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Originally Posted by GL Jeff  Your ranking is flawed because you say Forest is borderline. While Shogun, and Rampage are for sure, when he beat both of them, is a former champion and still relevant. |
Forrest is absolutely on the borderline of the top tier in my books. He dominated a bad Shogun three years ago and leg kicked Rampage to a title, but he's also been ruined by Anderson and TKO'd quite violently by Rashad. I think of all fighters to be listed in the top of the TOP tier, he's one guy who'll lose more than he'll win.
I've always felt Forrest was a really, REALLY good fighter who came along at a GREAT time wth a GREAT personality and has a GREAT work ethic and gameplan and combined, made for a legendary GREAT MMA competitor, although I don't think he's as talented as others within that top tier. It's not to say he's not top ten, but he's not a champion who'll defend his title several times and always be the favourite to dominate every fight. With Forrest, there's a struggle and he's not a phenom or hurricane of violent proportions who'll destroy a foe. He's technical and intelligent and he wins fights because he's smart. He loses fights when he gets outclassed by better athletes/fighters.
I see him beating within the top ten Vera, Couture, Franklin and maybe T. Silva. Maybe Jardine if you consider him top ten still. Babalu and Jones depends on how they go into the fight moreso than Forrest, but he's probably a favourite.
Rashad, Rampage, Machida, Shogun, Mousasi RIGHT NOW, all beat the piss out of Forrest because they're better athletes/fighters in MMA, Forrest wins these fights based off of gameplans, intelligence and technique and IMO, that won't be terribly often as time progresses and these fighters evolve.