Why Rashad Evans beat Forrest Griffin

Several months ago I wrote about the evolution of the leg kick in mixed-martial arts. Forrest Griffin and Keith Jardine showed how the use of consistent kicks to an opponent’s leg can win a fight. For evidence, just examine their respective fights with Rampage Jackson and Chuck Liddell.

Part of that analysis was the realization that both Chuck Liddell and Rampage Jackson failed to respond appropriately to the leg kick. When an opponent continues to throw leg kicks at a fighter's core, one needs to respond by catching the leg and transition to a takedown. Jackson and Liddell’s one dimensional stubbornness cost them their respective fights. But this weekend we saw a fighter, in Rashad Evans, adapt and demonstrate true mixed martial arts skills.

The first two rounds of the Griffin Evans fight read as a familiar script. Griffin controlled the action with his longer jab and repeated leg kicks. Each one that landed flush on Evans leg slowed his movement and hurt his cardio. In the third round Evans adapted his style by catching the leg kick and taking the fight to the ground. This takedown was not the clumsy shoots fight fans had seen from grapples against feared strikers, but was a tactical change in pace to change the direction of the fight.

Griffin was unprepared for that change and was caught with several blows that dazed him, allowing Evans to handle Griffin’s guard easily and pound out a victory.

The fight between these two TUF alums is another example of how important it is for an MMA fighter to be well rounded. Not just in their fighting abilities but in their ability to change styles in mid-fight. Those fighters who are able to adapt to regain the initiative in mid-fight are the ones who will be able to sustain success over the long-term.