Sherdog.com Preview – UFC 53: Heavy Hitters
Forrest Griffin vs. Bill Mahood
May 31, 2005
GRIFFIN: As part of the Straight Blast Gym, Athens,
Georgia’s Forrest
Griffin trains with Rory
Singer (AFC, KOTC, WEC, PRIDE: The Best), Adam Singer and
Daniel Ancheta.
He is 16-2 in MMA and most fans know he won the Ultimate Fighter finale, which was watched by millions on free TV. Forrest is well versed in submission, using armbars and triangles to finish his opponents, and has reportedly even pulled off a flying triangle choke in a training seminar.
Griffin suffered his first loss to UFC triple-crown winner Dan Severn at the Reality Super
Fighting 5: New Blood Conflict event in his pro debut in 2001. “The
Beast” won a decision but it was clear Griffin was for real.
Forrest has competed in a number of well-known second-tier shows including World Extreme Cagefighting and King of the Cage. His opponents include Jeff Monson, Travis Fulton, Ebenezer Fontes Braga, UFC 53 card-mate Kevin Jordan and the aforementioned Severn. He also defeated four-man alternate tournament participant Sean Gray by armbar in Griffin’s first fight. Forrest was slated to face Bobby Hoffman in a KOTC four-man tournament and to fight Tom Sauer at the Cagefighter Championships but as is the nature of the sport of MMA, opponents change, injuries happen, and fights never take place.
At the IFC Global Domination tournament, Forrest beat Team Quest fighter Chael Sonnen and advanced to face Miletich Fighting Systems stud Jeremy Horn. Horn KO’d Griffin with a kick but it did nothing to deter the former police officer and he returned to the Heat promotion to knockout Brazilian Edson Paredao. In fact numerous injuries haven’t kept him down and though he’s only fought one pro fight since the Heat show (the wins over Alex Schoenauer and Sam Hoger apparently don’t count on his record).
He is determined to fight for a title in the UFC. The bout with Stephan Bonnar for the contract was considered one of the most exciting in recent UFC history and some feel a title shot is not far away.
MAHOOD: Canadian Bill Mahood has a boxing background and has studied numerous traditional martial arts with knowledge of both karate and judo. He holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 3rd degree black belt in Hapkido.
He trains at the Prince George Fight Club with pro boxing coach Tony Pep, (fought Floyd Mayweather Jr.), conditioning coach Tracy Fast and fighters Kanjan Johnson, Travis Phang, Bryce Gladdish and Kenny Butterfield.
Mahood, along with Ulysses Castro, Jason MacDonald, Shane Rice and Denis Kang are under Epic Management. He has also trained with Carlos Gracie Sr. black belt Marcus Soares. The heavy-handed fighter was known as a brawler until he started training with Kang and now he has taken his ground game more seriously. Here in the U.S., he’s trained with John Lewis and Marc Laimon in Las Vegas.
Mahood owned a restaurant, a pub and a bottled water company among other businesses and did well enough that he can now live his dream of being a fighter with the support of his wife. As the promoter of the XFC show, Mahood held an event to pay for the PG Fight Club after it burnt down.
With a 12-3-1 record in MMA, “The Butcher” has faced teammate Jason MacDonald twice and battled fellow Canadians Nick Ring and Yan Pellerin. His most seasoned competition has come in the last two years. These include a win over RINGS veteran Tom Sauer in the IFC, a victory over UFC veteran Chris Haseman and a brutal KO loss to UFC veteran Patrick Cote in a light heavyweight title fight. It was a huge for both men as it was well hyped but the 37-year-old Mahood was not discouraged by the loss. Mahood was also scheduled to face Chael Sonnen of Team Quest in the MFC Euphoria promotion but the bout never took place.
MY PICK:
I have to hand it to the matchmakers here. Neither guy is getting a free ride. Expect a stand-up war for the first round as both like to let their fists do the talking. Cutting to the chase, Mahood has worked on his ground game but Griffin has used it in the cage to submit numerous opponents including Sonnen and Braga. If it gets messy, look for Forrest to take it to the mat for a finish. I feel it will be Griffin by submission in the second round.
He is 16-2 in MMA and most fans know he won the Ultimate Fighter finale, which was watched by millions on free TV. Forrest is well versed in submission, using armbars and triangles to finish his opponents, and has reportedly even pulled off a flying triangle choke in a training seminar.
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Forrest has competed in a number of well-known second-tier shows including World Extreme Cagefighting and King of the Cage. His opponents include Jeff Monson, Travis Fulton, Ebenezer Fontes Braga, UFC 53 card-mate Kevin Jordan and the aforementioned Severn. He also defeated four-man alternate tournament participant Sean Gray by armbar in Griffin’s first fight. Forrest was slated to face Bobby Hoffman in a KOTC four-man tournament and to fight Tom Sauer at the Cagefighter Championships but as is the nature of the sport of MMA, opponents change, injuries happen, and fights never take place.
Griffin traveled to Brazil to face Luta Livre fighter Ebenezer Fontes Braga at
the Heat Fighting Championships. He battered the Brazilian early,
sealing the victory with what has often been his trademark, a rear
naked choke.
At the IFC Global Domination tournament, Forrest beat Team Quest fighter Chael Sonnen and advanced to face Miletich Fighting Systems stud Jeremy Horn. Horn KO’d Griffin with a kick but it did nothing to deter the former police officer and he returned to the Heat promotion to knockout Brazilian Edson Paredao. In fact numerous injuries haven’t kept him down and though he’s only fought one pro fight since the Heat show (the wins over Alex Schoenauer and Sam Hoger apparently don’t count on his record).
He is determined to fight for a title in the UFC. The bout with Stephan Bonnar for the contract was considered one of the most exciting in recent UFC history and some feel a title shot is not far away.
MAHOOD: Canadian Bill Mahood has a boxing background and has studied numerous traditional martial arts with knowledge of both karate and judo. He holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 3rd degree black belt in Hapkido.
He trains at the Prince George Fight Club with pro boxing coach Tony Pep, (fought Floyd Mayweather Jr.), conditioning coach Tracy Fast and fighters Kanjan Johnson, Travis Phang, Bryce Gladdish and Kenny Butterfield.
Mahood, along with Ulysses Castro, Jason MacDonald, Shane Rice and Denis Kang are under Epic Management. He has also trained with Carlos Gracie Sr. black belt Marcus Soares. The heavy-handed fighter was known as a brawler until he started training with Kang and now he has taken his ground game more seriously. Here in the U.S., he’s trained with John Lewis and Marc Laimon in Las Vegas.
Mahood owned a restaurant, a pub and a bottled water company among other businesses and did well enough that he can now live his dream of being a fighter with the support of his wife. As the promoter of the XFC show, Mahood held an event to pay for the PG Fight Club after it burnt down.
With a 12-3-1 record in MMA, “The Butcher” has faced teammate Jason MacDonald twice and battled fellow Canadians Nick Ring and Yan Pellerin. His most seasoned competition has come in the last two years. These include a win over RINGS veteran Tom Sauer in the IFC, a victory over UFC veteran Chris Haseman and a brutal KO loss to UFC veteran Patrick Cote in a light heavyweight title fight. It was a huge for both men as it was well hyped but the 37-year-old Mahood was not discouraged by the loss. Mahood was also scheduled to face Chael Sonnen of Team Quest in the MFC Euphoria promotion but the bout never took place.
MY PICK:
I have to hand it to the matchmakers here. Neither guy is getting a free ride. Expect a stand-up war for the first round as both like to let their fists do the talking. Cutting to the chase, Mahood has worked on his ground game but Griffin has used it in the cage to submit numerous opponents including Sonnen and Braga. If it gets messy, look for Forrest to take it to the mat for a finish. I feel it will be Griffin by submission in the second round.
