Lightweights Tyson Griffin (11-1) and Marcus Aurelio (16-5) are penciled in to scrap at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 5, according to MMAWeekly.com.
Griffin — considered a top 155-pound contender even though he has finished just one opponent (David Lee) inside the Octagon in five attempts — is on a three-fight win streak since dropping a fight to Frank Edgar via unanimous decision at UFC 67: “All or Nothing” in February 2007.
He most recently outpointed Gleison Tibau on all three judges scorecards at UFC 81: “Breaking Point” back in February. It was a rather lackluster contest for Griffin’s standards — his fights are usually exciting even though a majority of them thus far in the UFC have ended in decisions.
It’s going to be a hard trend to buck, however, against an opponent such as Aurelio.
“Maximus” — a very talented Brazilian jiu-jitsu player who made a name for himself under the Pride FC banner — is beginning to find some rhythm inside the cage after losing his UFC debut to Clay Guida via unanimous decision at UFC 74: “Respect” in August 2007.
The American Top Team (ATT)-trained fighter has won his last two contests, taking out Luke Caudillo (technical knockout) and Ryan Roberts (submission), respectively, his last two times out. Aurelio is very well paid for UFC standards, meaning that he needs to step up against stiffer competition to prove his worth.
Griffin is certainly a big test.
For the most recent rumored UFC 86 fight card click here.
26 Comments »
Is Tyson Griffin ducking Nate Diaz? That is the big question that pops into my head upon hearing this news. Nate has called him out twice. Marcus Aurellio is a little more experienced than Nate, fighting in PRIDE, but right now at this point in time, Nate is more known to the casual US fan, and has to be ranked either even or above Marcus.
If I was Tyson Griffin and Nate Diaz called me out twice, I would ask for the fight immediately, and Joe Silva would make it happen. Appearantly, after being called out by Nate, Tyson just kept quiet.
UFC listens to what the fans want again!!!
I understand that they cant accomodate every fighter that calls another fighter out but these two are at a equal stage in their UFC career and would have been a better fight.
Who is next for Nate then? I will be pissed if its a Manny rematch.
Why not? Manny was ahead in that fight until he he hurt his shoulder.
Nate has stepped up since TUF and is fighting at a better level than Manny. Kurt was ahead in his last fight and he tapped him & Kurt is a higher calibre fighter than Manny. It would be a step down for him when he should be moving up the ladder to legitimately be a contender in the division.
Maybe they give Nate Frank Edgar?
1. Nate diaz has beat 1 top lightweight: Pellegrino and Griffin has beat best featherweight in world: Faber and has beat 3 top lightweights so they aren’t even
2. why will it piss you off if manny gets rematch, he didn’t tap or get ko’d or tko’d he got injured i think its better as
TYSON GRIFFIN VS MARCUS AURELIO
NATE DIAZ VS MANNY GAMBURYAN
then after them two matches no matter what out comes are TYSON GRIFFIN VS NATE DIAZ
Tyson’s silence tells me he wants no part of Nate! Could you imagine if Tyson would have called out Nate twice on National TV? Diaz would have stormed in the ring and fight him instantly. Tyson needs to man up and make this fight happen. If he asked Joe Silva for the fight I am sure he would be accomodated.
They need to break up the Tyson vs. Maximus fight and have Tyson vs. Diaz and Maynard vs. Maximus, if not who’s left for Maynard and Diaz to fight next?
Joe Daddys new born is a bit to young to be fighting Maynard!! Leave it a decade or so!
I’m happy to hear that at least you agree with me John.
you can never submit tyson griffin, the guy is just too thick like a sherk..Marcus is gonna have t pound out a decision or I see Tyson taking it.
They used to say the same thing about Brock Lesnar: He is too thick to submit, until Frank Mir almost snapped his ankle!
Saying someone is to thick or strong to submit is a load of crap in my oppinion. Ju jitsu was designed for the smaller man to take out big strong guys….If you think Sherk cant be submitted you are in for a rude awakening next month!
“Griffin — considered a top 155-pound contender even though he has never finished an opponent inside the Octagon in four attempts — is on a three-fight win streak since dropping his debut to Frank Edgar via unanimous decision at UFC 67: “All or Nothing” in February 2007.”
Griffin finished his first opponent David Lee at UFC 63 in less then 2 minutes I think by RNC.
You, my friend, are correct. I forgot about that one. Thanks.
I don’t think many of the fighters ever “duck” each other.
Nate Diaz currently has the microphone….as does Florian and anyone who fought most recently. The other guy’s are off in whatever crummy little town they live in, far from the reporters and tv trucks that cover this great sport.
Keep in mind, a UFC event averages about 800k ppv buy’s and even fewer of those 800k go on the internet to discuss who’s ducking who.
There is an unpublished ranking system inside the UFC and part of that ranking system has key criteria offered by the marketers.
Griffin and Diaz will fight when the time is right and the hype has reached it’s highest point. And money won’t get in the way like Chuck and Wanderlei.
Everyone want’s to “call out” Diaz right now because a win would raise their profile. Hell….I’m gonna go search for Nate now and tap him in training and then announce I’m ready for the UFC…
Nate has called out Tyson on multiple occasions. Tyson has fought since Nate began calling him out.
I agree that “ducking” may not have been the best word to use. But if he truely wanted to fight Nate Diaz, he would be fighting Nate Diaz.
Who is calling out Diaz right now? Manny?
And do you really think that you can submit Nate? LOL If you can walk off the street and submit Nate Diaz without any training, then you my friend, need to move and start training with a top camp!
I actually like when one fighter calls out another. Sure it doesn’t mean that the fight is going to be booked immediatly, but if/when it does, it is that much easier to promote.
AWESOME WE GET TO SEE ANOTHER DECISION WIN FROM GRIFFIN COOL…
Allow me to clarify the Diaz/Griffin issue. First of all, Nate Diaz’s entire beef with Tyson is in his head and he knows it. Tyson and Diaz have never been on the same team. Not to mention, when Tyson went to train at Gracie on occasion, he was never able to train with either Diaz because it is routine for the them to show up two hours late for practice, stoned as hell, after everyone else has finished training. Before the Pellegrino fight, Diaz was using Tyson’s name to try and get a better fight than he deserved and the UFC gave him Pellegrino instead. The fight with Aurelio was already in the works before the Pellegrino fight. Tyson is a different type of personality, nothing bothers him and he could care less about somebody calling him out. Tyson is much more professional in his approach to the sport inside and outside the ring than Nate Diaz.
I wish I could show up to anything two hours late and stoned and dominate (or be as good as) like the Diaz boys do. Nick is a great and exciting fighter who has beaten (and lost) some great fighters, and at like 23, nate will be a force for a long time
maybe “ducking” isn’t the word. why would he “duck” diaz to fight aurelio? marcus is up there. he does need to address the fans about those comments eventually tho before they start losing faith in his ground game.
This is as evenly matched fight as you can get having both guys going to decision with Guida in common which kind of makes it interesting. But bet you anything this will go to UD too which kind of makes it less interesting. Gilbert Melendez would pound BOTH of these guys out in the 2nd.
i think this will go very similar to his fight against tibeau. SO does this mean that grey maynard is fighting diaz?
This weight class is loaded with so many good fighters, that we’re going to have exciting match-ups for quite a while. The Diaz/Griffin fight will happen, but they’re going to let the hype build for a while.
I still like to see a rematch with Faber.
Hm, that should mean Diaz/Maynard II?
Marcus is one tough SOB, and Tyson’s gameplan works well into Marcus’s game plan.. tough match to call.
I actually want to see this fight happen. I like a gound ground battle if it makes it there. Does GNP win or does BJJ win? Bring it on I want to see it.
Even though Nate Diaz may be a good kid, he comes across like a punk during his interviews. If Tyson beats Marcus, then maybe he’ll address Nate’s comments, but I wouldn’t count on it. However, if Marcus loses again, look for him to be out of the UFC, or in the very least taking a very big pay cut.
it is very simple -tyson has class