Juanito Ibarra, Quinton Jackson’s head trainer and manager, claimed earlier this week that he would be filing a formal protest regarding the scoring of Jackson’s UFC 86 unanimous decision loss to new champion Forrest Griffin. It seems now, however, that Ibarra’s beef is rather pointless:
“Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said Tuesday that no formal protest has been filed and that he does not expect one from Ibarra. Kizer said, however, Ibarra did contact with complaints about the first round scoring. In that round Jackson landed some nice uppercuts, including one that seemed to hurt Griffin.
But, Kizer pointed out, giving the round to Jackson would only mean Griffin would take a majority decision and still be the new UFC light heavyweight champion — perhaps that’s the reason no formal protest has been filed at this time.â€
With an immediate rematch between Jackson and Griffin a strong possibility, I’d say Juanito should be focusing more on his fighter and less on paperwork anyway.
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Absolutely no way will there be an immediate rematch. Dana will finish the year out with a Griffin vs Liddell blowout–he’ll easily make more cash & publicity than an immediate rematch between Jackson vs Griffin.
It was a PR stunt for a rematch.Like King did arguing the count out when Tyson met Douglas.
I agree. I don’t see it. I think he should win one then maybe a title shot, but there are too many others that are right there.
True, the Griffin-Liddell match up has sizzle, but if anyone has ever deserved an immediate rematch its Jackson, and I think he just might get it.
I see tons of negative feedback for the org if they do give him one so fast. Plus Chuck is Dana’s boy.
I think if this was in any other division an immediate rematch would happen…but considering how deep the LHW division is I’m not so sure Jackson/Ibarra are gonna get what they want. Which doesn’t mean he won’t get a rematch it’s just not right now.
Juanito need to stop calling the NSAC and work on teaching Rampage not to turn his knee towards a leg kick
YUP HONESTLEY I THINK ITS POTHETIC WHAT HE IS DOING. HE IS JUST HURT AND TRYING EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO GET ANOTHER CHANCE.
In his defense it is his job to take care of his fighter. Sure he looks like an @$$ right now, but he is only looking after his fighter….
I don’t agree with it, but I can see why…
he definately should get a rematch. i believe that to be the champ you have to beat the champ. plus, it encourages the challenger to come out fight harder if it looks like the fight will go the distance.
He did beat the champ…that’s why he has the belt…I agree on a rematch down the road…but rampage needs to win a couple b4 he gets an immediate rematch…put him up against Machida…that would solve both problems for machida and rampage…
I am not sure if Machida can take the shots that Forrest did…
There are so many exciting fights for Rampage and I believe this loss actually helps Rampages popularity with the fans………
I would love to see Liddell vs Forrest but what about Machida? are you guys assuming Forrest beats Machida and Chuck beats Rashad ?
just curious……….
I am.
Is Machida next in line for a title shot?? I wouldn’t think so…I mean his last fight was against a washed up tito ortiz….I’d say next for machida could be…winner of liddel/evans, wandi, or rampage…or maybe thiago silva…i dunno? what’s everybody elses thoughts?
Cole Miller,
I would love to see Wandi and Machida…”the axe murderer” doesn’t take kindly to “elusiveness”…hahaha
I think he is a fight or two from a title shot but I do think that Forrest would beat him.
I also see Chuck beating Rashad. I think the winner of that fight will get Forrest in his nxt fight.
Eric,
Why do you feel Rampage deserves an immediate rematch? Just curious.
Eric,
How can you say if anyone ever deserved an immediate re-match it’s Rampage? I love Rampage but if they don’t give Hughes, GSP, or even Liddell an immediate re-match after he held the belt for so long, I don’t see anyone getting one. The only two people I know to ever get two title shots in a row are Pedro Rizzo and Randy Couture.
i hope the winner of liddell evans get forest rampage needs to fight w.silva
Blane,
What if Evans beats Liddell? Evans vs Griffin?? Ehh….
Kouch,
Evans could grind out one on Liddell… he just keeps coming.My guess is If he gets Chuck he faces a Chute Boxe Fighter before Forrest either Wanderlei Or Rua to prove himself yet again.
Dietrich,
Personally I think Evans could/would beat Liddell and Forrest. I like Evans but not enough to hope he is the next champ or guy who beats Liddell. The match up of Griffin/Evans does not sound as appealing to the masses as Liddell/Griffin in my opinion. Like Matt Hughes said on the TUF show, Rashad is a very good fighter. Since that time he has definitely progressed for the better. I’d love to see Rashad fight Wandy or Rua before he gets a title shot. I have nothing against Evans, I just don’t want him to be the first/next contender to face Forrest.
Eric,
Bravo that last line you wrote hit it on the head. tell that ibarra to shut up and save the yelling and ranting for him fighter for his next showing thats all i am saying
yeah evans is good bro i think he is very underrated with that being said i think chuck is going to beat him i just think chuck is on a mission to get his belt back lucky for me i got tickets to watch it
kouch, sniper- your examples- hughes, gsp and liddell all lost convincingly when they lost their titles (all three were either sub’d or TKO’d.) Jackson on the other hand dropped an extremely controversial 5 round decision. He indeed lost, but the closeness of his title defense is the big difference. I can elaborate on this much more in a post of its own which I may just have to start working on…
still though its not like chuck was getting beat he just got caught and chuck had defended his belt 4 times quinton was 1 and done
Evans doesn’t have a prayer against Liddell. The only legitimate opponent Rashad has faced, at least that I can think of off the top of my head, was Tito Ortiz. Tito’s one-point deduction (for grabbing the cage) solidified a draw.
Liddell manhandled Tito twice and has obviously beat stronger opponents than Tito.
I like Rashad, but he’s not of the same caliber as Liddell, Silva, Rua, etc.
Eric,
I understand the difference, however, Rampage was not as dominant as a champion as the others(with the exception of the major GSP upset). And as it was a close decision, do you think because it was a close decision that he automatically goes straight to the front of the line for a title shot? I wouldn’t be upset at all to see a rematch, but I’m not sure it’s fair to the other contenders for him to automatically get one just because it was a close fight.
sniper- i dont want to get into all of this in the comments section, but the fact that it was such a close fight is but one of the reasons, though obviously a large one.
i agree with sniper 100% take chuck for example he dont lose a fight for 3 years defends his belt 4 times beats randy 2 has one bad night gets caught if he didnt get a rematch neither should a guy who only defended it 1.