I figure someone has to bring it up. So how would a rematch now look? I rather see this rematch than a rematch with Rampage.
He has a win over Shogun and he just avenged his loss to Ortiz. Sure he has 2 losses prior to that but he also has 2 great wins prior to that. He isn't the best contender out there but if Shogun is allowed a gimmie then he should get this. Otherwise Rampage vs Evans winner should be the number 1 contender.
Beating Ortiz proves nothing, Tito is shot. He's lost 2 of his last 3 fights, so he needs another couple of wins before he deserves a title shot. Give Evans or Jackson to Rua and then, should Rua beat that guy, give him Anderson Silva. Even moreso now that Forrest is hurt enough to back out of a fight, he's behind schedule for having another title shot.
In fairness, Tito had the win over him and Griffin was a late replacement. If Griffin needs to deserve the shot then he ain't ready yet. Rampage vs Evans winner. Rampage deserves a Griffin rematch too.
I understand why the fight happened - the same reason Tito and Chuck were scheduled for a third go. I'm just saying that if beating Tito on the heels of two straight loses where you got knocked silly, gets you main contender status, then it doesn't mean much to be a top contender nowadays. Well, in an ideal world (which is the perspective I'm coming from) it would always only be about earning title shots. As it works, you're right, Rua-Griffin II makes perfect sense - I just don't think it should work that way.
No need for it Forrest needs a long winning strength which I see unlikely considering his punch resistance.
I'd love for every fight to be the best fight out there but I think a fighters legacy is an exception. If I was Dana White and Shogun said "give me Griffin" then I think he would deserve that fight. With Rampage vs Evans happening next he will have to fight that winner. Afterwards he should get the chance to fight Griffin (who may have another win under his belt by then).
Agreed, I see him as too inconsistt to ever really earn the title shot. You never know but I'd feel bad for Shogun if he never got revenge because Griffin needed to earn the title shot and Shogun was being penalised for being the best but still having that loss hang over him.
This fight would not be good for grifiin. The shogun we now see is healthy and is reminding me of the old shogun from pride. I expect shogun to beat griffin by a brutal KO.
Shogun still has questions about his stamina. He didn't gas at all against Machida or Lidell but both of these guys fought him, basically, standing the entire time. Forrest and Coleman grappled with him and tired him out. Yes, I think it was likely because of the surgeries and perhaps not being able to fully train but there are still questions as to whether he has the stamina to fight someone that intends to grapple with him the majority of the fight.
I dont feel it should hurt his legacy or anything having that loss to Griffin. Shogun fought with a bad ACL and Forrest is a good fighter he gave Rashad a hard fight, split with Tito in 2 fights and beat Rampage to win the belt. Id like to see Shogun avenge it but he will also probablly never get to avenge the Babalu lose either.