Entries Tagged as 'Forrest Griffin'

During Decade of ’00s, MMA Went From Debacle Debut to Miracle Growth

Mike Chiappettaby Mike Chiappetta

Filed under: Fighting, MMA Media Watch, UFC, Strikeforce

To watch mixed martial arts now, to witness the slick productions, screaming fans and dynamic fighters, it's hard to believe how far and how fast the sport has come in a single decade.

"If you would've come to me in 1999, and said there's going to be this new sport emerging, and by 2009 it's going to be where it is right now, I would have told you that would be an extremely unlikely and impressive achievement," said Robert Thompson, a noted pop culture expert and professor of Television and Popular Culture at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.


As metaphors go, the one that describes the state of MMA as the '00s began is almost too perfect to believe. Because as the calendar turned the page to the year 2000, the sport lay injured and ignored in a Louisiana hospital bed, a victim of its own hand.

During Decade of '00s, MMA Went From Debacle Debut to Miracle Growth originally appeared on MMA Fighting on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 11:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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UFC 76: Forrest Griffin Submits Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua

Former Pride fighter Mauricio “Shogun” Rua lost the first fight of his Ultimate Fighting Championship career Saturday night, submitting to Forrest Griffin in a stunning upset at UFC 76.

Rua, whom many MMA fans considered the best light heavyweight in the world, entered the Octagon first, which is usually the role of the underdog. But having Griffin enter the Octagon second was a nod to his popularity as the first Ultimate Fighter winner. Just about everyone expected Rua to win, and most people expected Rua to win easily.

Can’t see the Forrest for the trees

There were open workouts for the media Wednesday at UFC 76 in Anaheim, giving a chance to visit with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Forrest Griffin.

Many expect Shogun to defeat Griffin on Saturday. After all, in his Pride days Shogun KO’d the undisputed light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in the first round.

Three days prior to their fight Griffin was already outclassed by Shogun. While the Brazilian’s English is not good he still tried to answer media questions. Despite his broken English his answers were more usable than Forrest’s.