UFC 134 Preview - Rua v. Griffin
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The Rua-Griffin rematch at UFC Rio has all the makings of fight of the night. It could even win KO or submission of the night. The only prediction I’ll make is that it won’t win all three bonuses. Rua’s relentless and brutal Muay Thai butts horns with a shark-cartilage tough Griffin, a man who can be Ko’ed or submitted, but not hurt.
When they first fought in September, 2007, Rua was a former PRIDE Grand Prix champion, having KO’ed such men as Ricardo Arona and Rampage Jackson. Griffin was just a guy who, along with Stephan Bonnar, had saved the UFC from the brink of collapse. Griffin had recent losses to Ortiz and Jardine, so Dana White’s hope that Griffin would go far seemed dreamy-eyed at best.
We've all seen that first Griffin-Rua fight, or highlights of it, with Griffin’s battered, bloodied face, and Shogun’s depleted body as he struggled to survive the third round. There were no excuses at the time, however, Rua later reflected on his bum knee, which eventually required surgery. Fighters are often battling injury. I’m not sure why they ever bring it up because it never has the psychological affect they are looking for when they gripe. They just hate to lose. Anyway, Rua’s loss is likely more due to his having come from PRIDE.
PRIDE had a lot of rules (or lack of them) the UFC didn’t have: ropes in a ring rather than an octagon; head-stomping; north-south kneeing to the skullcap; soccer-kicks to the chops….. Even subtle rule changes can alter who is, and who isn’t, the elite. Take away helmets and fourth downs and see who the best team is in the NFL (not the Lions). The point is that fighters who came from PRIDE to the UFC had adjustments to make. Some made them, some didn’t, and some took their time.
Both Rua and Griffin have been around long enough now to rule out excuses. While Rua will be favored again, don’t count out Griffin. He possesses traits that may be Rua’s downfall. Griffin noted in an interview that his plan in their first fight was to move forward or laterally, never backward, and that this is his plan in Rio. Not many men can do this to Rua. Not many men can take the punishment. Griffin can.
Griffin ’s body contains tremendous strength and stamina that, while different in dimensions from Bones Jones, presents similar problems for the Brazilian. The reason I say this is that only twice in the UFC has Rua been dog-assed tired en route to being taken out, and the fights were against Griffin and Bones.
The similarity with Griffin and Bones is that they each have unique physiques that are conundrums to certain opponents. Lately, though, Rua has shown the ability to create great fight strategy, the Bone’s fight notwithstanding. Rua will want revenge, he will want to win after his devastating loss to Bones, he will want to win in front of his home nation, and his knee is better and he will be bringing his top game.
Most fans I’ve asked think a quick win will be Rua’s, a latter round win will be Griffin’s. That sounds about right. In a star-studded event, this fight may be the one talked about for years to come.
For Renko’s newly released hard-boiled thriller, Char Broiled, go to Xystermma.com
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By Renko Styranka
ProFighting-fans.com MMA Staff Writer