Script: /foxsportsmma/blog/cat/forrest_griffin
Owner:
Subdir: foxsportsmma
    Starter

    Light heavyweights: Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar

    Saturday, August 26, 2006, 10:02 PM EST [Forrest Griffin]

    Mike Tyson is in the crowd and was shown on camera.

     

    You all know the story on this one. Forrest Griffin beat Stephan Bonnar by decision to crown the Ultimate Fighter light heavy champion in a match that won the 2005 Wrestling Observer shootfight of the year award. Forrest has gone on to make himself a star with a gutsy performance against Tito Ortiz at UFC 59 that is a contender for 2006's fight of the year. Bonnar didn't look so hot in a loss to Rashad Evans and needs a big performance here.

     

    Round 1: Forrest rocks Bonnar with a quick jab that bloodies Bonnar's nose. Big chant of "Forrest" from the crowd. Bonnar lands a punch of his own. Griffin knocks Bonnar back to the fence with another punch Griffin floors him with another punch and Bonnar gets back up. Forrest keeps cutting off Bonnar's approaches with quick jabs. They pace around for another minute or so, with Griffin controlling the octagon. Bonnar misses a big spin kick. Bonnar connects with a spin kick and a punch to the head. Bonnar hits a kick, but then Griffin hits a kick that connects and sends Bonnar sprawling into the fence. More stalking, and Griffin lands a solid combo of punches. Bonnar had his moments, but Griffin clearly wins round 1.

     

    Round 2: Bonnar comes out swinging, but Griffin connects with a punch. Bonnar tries a Shonie Carter-style spinning punch but doesn't connect. Forrest has an answer for everything Bonnar does. More stalking, more punches exchanged, no one doing any damage. Forrest appears to have a cut on his cheek. Forrest pops Bonnar and Bonnar responds with a solid flurry of his own. This round's still very much up in the air midway through. Bonnar rocks Griffin with several shots but Griffin withstands it. Not much doing for about a minute or so, someone needs to finish strong. Bonnar gets a couple shots in, Griffin lands a shot just after the horn it wasn't a deliberate after-the-horn shot. Close round, but give Bonnar the edge.

    Round 3: Forrest scores with an early combo. Bonnar hits a high kick. Bonar has a cut over his right eye. Bonnar with a nice leg kick. "Bonnar" chant comes from the crowd. Bonnar hits that spin punch the second time around. Midway through the third round and no one has attempted a takedown. Bonnar with a couple more big punches, Forrest responds with a knee, Forrest back Bonnar up to the fence and Bonnar gets away and evades a Griffin knee. The slugfest continues near center octagon heading into the final minute. Both guys cut up. Whoever finishes strongest in this last minute could take the decision. Forrest backs Bonnar into the fence and gets several shots. They're trading haymakers and the crowd is really getting into it. Forrest goes for a trip and backs Bonnar right into the cameraman along the fence, then finishes the fight with a couple punches. I think Forrest Griffin just won the fight with his performance in the last minute right there.

     Not a classic like the first one, but a very good fight. I call this for Griffin, 29-28. Griffin takes the fight by unanimous decision, 30-27, which is pretty atrocious scoring. Crowd is booing. They're likely booing the 30-27 score. Forrest himself says he doesn't think he won the second round in his post-fight interview.

     

    0 (0 Ratings)