Fantasy Fight: Forrest Griffin vs Rashad Evans

Gygax · 11-07-2005, 09:56 PM

Since we've seen a few hypothetical matches posted on the boards, I began thinking of this one. With Rashad making the claim post-fight that he'll be likely moving down in weight to the Light Heavyweight class, he could be in line for a match with fellow TUF1 winner Forrest Griffin. Who takes this one? Rashad was extremely impressive against the big boys during TUF2. But Forrest has shown some very good skills against seasoned pros like Bill Mahood, Elvis Sinosic, Jeremy Horn, Chael Sonnen, Travis Fulton, and Dan Severyn.

Tale of the Tape
Forrest Griffin 6'3", 205lbs, 12-2 record, notable wins against Mahood, Sinosic, Sonnen, Fulton, and Bonnar, losses against Horn and Severyn (4 years ago).

Rashad Evans 5'11", 205lbs, 6-0 record, notable wins against Imes, Whitehead, and Pardoe, no losses.

I'll have to think about this one and post my thoughts...

666 · 11-07-2005, 10:04 PM

Id have to go with forrest on that one

Anti-Sanchez · 11-07-2005, 10:06 PM

Forest fairly easy.

dagenhamdave · 11-07-2005, 10:15 PM

Forrest. I watched the IFC Global Domination 205 tourney on HDNET this weekend and was really impressed with a pre-TUF Forrest. He made quick work of his first opponent and stood and rolled with Horn really well until he got kicked in the head. His work in that tourney was more impressive than any of his post TUF fights to me and it was against tougher competition. I think he takes Rashad but it would be a good fight.

Unknown · 11-07-2005, 11:00 PM

Id go with Forest if it stays standing. Rashad might be able to beat Forest on the ground but Forest isn't bad there either.

rugger · 11-07-2005, 11:04 PM

All of my money would be on Forrest. Bonnar could take Rashad as well, IMO. He's another with impressive pre-TUF fights, I don't recall the organization, but saw a couple of his fights where he KO'd guys within the first minutes with kicks.

angryjonny · 11-07-2005, 11:06 PM

Not surprisingly I'm in the minority when I say Rashad. I think he can hang with just about anyone with his excellent sprawl and brawl. I would see it as a stand up war eventually hitting the ground and Rashad seems to have an edge there. He is an excellent wrestler. I just like this guy and see he has a lot of potential. I know Forrest can go to the ground if needed but he said himself that he prefers to stay away from it.

rugger · 11-07-2005, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

Not surprisingly I'm in the minority when I say Rashad. I think he can hang with just about anyone with his excellent sprawl and brawl. I would see it as a stand up war eventually hitting the ground and Rashad seems to have an edge there. He is an excellent wrestler. I just like this guy and see he has a lot of potential. I know Forrest can go to the ground if needed but he said himself that he prefers to stay away from it.

Thanks for reminding me and keeping me honest...if Rashad were to connect with some of his jabs/hooks I could see him KO'ing just about anyone. I under estimate and 'forget' his striking power everytime the guy is mentioned...when I envision him I just recall his first pathetic fight with the hot dogging.

angryjonny · 11-07-2005, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rugger

Thanks for reminding me and keeping me honest...if Rashad were to connect with some of his jabs/hooks I could see him KO'ing just about anyone. I under estimate and 'forget' his striking power everytime the guy is mentioned...when I envision him I just recall his first pathetic fight with the hot dogging.

I don't think you are the only one. I think Rashad left a sour impression in everyones mind with that first fight. When I watch him though I just see something in his striking. He has amazing combinations and is very accurate. Forrest is a brawler who swings for the fences and when he connects he does damage but I just see the fight going to the actual boxing skills plus really great wrestling/sprawl and brawl in Rashad. Not saying it would be easy but I honestly see Rashad taking this one.

luvtobox · 11-08-2005, 01:14 AM

this would be the sloppiest standup fight ever... fun to watch i bet though... id have to go wtih forrest because of his experience

Anti-Sanchez · 11-08-2005, 04:47 AM

I also watched the IFC fight on INHD this past weekend. Forrest did look really good. He submitted Chael Sonnen with a triangle and gave Jeremy all he could handle. Would've been interesting to see him fight either Babablu or Shogun in the final.

Don't get me wrong, Rashad did impress me with his punching power, but he better seriously work on the conditioning. That third round of the TUFII fight was pretty much a joke on Rashads part. I think he will be even better at LHW. Maybe start him with someone like James Irvan, Stephan, or maybe Van Arsdale

On a side note Babalu was an absolute beast in that IFC fight. I think it was his first fights after he got knocked out by Chuck a few years back. His eye was the size of a baseball at the end of the night. It's a great night of fighting when you can beat Trevor Prangley, Shogun, and Jeremy Horn in 1 night. And go 9 round in the process.

Gygax · 11-08-2005, 08:38 AM

Like the majority, I'd lean towards Griffin. He can take a hell of a punch as seen in many of his fights and still remains going. Horn is the only one to ever KO him and that was on one great kick that landed on the button. Griffin's conditioning was seriously tested in that war with Bonnar, and though he was obviously tired, he was still moving pretty good, firing straight punches and jabs..

Rashad would have to work on his conditioning alot. Though Imes was no better, that third round was incredibly ugly. Evans would not be able to keep his arms dangling at his side in exhaustion against Griffin the way he did against Imes or he'll get tagged good. Rashad has to keep this one on their feet. Though he was a wrestler, Rashad has uses that experience in defending shots only. He has shown really very little in any sort of G&P. In the past, he hasn't trained BJJ at all, so he'll need to remedy that to get used to it. And even being a good wrestler, he was taken down from standing 4 times by an ex-footballer in Imes. He has to keep this one standing. And will his power suffer some from dropping 20 lbs to make the 205 limit?

That's what makes hypothetical fights fun to think about. And I have a pretty good feeling that we'll actually get to see this one eventually. Its a natural matchup.

IYAOYAS · 11-08-2005, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanchez

Don't get me wrong, Rashad did impress me with his punching power, but he better seriously work on the conditioning. That third round of the TUFII fight was pretty much a joke on Rashads part. I think he will be even better at LHW. Maybe start him with someone like James Irvan, Stephan, or maybe Van Arsdale.

Totally agree. If Rashad spools up his conditioning, I think he could take Forrest. We all know Forrest can go the full 15.

[Danny] · 11-08-2005, 09:16 AM

I like Forrest but I'm going with Rashad. He has way cleaner hands and extremly quicker hands. He just pops them out there unlike Forrest's looping bombs. I'd say Rashad all the way. I think he'll do some major upsetting at 205.

glockmn · 11-08-2005, 09:38 AM

I think he will do very good at 205 but i don't think he will win this one

rsylver · 11-08-2005, 10:45 AM

I think that when he drops down fighting with a lighter weight class his speed won't be as much of an advantage you will find in comparison that Forrest will be a lot closer to his punching speed. I give it to Griffin 100%. I think he has more heart when you watch fights he never quits he makes every fight a war. Plus conditioning will be a huge factor. Great fight but Forrest would win. IMO.

angryjonny · 11-08-2005, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsylver

I think that when he drops down fighting with a lighter weight class his speed won't be as much of an advantage you will find in comparison that Forrest will be a lot closer to his punching speed. I give it to Griffin 100%. I think he has more heart when you watch fights he never quits he makes every fight a war. Plus conditioning will be a huge factor. Great fight but Forrest would win. IMO.

Don't you think that with Forrest being closer to Rashad's speed that Rashad would still have the edge as Forrest is a very sloppy brawler. Sure Forrest definitely has the chance to land one shot that will KO but how could that be 100%? I think Rashad has the next best sprawl and brawl style to Chuck. Forrest said himself after the Elvis fight when he was criticizing himself as having "no pivot, no technique." With a straight boxing match which is what this may be I would give it to the boxer, not the brawler. Then again I could be completely wrong.

luvtobox · 11-08-2005, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

Don't you think that with Forrest being closer to Rashad's speed that Rashad would still have the edge as Forrest is a very sloppy brawler. Sure Forrest definitely has the chance to land one shot that will KO but how could that be 100%? I think Rashad has the next best sprawl and brawl style to Chuck. Forrest said himself after the Elvis fight when he was criticizing himself as having "no pivot, no technique." With a straight boxing match which is what this may be I would give it to the boxer, not the brawler. Then again I could be completely wrong.

rashad is as or more sloppier a brawler then forrest.. both are pretty bad with that but it would make it a crazy fight to watch... comparing anything with chuck and rashad is ridiculous though... he is the worst TUF winner by far to date.

Gygax · 11-08-2005, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryjonny

Don't you think that with Forrest being closer to Rashad's speed that Rashad would still have the edge as Forrest is a very sloppy brawler. Sure Forrest definitely has the chance to land one shot that will KO but how could that be 100%? I think Rashad has the next best sprawl and brawl style to Chuck. Forrest said himself after the Elvis fight when he was criticizing himself as having "no pivot, no technique." With a straight boxing match which is what this may be I would give it to the boxer, not the brawler. Then again I could be completely wrong.

After what Rashad showed against Mike Whitehead, I would have agreed with that assessment about Rashad's sprawl. But then you look at the ease with which Brad Imes took him down with straight single legs and double leg takedowns. A former football player with no wrestling background should not have been able to take him down as easily as he did. While Forrest has a chance to land the KO punch, that is Rashad's only chance. He's shown nothing submission wise and has really not been well versed in ground and pound unless the guy was down from a punch standing up.

angryjonny · 11-08-2005, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtobox

rashad is as or more sloppier a brawler then forrest.. both are pretty bad with that but it would make it a crazy fight to watch... comparing anything with chuck and rashad is ridiculous though... he is the worst TUF winner by far to date.

I disagree with you, of course. Rashad isn't the best boxer in the world but he is better than Forrest. Why is comparing two fighters who fight similarly ridiculous? I know you like to go against everything I say, but even though you don't like it because I said it they fight a similar fight. They have excellent takedown defense and prefer the standup. Doesn't sound like too much of a ridiculous comparison.