UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008
For the first time since his undisputed victory over Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Forrest Griffin stepped into the octagon to defend his light heavyweight title. He squared off against the undefeated Rashad "Sugar" Evans at the MGM-Grand in Las Vegas on December 27 for UFC 92: The Ultimate 2008. Although Rashad claimed the title, Forrest’s loss is only a minor setback and he’s determined to fight for the belt again.
UFC 92 was the first time two "Ultimate Fighter" proteges faced off for the light heavyweight championship. Forrest beat all odds and took the championship in Season 1 of the Spike TV smash hit “The Ultimate Fighter,” and he returned as Rampage's rival coach in Season 7. Evans earned top honors in Season 2 and has remained unbeaten.
THE CHAMP
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Forrest Griffin
Height: 6’3"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Age:29
Stance: Right
Style: Boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Record: 16-5
Team Association: Xtreme Couture
Notable Victories:Quinton "Rampage" Jackson (decision), Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (submission), Stephan Bonnar (twice by decision)
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Rashad Evans
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Age:29
Stance: Right
Style: Wrestling, Kickboxing
Record: 13-0-1 (5)
Team Association: Jackson's Submission Fighting
Notable Victories:Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell (KO), Michael Bisping (Decision Split), Stephan Bonnar (Decision Majority)
Forrest, the perennial underdog, surprised the world with his victory over Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 86. He appeared to be in trouble in the first round, suffering a knock-down. In a barrage of strikes, ground control, and heart, Forrest regained his momentum. He battled back using his trademark "Sprawl and Brawl" style, landing a devastating kick and hobbling Rampage. In a grueling match that went the distance, Forrest triumphed, taking the belt from the champ.
But Forrest paid his respects to his opponent: "Rashad has a great wrestling background, he has a lot of power and explosiveness, and he doesn't just knock guys out, he knocks them out for quite a while. But I know a lot of people will be watching this fight. This is a great fight card; I'm honored to be on it."
THE CHALLENGER
In a stunning victory at UFC 88 that sent shockwaves through the UFC community, Rashad Evans delivered a devastating second-round blow to KO Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. In the lead-up to UFC 92 Evans said, "I think [Forrest] and I are going to be like Ali vs. Frazier–this will be the first time we meet, but it won’t be the last, so I want to set the precedent. Fighting Forrest for the title is a dream come true; it’s crazy to think about how far I’ve come, but I’m going to treat this like every other fight. And like I’ve shown time and time again in my fights, opportunity is all I need."
