The Lowdown 08.07.09: Anderson Silva and Forrest Griffin
Posted by Frank Fedele on 08.08.2009
Last week we looked at the Lightweight matchup of Josh Neer and Kurt Pellegrino in UFC 101. This week we look at a matchup near the top of the card with two of the more celebrated strikers in MMA today, Middleweight Anderson Silva and Light Heavyweight Forrest Griffin. Join us for that and much more on this weeks Lowdown.
Last Week Roundup
This should really be called the two week ago roundup, since I was out on vacation last week, but we will stick with last week to stay consistent.
Josh Neer versus Kurt Pellegrino should be a solid Lightweight fight between a solid striker in Neer versus a solid grappler in Pellegrino. Pellegrino has shown the ability to work his submissions versus any opponent and has decent enough standing skills to hold his own while on his feet.
The phrase "A punchers chance" though exists for a reason though. A striker with knockout power can end a fight quickly and without warning. They can find that opening that allows them to do what nobody thought was possible up until that point in the fight. We have seen it time and time again in the UFC and Neer's striking is capable of producing the quick knockout.
This time around I will go with the striker in this matchup, picking Neer to knock Pellegrino out in a good fight. Neer just has to make sure he does not over commit when he strikes and put himself in a vulnerable position for the takedown. If he does, Pellegrino does have the skills to finish him down there.
Forrest Griffin
This next matchup is not a classic matchup of striker and grappler, but a matchup of two of more premier strikers in the game. Anderson Silva's striking is legendary and he holds the Middleweight belt in the UFC. He has had to move up in weight class to push him a bit and his opponent is one of the toughest guys I have seen fight in the Octagon, Forrest Griffin.
Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin came on the scene in the UFC by participating in and winning the first Ultimate Fighter show with a memorable fight with Stephan Bonnar, which saw both fighters being awarded a contract. Griffin is a former Georgia patrol officer who left his job in law enforcement to pursue a career in MMA. He began training at the Hard Core gym in Athens, GA. Griffin almost gave up his MMA dream to go back to law enforcement until Dana White came to him with an offer to join the first Ultimate Fighter show for a chance to win a contract with the UFC. Griffin jumped at the chance and eventually was crowned the Light Heavyweight winner. Griffin has had many memorable fights in the UFC, eventually winning the Light Heavyweight crown by taking a decision victory over Quinton Jackson. He lost his first title defense however to Rashad Evans in UFC 92. This fight is Griffin's first fight back since the loss due to a broken hand.
Griffin's Fight Record
Forrest Griffin's MMA Record Light Heavyweight
2001
RSF 5: New Blood Conflict – Loss to Dan Severn
Pride and Honor – Win versus Wichan Lesh by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
2002
RSF 7: Animal Instinct – Win versus Jason Braswell by Decision
Battle at the Brewery – Win versus Kent Hensley by Submission (Triangle Choke)
WEFC 1: Bring it On – Win versus Jeff Monson by Decision
CC 1: Halloween Heat – Win versus Travis Fulton by TKO
KOTC 20: Crossroads – Win versus Steve Sayegh by Submission
2003
Heat FC 1: Genesis – Win versus Ebenezer Fontes Braga by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
IFC: Global Domination – Win versus Chael Sonnen by Submission (Triangle Choke)
IFC: Global Domination – Loss to Jeremy Horn by KO
Heat FC 2: Evolution – Win versus Edson Paredao by KO
2005
The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale - Win versus Stephan Bonnar by Decision
UFC 53: Heavy Hitters – Win versus Bill Mahood by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
UFC 55: Fury – Win versus Elvis Sinosic by TKO
2006
UFC 59: Reality Check – Loss to Tito Ortiz by Decision
UFC 62: Liddell versus Sobral – Win versus Stephan Bonnar by Decision
UFC 66: Liddell versus Ortiz – Loss to Keith Jardine by TKO
2007
UFC 72: Victory – Win versus Hector Ramirez by Decision
UFC 76: Knockout – Win versus Mauricio Rua by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
2008
UFC 86: Jackson versus Griffin – Win versus Quinton Jackson by Decision
UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008 – Loss to Rashad Evans by TKO
Forrest Griffin in the Octagon
Forrest Griffin always produces an exciting fight, but he seems to have to get hit a bit to get going. He normally starts out the first round slow, gets bloodied up a little bit and then begins to find his groove. He will work his striking, happy to trade with his opponent. His striking is solid and he has an underrated ground game as evidenced by the wins by choke. He will always go down swinging and will not back down from his opponent. That should make for a very interesting fight since his opponent is probably the most dangerous striker in MMA today, Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva
Anderson Silva is the class of the UFC Middleweight division at this time and to push him to better fights, the UFC has set this fight up with Griffin out of the packed Light Heavyweight division. This is not the first fight he had at this weight in the UFC, but his last fight was against the much less hyped James Irvin who he finished in the first minute in the first round. Griffin should prove a much tougher test for Silva.
Silva is a Muay Thai specialist with lethal knees and elbows striking his opponent with precision and speed. He has also fought as a boxer, so his hands are solid also. The thing that surprises most people is that is very skilled on the ground also, having a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He began his career in his native Brazil and went on to fight in Pride in Japan and Cage Rage in England. He came to the UFC in 2006 and has dominated the Middleweight division since he arrived.
Anderson Silva
Silva's Fight Record
Anderson Silva's MMA Record Middleweight
2000
Mecca: World Vale Tudo 1 – Loss to Luiz Azredo by Decision
Mecca: World Vale Tudo 2 – Win versus Jose Barreto by TKO
Mecca: World Vale Tudo 4 – Win versus Claudionor Fontinelle by TKO
2001
Shooto: To The Top 2 – Win versus Tetsunji Kato by Decision
Mecca: World Vale Tudo 5 – Win versus Israd Albuquerque by TKO
Shooto: To The Top 7 – Win versus Hayato Sakurai by Decision
2002
Mecca: World Vale Tudo 6 – Win versus Roan Carneiro by TKO
Pride 21: Demolition – Win versus Alex Stiebling by TKO
Pride 22: Beats From the East 2 – Win versus Alexander Otsuka by Decision
2003
Pride 25: Body Blow – Win versus Carlos Newton by KO
Pride 26 – Bad to the Bone – Loss to Daiji Takasa by Submission (Triangle Choke)
Conquista Fight 1 – Win versus Waldir dos Anjos by TKO
2004
Gladiator FC: Day 2 – Win versus Jeremy Horn by Decision
Cage Rage 8: Knights of the Octagon – Win versus Lee Murray by Decision
Pride Shockwave 2004 – Loss to Ryo Chonan by Submission
2005
Cage Rage 11: Face Off – Win versus Jorge Rivera by TKO
Cage Rage 14: Punishment – Win versus Curtis Stout
2006
Rumble of the Rock 8 – Loss to Yushin Okami by DQ
Cage Rage 16: Critical Condition – Win versus Tony Fryklund by KO
UFC Ultimate Fight Night 5 – Win versus Chris Leben by KO
UFC 64: Unstoppable – Win versus Rick Franklin by TKO
2007
UFC 67: All or Nothing – Win versus Travis Lutter by Submission (Triangle Choke)
UFC 73: Stacked – Win versus Nate Marquart by TKO
UFC 77: Hostile Territory – Win versus Rich Franklin by TKO
2008
UFC 82: Pride of a Champion – Win versus Dan Henderson by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
UFC Fight Night 14 – Win versus James Irvin by KO
UFC 90: Silva versus Cote – Win versus Patrick Cote by TKO
2009
UFC 97: Redemption – Win versus Thales Leites by Decision
Silva versus Franklin
Silva has been like a buzz saw in the middleweight division, dropping whoever shows up on the other side of the cage. His last two fights have been lackluster, so in an attempt to motivate him they placed him in the fight with Forrest Griffin. Griffin will be Silva's greatest test yet in the UFC and won't back down to him. It should be a great and bloody fight.
Final Thoughts
UFC 101 is this weekend and the top of the card looks solid with the Silva/Griffin fight and the match between Lightweight champion BJ Penn and Kenny Florian. The undercard is pretty solid also with some interesting fights there, but the top two fights will bring in the viewers. BJ Penn will try to get back on track after his loss to Georges St. Pierre and take out the top contender in the Lightweight division in Florian. Both are solid Jiu Jitsu guys, but Penn is hard to match in that game. His striking should give him the edge as long as his conditioning is solid and he doesn't get gassed early. Enjoy the fights this weekend and we will come back and look at the results and a matchup from the next card in the UFC.
That is all for this week everybody please come back next week where we will get the lowdown on some MMA fighters that will be fighting soon. Please take the time to bookmark 411mania.com. One quick step and all the news you need is but a click away.
