,000 bail. Prosecutors would not comment on any potential charges due to Griggs’ miscarriage.”

It’s not yet sure if the miscarriage was due to this accident, but the couple has retained a lawyer.
Rumor has it that he has split with his trainer Juanito Ibarra aswell.  He credited Ibarra with all of his recent succes within the UFC.  It’s really too bad!

Check out my review article of UFC 86 on bodybuilding.com -

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ufc86_review.htm

Bodybuilding.com is offering this free UFC 86-themed wallpaper (computer background image) for download.  It features Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and new champ Forrest Griffin!  Thanks to Isaac Hinds for this great image. 

Download your copy here:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/wallpaperoftheweek.htm#264

Enjoy!

You never know who you will run into at a UFC weekend. I met Chuck Liddell in the Mandalay swimming pool, BJ Penn in the elevator and spotted David Spade in the audience.

Big thanks to Will, Grif, Andy and Larry for a great weekend in Vegas.

Check out the UFC 86 fight coverage, including results and photos right here on Bodybuilding.com:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/2008_ufc86_main_page.htm

What a day and experience.  

The energy in the Mandalay Event Center tonight was unbelievable.  After the fights I went into to Media Center and spoke to a few fighters about the fights and about our new radio show, "Pro MMA Radio."

I also handed out all of our exclusive BB.COM MMA shirts, four of which went directly into the hands of fighters that were on the cards this evening. There were still plenty of die hard fans waiting outside the arena even after I left the media center and walked back to my room, with a following like this  i think MMA  will be around  far longer than me.  

Dont forget to check out Larry Pepe’s review on Bodybuilding.com on Monday @ 6pm pacific time.  Also, we will bring you coverage of the July 19th fight of Middleweight champion of the world Anderson Silva who is moving up to 205 to fight James Irvin here in Vegas.

Forrest Griffin (205) VS Quinton Jackson (205)

RD 1
Good leg kicks from Forrest to open the round.  Rampage missed with a huge right but still backed Forrest up Good exchange in center of ring both score with good uppercuts.
They swap jabs but Forrest is scoring good leg kicks.  Forrest continues to work Rampages left leg.  Rampage lands a huge uppercut sending Forrest down to the floor.  Closed guard for Forrest now  who is able to stand up and exchange  for the final fifteen seconds until the horn. 10-9 Rampage only because of Knockdown.

RD 2
Rampage looks a little fresher but Forrest’s leg kicks are killing Rampage’s left  leg. Forrest gets a takedown and is ground and pounding like  he’s the one defending the belt.  Forrest almost sinks in the guillotine.  Side  control for Forrest who almost locks in a Kimura.   Forrest looks amazing  throwing at will on the ground and landing a few elbows as well.  Full mount now for Forrest three and half minutes through the round.  Dirty boxing on the ground from
Forrest  is clearly frustrating Rampage who has been on his back the whole round. Horn sounds and Rampage is real slow to get up.  What a round.  10-8   Forrest.

RD 3
Rampage looks really fresh again, High kick from Forrest  is blocked by Rampage.   Two minutes in now and Rampage just missed with a bomb.  Forrest still working those leg kicks slowing Rampage down now.  Rampage looks to be favoring his left leg.  One minute forty five left in the round  and Rampage missed with another overhand right.  Forrest still attacking that leg.  Final fifteen seconds and Forrest lands a good combination that dazed Rampage.  Horn sounds.  10-9 Forrest

RD 4
Rampage is sucking a little air now as the bell rings.  Rampage looks good still as the fighters exchange big punches leading to a clinch and a nice takedown by Rampage.  Caught in Forrest’s guard Rampage tries a big slam to escape a triangle, it works but doesn’t’ cause any damage to Forrest.  Fighters are up again and look to like the idea of an exchange of hooks and uppercuts.  Griffen is relentless in his pursuit and paid    for the last exchange as he is cut over his right eye.  Fighters stand and  exchange through the horn, Rampage may have got the best of Forrest that round.        10-9 Rampage.  What a fight

RD 5

Good leg kicks from Forrest but little scoring this time.  Rampage lands a nice  right hook  in retaliation.  Forrest lands a strong straight right backing Rampage up. Good right to the body by Rampage but Forrest answers with a good high kick.  Halfway through now.  Forrest lands another strong right to the chin of Rampage.  Forrest scores again with a leg kick.  Huge right from Forrest is immediately counters with a big left from Rampage.    What a fight.  Exchange from both up until the horn.  If  you missed this  I willl almost assure you there is going to be a rematch.  10-9 Forrest.

We are going to the cards, the crowd likes Forrest but we will have to wait and see.   A unanimous decision for Forrest. What an amazing fight.  Forrest is thinking rematch.  Don’t know about unanimously, but Forrest did win that fight.  New Lightheavy Champion.  Rampage loses with real respect, what a good character.

The underdog Forrest Griffin showed the heart of a lion tonight. He took a number of heavy punches but delivered a few of his own. Great fight!

Ricardo Almeida (185) VS Patrick Cote (185)

RD 1
Opens  with Ricardo going for the guillotine but nothing doing on the attempt. Cote throws a nice straight leg that scores. Fighters in clinch two minutes into the round both looking for double underhooks  until Ricardo gets a takedown.  He is unable to pass Cote’s half guard so he stands and tries to reset another attempt.  Little action through rest of  round as Cote is up against the fence but defending very well. Pretty slow round. 10-9 Almeida

RD 2
Before the bell  Ricardo gets a little extra tape as he appears to have a hole in his glove..
Both men come out for round two fired up  Ricardo looks to shoot  but pulls up short. Cote is then able to get a very mild takedown.  Cote stands up as he appears to want to exchange with Ricardo.  Two minutes in the crowd is growing restless as there has been little striking so far.  Clinch for next thirty seconds.  Good overhand right from Ricardo backs Cote up.  Patrick gets another takedown but cant keep the fight down, as Ricardo quickly gets to his feet.  Clinch again until Ricardo tries a Guillotine only to get punched square in the face.  Cote gets another takedown just before the horn sounds.  Very slow round, I have it  10-9 Cote.

RD 3

Cote comes out looking to press his Agenda  and trying to get Ricardo to exchange punches.  Nice left jab from Ricardo scores on the chin of Cote.  Not much action again halfway through the round.  Good leg kick from Cote scores on Ricardo’s left leg, followed by another, and yet another. Final minute now and  Ricardo shoots and gets a nice takedown which leads Cote into an attempt at a mount just before the round ends.  Another slow  and tough round to call.  9-8 Cote?

Judges are split in favor of Patrick “the predator” Cote.  
Most of the crowd agrees to the call of the judges.

Gleison Tibau (156) VS Joe Stevenson (155)

RD 1
GT gets a  takedown early  and Joe tries to throw the flying Gullotine but cannot sink it in. North south position for  next thirty seconds.  Both fighters are working really hard on ground.  Both stand  up halfway through and Joe shoots in almost immediately for another takedown.  During ground exchange Joe almost gets caught in triangle for a good minute and a half, crowd is booing as they think Mazzegatti  should have stood them up. The round comes to and end against the fence with no action for the last minute and a half.  10-9 Joe DADDY

RD 2
Starts off as an exact replica of the first.  Clinch one minute into the round up against the cage. Fightrers go to ground for five seconds and pop right back up. GT gets a takedown at the minute and a half mark, but again the are both standing  until GT goes for another takedown.  The  attempt works until Joe is able to sink in the guillotine and force Tibau to tap  at the three minute mark.  Excellent move by Joe  to finish up, he tried it  three or four times  before he could sink it in for the victory.  

Chris Lytle (170) VS Josh Koscheck (170)

RD 1
Lytle comes out with a couple of haymakers but nothing lands.  Josh throws a big high kick but Chris is able to get under it.  
Both fighters are not afraid to exchange punches for the first half of the round.  Josh scores a good take down and almost gets caught in a guillotine  at the same time.  Half guard for Chris against the cage. Couple of good elbows from Josh  on the ground lead the fighters into north south before   double underhooks from Chris  keep Josh from the full mount as the horn sounds.10-9 Koscheck

RD 2
Lytle comes out eager to throw but Josh is being a little cautious.  Another takedown by josh almost leads into another Guillotine from Chris.  
Josh is able to mount and is scoring with good ground and pound halfway through the round.  Chris is bleeding pretty bad now from above his eyes as Josh continues to work with elbows on the ground.  Josh is relentless on the ground as he continues to work the elbows up until the horn.  10-8 Koscheck

RD 3

Eve Lavigne appears to tell Chris that  he may stop the fight if the bleeding gets any worse.  Josh comes out and shoots immediately but  Chris is able to sprawl and stuff it. Lytle is almost able to finish  with a guillotine but he cant sink it all the way in.  Josh is in Chris’s half guard midway through the round.  Josh continues to work the elbows on the ground.  Chris is bleeding extremely bad now.  Eve stands them up with a minute left in the round.  Josh just continues to work  and both fighters  finish the round with a barrage of  overhand punches.   Great Fight for both, but Josh clearly won this bout. 10-9 Koscheck.

All Three Judges score the bout  in favor of Koscheck much to the crowds disliking, apparently they don’t like Josh!  Great  Bout .  

Marcus Aurelio (155) VS Tyson Griffin (155)

RD 1
Both fighters are slow to attack and there are maybe fifteen punches thrown in the first  two minutes.  Griffen gets a takedown and is in Marcus’s open guard.  Griffen goes to the floor and  then pops  right back up after  he couldn’t pass  the guard.  Both fighters are standing with one minute left in the first.  Very little action from both fighters. Tyson scores with a nice leg kick and then stuffs Marcus’s try for a takedown with a good sprawl just before the horn sounds.  Slow round   10-9 Griffen

RD 2
Starts off with a nice leg kick from Griffen, followed  by some decent body work.  
Marcus takes a good right hand on the chin but doesn’t seem phased by it.  Fighters in clinch halfway through round exchanging knees with very little scoring.  Tyson then scores a great takedown, but then is immediately taken down himself.  Griffen is able too reverse,  and is in Marcus’s closed guard for the final minute  up until the horn.  The crowd is not pleased so far with the fight.  Tough round to call. 10-9 Griffen

RD 3
Griffen comes out throwing good punches but doesn’t score,  until a nice leg kick one minute into the round.  Good hooks from griffen are keeping Marcus guessing as to what is coming next.  Not much ground work from the two so far.  Three minutes in and the  crowd is booing until Griffen gets a good takedown.  Tyson cant do anything with it though as Marcus’s guard is  very strong. Closed guard for the final minute and apparently the crowd likes it as they finally cheer after the horn.  Another tough round to score. 10-9 Griffen
All three Judges score the fight 30-27 in favor of  Griffen

Justin McCully (236) VS Gabriel Gonzaga (249)
RD 1

GG lands a nice right fifteen seconds into the round  followed by a great leg kick that sends McCully to the floor.   Gabriel takes full mount and wraps up McCully’s  Arm In a very nice Kimura Forcing McCully to Tap  One Minute and thirty seconds into the first round.  Excellent execution by Gonzaga.

Cole Miller (155) VS Jorge Gurgel (155)
RD 1
Slow first thirty seconds, then Grugel lands a nice leg kick scoring on miller.  Miller lands a big overhand right   stunning gurgel a little.  Half way through   decent strandup from both fighters, Miller lands a big right  exciting  the crowd a little.  Good leg kicks  from  both guys. Grugel lands a strong right  to the chin of Miller  almost sending  him to the floor.  Miller recovers  and goes to clinch  and back to exchanges  just as the horn sounds.  Good round for both fighters.  10-9 Gurgel

RD 2
Miller a little tentative as round opens, but stands in as Grugel throws a barrage of punches, little scoring though.   Good straight right from Miller .  Miller gets a nice takedown halfway through the  round . Grugel into guard but takes quite a few big shots before he   can slow miller down.  Miller passes guard into side control. One minute left, Grugel escapes  both fighters up  with 30 seconds left. Miller lands a good straight right.  Grugel  gets a takedown just before the horn. 10-9 Miller

RD 3
Both fighters pumping up the crowd prior to the bell. Nice high Kick from Grugel but it doesn’t score.  Big Straight left from Miller lands square on Grugel.  Grugel counter with a big right stunning miller a little, Grugel pounces immediately and takes miller down.  North south now  but lasts only momentarily as both fighters stand.  Grugel with another good takedown.  One  thirty left in the round and fighter in the clinch.    Grugel with another takedown.  Grugel gets caught in a nasty position as his head is triangled up by millers legs.  Groge;l  rolls and tries to escape but is forced to tap with less than 30 seconds left in the final round.   Cole Miller is the Victor via a great submission.  Awesome!

Post by: webmaster

Dennis Siver (155) VS Melvin Guillard (155)

RD 1
Open with a huge overhand right from Melvin knocking silver down immediately.  Melvin tries to finish but almost gets caught in an arm bar but escapes, know both fighters are up and Melvin lands another right hand bomb  sending silver to the floor again.  This time Herb Dean stepped in to save Silver as he couldn’t defend himself.
Melvin with the victory via  a  monster Right hand!  Stoppage thirty seconds into the first round.

Justin Buchholz (155) VS Corey Hill (155)

RD 1

Hill  is quick to the center and wastes no time as he  lands a huge overhand right.  
JB counter with a nice inside leg kick.  Good uppercuts from both but  hill scores on four more than JB.  Hill follows up with a great takedown and then is  rocked by a
Solid right from JB.  Knee blocked by JB  who attempts a flying guillotine   now into rubberguard as the round comes to an end.  10-9   Hill

RD 2
Big straight right from hill as the round opens, followed by a great leg kick and  high kick from JB which both score.   Hill right into clinch as he was a little stunned from those leg kicks.   Closed guard from JB  but Hill manages to pass into side control,  JB sweeps using the fence and takes Hills back  and is able to sink in a rear naked choke for the victory  three and half minutes into the round.

About fifteen minutes until the first bout and the arena is already buzzing as the doors are flooded with excited fans.

We are here at the Mandalay Bay only two and a half hours from fights!

Bodybuilding.com will be ringside to bring you top notch coverage of the fights along with the great Isaac Hinds bringing you all the shots you wish you could see live!  

WW

Alrighty then… the time is here!  Finally the wait is over for UFC 86 Jackson versus Griffin.  Everyone made weight so there will be no stumbling blocks on the way to the title fight.  If you were able to see the weigh-in did you sense a little fear in Forrest Griffin?  I guess anyone would be scared if you had a stare down from Rampage.  He truly has a mean looking mug!  Here is the whole line up for tonights fight:

MAIN CARD

Champion Quinton Jackson vs. Forrest Griffin (for UFC light heavyweight belt)
Ricardo Almeida vs. Patrick Cote
Joe Stevenson vs. Gleison Tibau
Josh Koscheck vs. Chris Lytle
Marcus Aurelio vs. Tyson Griffin

PRELIMINARY CARD

Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Justin McCully
Jorge Gurgel vs. Cole Miller
Melvin Guillard vs. Dennis Siver
Justin Bucholz vs. Corey Hill  

I don’t know about you, but i sure am excited.  

Here is something that i’ve been thinking about.  Is there such a thing of home court advantage for a fighter?  Everyone is talking about how Rampage is the favorite, but in Vegas the crowd will be more than likely Pro Forrest.  He isn’t from Vegas, but he trains there and lives there, and more than likely is seen around the clubs, casinos etc…  He has gained a huge fan base there I’m sure.  Similar to Chuck Liddell’s.

I was able to attend UFC 71 Liddell vs. Rampage.  I would say 85 percent of the people were for Liddell.  (The crowd was mean too, if you didn’t cheer on Chuck. LOL)  I expect the same crowd reaction for Griffin.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Jackson is booed heavily.  So I don’t know if that will benefit or fuel the fire for either fighter, but it’s just something to consider.  It sure didn’t help Liddell any!

Anywho have a good night watching the fights, check back for my review on UFC 86!

UPDATE: Here’s the review -

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ufc86_review.htm

The action for UFC 86 has begun. I ran into James Irvin as I was waiting for the elevator. James has the fight of his life coming up in a couple weeks. I introduced myself to him and thanked him for signing a photo I took from his last fight. I took 5 total pics in his win over Houston Alexander one of them was sic. He was about to pounce and I caught it in mid action. James thanked me for the photo (I sent a 8×10 to him and his manager) and said it was awesome. Kinda fun to meet him. James was much taller than I thought and was cool.

I sat in on the UFC Fight Club where Chuck Lidell answered fan questions. One nugget of info - Chuck said his son lives in Parker, Colorado. This is about 5 minutes from where I live. Chuck is a cool dude. He signed autographs after his chat with fans. It’s guys like this that make the UFC thrive.

The weigh-ins brought in a ton of fans and the place was jam’n. This is going to be a great weekend for UFC fans. A few pics from today…