Quinton Jackson’s current legal problems, which include two felonies and four misdemeanors charges from Orange County, CA, have overshadowed his potential in the Octagon. Now with Dana White stating “Rampage” is ready to return to the cage and mmajunkie.com reporting he is likely to face Shogun Rua at UFC 91 in Portland, OR, the former UFC light heavyweight champion is raising a legitimate concern—Forrest Griffin.

In recent comments he made to Fighter’s Only Magazine, he implores Griffin to admit he didn’t win their July clash. This seems ridiculous. But when one considers Jackson’s 2005 split decision over Murilo Rua, it makes sense. After the victory, he relinquished his trophy to “Ninja,” a symbolic admission that he didn’t win the fight. The former Pride star is asking Griffin to do the same sans trophy. 

And as ludicrous as it sounds he is right to do so. I scored the fight a draw 47-47 like many did with Jackson taking rounds one, three, four, but losing round two 10-8. When the fight was announced a unanimous decision, I knew—whether it was in Jackson’s favor or Griffin’s—it was going to piss a lot of people off, myself included. A fight that epic and that close should not be unanimous in either direction.

Now crazier things have happened in MMA. Everyone, including fighters, knows leaving a fight in the judges hands can be catastrophic. However, the real issue with Griffin winning was two judges gave “The Ultimate Fighter” winner the first round—a judgment so wrong it looked straight out of the type of boxing fights where bankruptcy is followed by a bad decision and a suddenly padded bank account. If Jackson only won one round—the fight was so close its possible he lost the remaining four—it was the first. He nearly got a TKO. Despite the injustice, no one is clamoring for a rematch.

Why?

Seldom do title fights live up to their hype. The fight had an entire three-month reality show of hype behind it and it still surpassed expectations. With the UFC being anti-Lyoto Machida and every other contender not having a real, timely case for the title shot, why not grant fans another enticing matchup between Jackson and Griffin? 

The UFC remembers that the company and perhaps the sport were built on more than the reality show. Hopefully, they are not forgetting they were also built around an epic trilogy between fellow light heavyweights Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell. Jackson and Griffin may have the dynamics to be a worthy successor as the UFC’s second great trilogy.

So while Griffin may not need to claim that he lost, he should want to beat up “Rampage” again. The way it’s shaping up right now, it looks like he’ll face Chuck Liddell, who has great drawing power but seems like a more dangerous matchup for the Georgian. If he fights Jackson again and Liddell holds his spot as number one contender, the UFC has a three-way dance between their top three money makers at 205-pounds—that’s not a bad a problem to have.

Another fighter making news for rematches is EliteXC 160-pound champion KJ Noons, although, he is doing it for the wrong reasons. Noons is actively refusing a bout against Nick Diaz.

Claims that he already destroyed Diaz and the Cesar Gracie Fighter isn’t deserving of the shot are ridiculous. First, anyone who has ever seen a Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira knows getting beat for an extended period of time does not equal a loss, especially for a notoriously slow starter like Diaz. Second, Noons came into his title bout with a 1-1 record. Diaz is 3-0 leading up to the rematch, which could have justly came immediately.

Lastly, factoring Eddie Alvarez into the equation as the real number one contender is a legit concern, but Alvarez is injured, getting married, and has contractual obligations elsewhere. And he is not as well known as Diaz. So what’s stopping the fight from happening? At this point its clear its not EliteXC or Nick Diaz.

Call me old fashioned but I like my fighters willing to throw down.

As money pours into the sport, honor may fade out. A pretty simple sentence uttered by Thiago Alves after his controversial cut stoppage victory over Chris Lytle in 2007 sums up everything I so eloquently failed to say about honor in fighting and rematches: “I was enjoying the fight so much so we can do it again.” Me too Mr. Alves, me too.

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