Why Forrest Griffin will win and become Champion at UFC 86, Part 1

Forrest Griffin (15-4) has waited for this chance since entering the Ultimate Fighter house in its first season. Griffin won the first season of The Ultimate Fighter in a match every MMA fan casual or Hardcore has seen or debated over. His narrow victory over Stephan Bonnar launched his career into the spotlight and The UFC into American house holds again. Critics of The Ultimate Fighter considered him a reality star rather then a real Fighter for a long time. Griffin trained hard with legendary UFC star Randy Couture in Las Vegas day in and day out in an attempt to shed the label. Even Couture admitted he had to some times throw him out of the Gym in fear of him over training for a fight. Griffin coming into UFC 66 had won 4 of his first 5 fights in the UFC, his only loss to former Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 59. A loss many fans thought he won. Even in the loss to Ortiz he gained respect if fans who noticed his improvements. Critics still shrugged it off because Ortiz had reported he had torn his ACL training for the fight. His opponent for UFC 66 was Keith Jardine another fellow Ultimate Fighter participant (Season 2). Both he and Griffin stood toe to toe attempting to knock each other out. Jardine landed a punch that knocked Griffin down to the mat then began reigning down hammer fists until the Referee stopped the fight and Jardine was declared the victor. When Griffin awoke from the knockout and realized he lost he began to curse at first, then emotion over took him and he began to cry. Critics poked light at Griffin crying in the Octagon and on message boards using it as a running joke. Griffin then bounced back at UFC 72 : Victory with a solid win over Hector Ramirez. Griffin was once again bashed for not finishing a fighter many thought was second rate competition but his quality of opponent was about to change drastically.

With Zuffa's buyout of the much beloved Pride FC promotion came some of its stars, one of those was Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. When news spread of his signing many imagined the possibilities of dream matchups with Chuck Liddell and other UFC superstars. Griffin was approached about the fight instead and took it without hesitation, once again his critics were writing his obituary as it seemed he stood no chance against the mighty Rua. Rua who had won a Pride Grand Prix and face stomped and Soccer kicked his way through Pride's middleweight division seemed destined for a rematch with Rampage Jackson as soon as he demolished Griffin in front of an American audience. Rua who many considered the top 205 pound fighter in the world instead was beaten by Griffin after an action packed fight and his potential rematch with Jackson derailed. Griffin now had began to silence his critics a bit more and boarded his own train torwards something every fighter dreams of as the ultimate career goal.

A shot at the title, where Forrest can finally silence his critics.

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