UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Roe Jogan
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin. July 5, 2008. Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. Forrest Griffin, a heavy underdog and The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 winner, defeated Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson by unanimous decision — 48-46, 48-46, 49-46 — over five rounds to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Griffin was dropped by Jackson’s uppercut in round one. He rallied with leg kicks, body work, and persistent forward pressure. Jackson’s hunt for the knockout punch became increasingly frustrated. Forrest Griffin won rounds two through five and the title. The fight was awarded Fight of the Night. Griffin earned $310,000 in total ($100k show + $150k win + $60k bonus).
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: July 5, 2008
Venue: Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Attendance: 10,990
Main Event: Quinton Jackson (c) vs. Forrest Griffin — UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (5 rounds)
Result: Forrest Griffin def. Quinton Jackson — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 5:00 (48-46, 48-46, 49-46) — Griffin wins LHW title; FOTN
Context: TUF Season 7 coaches’ matchup; Griffin heavy underdog; dropped R1 but rallied
Notable: Cole Miller SOTN triangle; Melvin Guillard KOTN; Frank Mir bout cancelled
The Build-Up
Forrest Griffin and Quinton Jackson had coached opposite teams on The Ultimate Fighter Season 7 — Team Forrest vs. Team Rampage. The personal dynamic had built throughout the season. Jackson was the clear favourite: a devastating puncher with a brutal KO of Chuck Liddell to his title win credit. Griffin was the underdog, as he had been at every stage of his career.
Forrest Griffin's path to the title had been built on the unexpected: TUF 1 winner, submission of Shogun Rua at UFC 76, steady wins building a contender run. Jackson’s power made him a legitimate threat to end the fight at any point.
Main Event
Quinton Jackson (c) vs. Forrest Griffin — UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Round one: Jackson landed an uppercut that dropped Forrest Griffin — the arena fell quiet. Griffin survived, recovered, and came back. Rounds two through four: Griffin worked leg kicks, took body shots, pressured Jackson against the cage, and controlled pacing. Jackson searched for the single finish-shot. Round five: Griffin maintained his approach; Jackson could not land the decisive blow.
All three judges scored 48-46, 48-46, 49-46 for Forrest Griffin. Jackson’s trainer, Juanito Ibarra, expressed plans to protest to the NSAC but never filed. The decision stood. Griffin was the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Co-Main Event
Patrick Cote vs. Ricardo Almeida — Middleweight
Patrick Cote defeated Ricardo Almeida by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) in a closely contested MW fight. Cote continued his run of solid performances in the division.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Justin Buchholz def. Corey Hill — Decision — R3, 5:00 — LW
Melvin Guillard def. Dennis Siver — KO — R? — LW; KO of the Night ($60k)
Main Card
Cole Miller def. Jorge Gurgel — Submission (Triangle Choke) — R3, 4:48 — LW; Sub of the Night ($60k)
Gabriel Gonzaga def. Justin McCully — Decision — R? — HW
Tyson Griffin def. Marcus Aurelio — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (30-27 x3) — LW
Josh Koscheck def. Chris Lytle — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — WW
Joe Stevenson def. Gleison Tibau — Submission (Guillotine) — R2, 2:57 — LW
Patrick Cote def. Ricardo Almeida — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 — MW; Co-Main
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (5 rounds) — Main Event
Forrest Griffin def. Quinton Jackson — Decision (Unanimous) — R5, 5:00 (48-46, 48-46, 49-46) — Griffin wins LHW title; Fight of the Night ($60k each)
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Forrest Griffin vs. Quinton Jackson — $60,000 to each fighter.
KO of the Night: Melvin Guillard vs. Dennis Siver — $60,000 to Guillard.
Sub of the Night: Cole Miller vs. Jorge Gurgel — $60,000 to Miller.
Records & Milestones
Forrest Griffin becomes UFC LHW Champion — first TUF Season 1 winner to hold a UFC championship; heavy underdog defeat of Jackson.
Griffin’s pay: $310,000 — $100k show + $150k win bonus + $60k Fight of the Night. The biggest night of his financial career.
Frank Mir vs. Justin McCully was cancelled — Mir signed as TUF Season 8 coach against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira; McCully fought Gonzaga instead.
Legacy & Impact
Forrest Griffin's LHW Championship win at UFC 86 is one of MMA’s best underdog stories. Every element was against him: the opponent’s power, the five-round format, being dropped in round one. Griffin’s refusal to fall, his conditioning, and his systematic dissection of Jackson’s power game over five rounds remains one of the most distinctive title wins of the era.
Griffin’s reign lasted until UFC 92 in December 2008, when Rashad Evans stopped him in round three. In that interim period, Griffin had delivered one of the sport’s most memorable championship moments.
FAQ
How did Forrest Griffin win the LHW title at UFC 86?
Griffin defeated Quinton Jackson by unanimous decision over five rounds — 48-46, 48-46, 49-46. Griffin was dropped in round one by an uppercut but rallied to control rounds two through five with leg kicks, forward pressure, and body work.
Was Forrest Griffin the underdog against Quinton Jackson?
Yes. Jackson was the clear favourite given his one-punch KO power and his LHW championship pedigree. Griffin was the underdog at virtually every stage of his career, including TUF, his Shogun Rua fight, and this title bout.
Did Quinton Jackson protest the UFC 86 decision?
Jackson’s trainer Juanito Ibarra publicly discussed filing a protest with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The protest was never filed. The unanimous decision for Griffin stood.
Why was Frank Mir's fight at UFC 86 cancelled?
Frank Mir had been scheduled to fight Justin McCully at UFC 86, but Mir signed on as a coach for TUF Season 8 alongside Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. McCully was rematched with Gabriel Gonzaga instead.
How long did Forrest Griffin hold the LHW title?
Griffin held the LHW Championship for approximately five months, from UFC 86 (July 5, 2008) until UFC 92 (December 27, 2008), when Rashad Evans stopped him in round three.
References
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