from fightnews.com
The Ultimate Fighter, Season 7 coaches Forrest Griffin and UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson are both set to square off at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas this Saturday, in the main event of UFC 86.
Both coaches have had substantial time off in which to heal their injuries, from bouts occurring last September.
“I don’t think the layoff will impact me at all,” says Jackson. “I needed the layoff. I had three hard training camps last year. I had an eight- to nine-month layoff when I fought Matt Lindland, and he is the worst guy to take a layoff against. I think I did a pretty good job against him.
“Nine months is perfect. Could’ve had another baby if I wanted to.”
Griffin agrees with Jackson, about the timely layoff.
“I was pretty banged up,” Griffin says, referring to his upset win over Mauricio Rua last year. “I got to heal up, but I am definitely ready to fight.”
Rampage’s last fight, against Dan Henderson, solidified his claim to the light heavyweight championship.
“The one thing I thought I might be able to exploit was his conditioning,” said Forrest, about Rampage’s last bout. “But Jackson went five rounds with a guy that wears you out by clinching. He made it 25 minutes with him—I was pretty impressed.”
Ironically, the man Griffin last defeated—Rua—was also the last man to defeat Jackson. In 2005, at the Pride Total Elimination card, the two battled.
When Rua stepped into the Octagon against Griffin, he was thought to be the No. 1 contender for Jackson’s belt—but Forrest had other plans. By pushing the pace, Forrest was able to wear down, and submit Rua in the third round by rear naked choke.
“I watched it and I wasn’t impressed,” says Jackson, about Griffin’s big win.
“’Shogun’ wasn’t the same guy that used to fight in Pride. Looked like Shogun tired in the first round. Forrest got tired in the second, but he had enough heart to pull it off. He did a good job, but if Shogun was the same guy that I fought, I would’ve been more impressed.”
While there is little trash talking, or animosity, going on between Jackson and Griffin, they still say there is enough at stake to cause more than a few fireworks on July 5.
“I fight for a living,” says Jackson. “I don’t think it would be fair if I fight people pissed off. It wouldn’t be a fair fight. I’m happy to be making money, being in the UFC and defending my title. I’m happy.”
Griffin is in agreement:
“Yeah, whether you like the guy or hate him, it doesn’t matter. You’re still going to hit him as hard as you can.”
As to their camps, Forrest weaved when asked about anything new that he has worked on in his camp, stating, “A couple of things differ, but I don’t want to mention them. Mike Whitehead simulates Jackson well.”
Because there’s a title at stake, Griffin says, jokingly “I tried to throw in a couple extra rounds.”
Rampage, on the other hand, says his camp is no laughing matter.
“I concentrated on my boxing and my Muay Thai,” he says. “Before I was pretending, but now I am getting serious. That is why everything is coming together a little bit better. I don’t care where this fight goes. I feel like I can fight anywhere and that’s the way I train. It’s an MMA fight. I don’t plan on keeping the fight standing up. If I want to take it down and do some ground and pound, I’ll do it.”
While most will remember Forrest’s memorable slugfest with Stephan Bonnar to win TUF 1, Forrest says his style has evolved considerably.
“If you watched me the last couple of years, I used my feet more than I did before,” he says. “I have slow hands but quick feet. I want to move around, use my jab.
“Quinton is going to come forward, change levels, use a lot of upper body movement, but he comes forward and blasts a lot. He hits hard—and I don’t have a great chin.”
Jackson, showing respect for his opponent, notes that “Forrest isn’t a dummy.”
“He worked on his defense. I am not going out, head hunting. People underestimate me, thinking I don’t know jiu- jitsu, Muay Thai.
“But I want to show why I am champion.”
