FORREST’S CHIP
After UFC 101, and watching one of my all time favorite fighters be dominated and embarassed, I began contemplating a few things.
Thoughts like, what’s next for Forrest, where does he go from here, and what role does he have in the UFC all came to mind.
Forrest Griffin is arguably the poster boy for the fan aspect of UFC. A great personality, die hard scrappy attitude, and fun to watch are all things that encompass his ideas. Without Forrest Griffin, some might say that a large majority of the casual MMA/UFC fans would not even exist or be interested.
With that being said, that has to be a huge chip on the shoulders of Griffin.
So what does that mean?
Naturally, iconic figures and personalities in professional sports are generally those who perform the best.
Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice, Wayne Gretsky, Pete Rose, Peyton Manning are just a few that come to mind. So on June 5th 2008 at UFC 86 when Forrest won the UFC light heavyweight title, the instance seemed to play out like it should. The poster boy fan favorite rising to the occasion to be the champion. The fan favorite was the best.
However, Forrest was quickly tested agains a formidable Rashad Evans. Evans who had beaten a number of some of the top ranked MMA elites knocked out Griffin, claiming his title.
Fast forwarf to UFC 101. Griffin is embarrassed by Anderson Silva, who some will say is the pound for pound number 1 fighter in the world; hardly anything to be ashamed of.
The entire scenario sets up a very clear picture on various levels. The talent level in the UFC is starting to take shape. One may notice that competitors like Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, BJ Penn, and Georges St. Pierre, your champions, and those who have been relatively untested for some time, are premier athletes. Not only that, but some of the listed athletes seem to be leaving everyone scratching our heads and asking “who can beat them?”
This scenario presents the ideas that these are your prime athletes of the UFC. The untouchables if you will. So what about everyone else? In Forrest Griffin’s case, yes he is a former champ, but he was competing against people in a seperate class than your Silvas, Machidas, and St. Pierres.
Forrest has absolutely nothing to be ashamed of, but the UFC does need to re-shuffle some things. Griffin needs to be fighting some of the people in the lower tiers of the UFC. Not necessarily the developing UFC fighters, but the people that are a step below the elites.
As strange as this might sound, this is some of the veterans we have grown to love. For example, your Rich Franklins, Wanderlei Silvas, Chuck Liddells, etc.
The evidence is clear what the state of MMA is like. Much like most sports, there is a tiering of talent. The difference is that casual UFC fans accustom themselves to personalities from TV shows and interviews. Thank God that MMA athletes are so personal and allow us to intrigue ourselves with their personalities, the downfall is that sometimes we can emotionally attatch ourselves to those that are defeated or who aren’t as good as the best fighters. The ultimate downfall is seeing our heroes be defeated.
