Former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin has taken a blow to his reputation for leaving the Octagon when he loses a fight (or thinks he’s lost a decision).
That’s something Phil Davis doesn’t want to think about.
Regardless of Griffin’s eccentric behavior, Davis still considers his UFC 155 opponent one of his favorite fighters, as he explained to UFC.com during a short pre-fight interview:
I’m talking to my buddies and I’m like, “man, I gotta fight Forrest Griffin.” They [said], “dude, are you gonna make him run out of the cage?” Man, don’t do that to me. Don’t make me think about that. He’s one of my favorite fighters.
I’m ready for everything that goes along with fighting Forrest Griffin. I’m more or less ready to write my own story, this is one of those fights. Everything he has, he will try to hit you with. [Griffin’s] almost better when he’s down a round-and-a-half. That’s when he’s most dangerous.
Davis also noted Griffin’s previous statements about his trademark pink shorts, citing that his choice of attire was indeed partly meant to gain a psychological edge against his opponents.
“It’s true, nobody wants to lose to a guy in pink shorts,” Davis admitted. “It’s a little emasculating, it’s part of the deal, you know, it’s part of the handshake.”
Pink shorts or not, Davis will test his advanced wrestling and evolving striking game against Griffin in just a little over a month at UFC 155 in Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena.
Davis recently snapped a two-fight winless streak with a dominant submission victory over Brazilian prospect Wagner Prado at UFC 153 last October. Griffin enters the match at 3-1 in his last four fights, winning a rubber match against Tito Ortiz at UFC 148.
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