Blog by Socalboxer - I just read on UFC.com that the Anderson Silva vs Forrest Griffin fight in UFC 101, was “one of the most spectacular striking displays ever seen …”  That is how they described a knockout caused by a jab, and I felt compelled to give a different perspective. 

It was the first UFC event I have seen since it was banned in the 1990’s.

What I came away with was that boxing fans have much higher expectations from their fights and fighters than the typical MMA fan.

Silva does have a little boxing technique.  He can throw punches in combination and moves his head pretty well.  But that’s where his boxing skills end.  Calling his punches “spectacular” would have Alexis Arguello spinning in his grave.

The entire card started out with many lower level fighters in boring fights.  So I waited patiently for the main event.

Forrest Griffin was billed as a quality opponent who could make Silva work hard to win a fight.  Griffin was an ex champ and Silva had to move up in weight to face him.

At one point in the fight, Griffin lost his balance while attempting to throw a punch and Silva simply reached out to help him to his feet. 

Griffin attempted another set of punches and was countered with a jab from Silva which sent Griffin to the ground one more time and he tapped out before he was hit again.  You would think he was hurt pretty bad, but he got up and literally ran back to the locker room before he could be interviewed. 

In fact he ran out of the cage so fast you would think he was late for an important meeting somewhere. 

None of the announcers complained, and none of the MMA writers described it this way.  I just had to get the truth out there.

The bar is high in boxing

I feel the bar is raised exceptionally high in the sport of boxing.  Many people expect to see Rocky Balboa vs. Clubber Lang in every boxing event.  Getting knocked out by a jab then running back to the locker room would be the end of a boxer’s career and fans would clamor for their money back.  Imagine Joshua Clottey running back to the locker room after Miguel Cotto dropped him early in the fight with a jab. 

If boxing’s pound for pound greats, Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, fought in fights like this, they would have to run out of the ring from the legions of boxing fans wanting to see more action.

Victor Ortiz was vilified in his last performance even though he got up off the canvas more than once and knocked down his opponent 2 or 3 times.  If this happened in the UFC, it would have been fight of the year! 

Filling the wresting void

One other thing I learned was that the UFC is a league created to fill the void college wrestlers feel once they need to make some money. 

Wrestling is a very popular sport in many parts of the country.  And let’s face it, they have very few options to make a name for themselves once they leave college level competition.  The transition to MMA isn’t that hard if you have a wrestling background.