During his youth Quinton Jackson was a rough kid, not a criminal, but no angel by his own account. Now he faces Forrest Griffin, a former police officer who found his calling in mixed martial arts.

Fate could have placed them on the streets as protagonists, but instead, they’ll meet in the Octagon.

Griffin challenges Jackson for his Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight world title at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday night. No guns, no Billy clubs, just man vs. man. The fight will be televised on pay-per-view.

Fighting on the streets was a regular habit for the grappler known as “Rampage.” According to his own estimate, he engaged in probably more than 500 wars on asphalt or dirt in his Memphis hometown. Fighting is what he did best and is naturally gifted in hand-to-hand combat.

“Now I’m a nice guy,” Jackson says almost apologetically.

It’s a common story for most fighters to grow up in tough neighborhoods and discover an aptitude for fighting can translate into the professional ring or the cage.

Still, Jackson is reluctant to describe his past.

Griffin, on the other hand, was a former police officer in the state of Georgia and is also a college graduate from the University of Georgia. He’s always followed the rules and upheld them as a law enforcement agent.

But using fighting techniques and strategies against another in a test of skill and strength has its enticements too. MMA can be downright addictive.

Like his opponent, Griffin is also reluctant to speak about his past.

These are fighting men. Though capable of talking up a storm on other subjects, when it comes to hyping their own fight, it’s probably easier to pull a molar out of them using pliers. They just don’t like to talk about their opponents much.

“I’m pretty careful about not lighting a fire under a guy,” said Griffin during a press conference call. “But whether you like the guy or hate him. I’m going to hit him as hard as I can.”    

They could have met under different circumstances in a different unregulated world. Jackson could have been in one of his many street fights and Griffin could have been the police officer called to stop the mayhem. It just wasn’t meant to happen that way.

Now Jackson defends his UFC title and Pride title for the first time since defeating Dan “Hendo” Henderson last Sept. in England last September 2007. Jackson is the undisputed light heavyweight champion and likes the sound of it.

Assessing his upcoming fight with Griffin, the Tennessee strongman pauses a bit before answering.

“Just like I knew Chuck (Liddell) couldn’t beat me, Dan (Henderson) couldn’t beat me, and Forrest (Griffin) can’t beat me,” chimes Jackson. “Confidence is real important.”

Jackson has risen from a rudimentary battler who based his attack and style on brute force; the kind that enabled him to defeat many of the elite MMA fighters in the world while with Pride FC in Japan.

Things have changed.

“First time I saw him fight was in Pride I saw when he fought (Kazushi) Sakuraba. I didn’t know much about him,” says Griffin, adding that Jackson was a fighter based on pure strength in those days. “He got good quick. He went from a guy who was just brawling, then taking people down, and he evolved pretty much in the sport.”

Jackson recognizes Griffin’s last win over Mauricio “ Shogun” Rua, but says Rua was not the same fighter as in the past. Still, he recognizes the former cop can rock inside the Octagon as seen in his UFC debut years ago.

“When I first saw Forrest fight I thought he was pretty tough and pretty exciting. I first saw him fight Bonnar in the (The Ultimate Fighter 1) finale,” said Jackson. “He’s a tough guy who don’t quit.”

Though Jackson has proven to be impressive in the UFC, some give Griffin a tremendous chance to upset the champion.

“I think it’s going to be a great fight,” said former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell while at a boxing card at the Playboy Mansion. “Don’t count Forrest out, he’s a great fighter.”

Just imagine if Jackson and Griffin had not discovered MMA and were forced to maintain their prior paths. Would Jackson have survived the streets let alone the law?

“I’m just lucky to be alive,” says Jackson who credits fate and prayer in leading him out of the hard streets.

And Griffin no longer endangers himself patrolling those same hard streets.

Now they’re plain and simple professional fighters.

“I’ve been lucky,” Griffin says.

Birthday cheers
Jackson turned 30 two weeks ago on June 20 and Griffin turned 29 on Tuesday July 1.

SummerFist II
Roy Englebrecht, who is co-promoting the Affliction Banned MMA card on July 19, is also putting on his own SummerFist II MMA card on Sunday, July 6, at the Irvine Marriott Hotel.

Englebrecht also promotes one of the most successful boxing cards in California. Lately, his MMA fight cards are gaining momentum and drawing large crowds on Sunday afternoons.

For tickets and information (949) 760-3131.

Affliction Banned undercard
Promoters announced that Aleksander Emelianenko’s (13-3) light heavyweight match with Paul Buentello (23-10) and Terry Martin’s (16-4) rumble with Vitor Belfort (16-8) will both be televised on Fox Sports Net beginning at 5 p.m. Pacific Coast Time.

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