Tag: Forrest Griffin

[VIDEO] That Was Quick – Forrest Griffin Opens Door to Comeback

(Video via MMA Fight Corner)

Athe UFC 160 post event press conference Dana White announced that former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin was retiring from MMA. Now, less than a month later, Griffin has revealed that he’s at least open to the possibility of coming back should his body heal up well from recent injuries.

“I’ll start training again, September, August. Maybe if I’m just magically healed and like everything works great, then I’ll have to try [fighting] again. But, I’m not healthy now,” the TUF 1 winner told MMA Fight Corner.

Griffin last fought in July of 2012, when he beat long-time champion Tito Ortiz by unanimous decision. Griffin won three out of his last four fights but was forced to pull out of a scheduled bout with Phil Davis this year due to a torn MCL in his knee.

Griffin will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame July 6th at UFC 162 along with his TUF 1 co-finalist Stephan Bonnar. And, although the fighter sounds eager to get back into training and acknowledges the possibility of his return to competition, he warns not to read too much into his desire to be back in the gym.

“But, to say I’m unusual for that, most professional athletes have that,” Griffin explained.

“Most guys are like ‘Ok when can I start training again?’. I got into this because I like fighting, I like training. It’s fun, you know.”


(Video via MMA Fight Corner)

Athe UFC 160 post event press conference Dana White announced that former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin was retiring from MMA. Now, less than a month later, Griffin has revealed that he’s at least open to the possibility of coming back should his body heal up well from recent injuries.

“I’ll start training again, September, August. Maybe if I’m just magically healed and like everything works great, then I’ll have to try [fighting] again. But, I’m not healthy now,” the TUF 1 winner told MMA Fight Corner.

Griffin last fought in July of 2012, when he beat long-time champion Tito Ortiz by unanimous decision. Griffin won three out of his last four fights but was forced to pull out of a scheduled bout with Phil Davis this year due to a torn MCL in his knee.

Griffin will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame July 6th at UFC 162 along with his TUF 1 co-finalist Stephan Bonnar. And, although the fighter sounds eager to get back into training and acknowledges the possibility of his return to competition, he warns not to read too much into his desire to be back in the gym.

“But, to say I’m unusual for that, most professional athletes have that,” Griffin explained.

“Most guys are like ‘Ok when can I start training again?’. I got into this because I like fighting, I like training. It’s fun, you know.”

The as of yet still retired champion also says that his next fight is more likely to come outside of the cage than inside it. “If we’re at the movies and some guy pours a drink on my wife, it’s going down,” he joked.

So, what do you say, taters? Do you think Forrest can really stay away from fighting or will he be back in the Octagon before his Hall of Fame plaque can even begin to collect dust on his mantle?

– Elias Cepeda

[VIDEO] That Was Quick – Forrest Griffin Opens Door to Comeback

(Video via MMA Fight Corner)

Athe UFC 160 post event press conference Dana White announced that former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin was retiring from MMA. Now, less than a month later, Griffin has revealed that he’s at least open to the possibility of coming back should his body heal up well from recent injuries.

“I’ll start training again, September, August. Maybe if I’m just magically healed and like everything works great, then I’ll have to try [fighting] again. But, I’m not healthy now,” the TUF 1 winner told MMA Fight Corner.

Griffin last fought in July of 2012, when he beat long-time champion Tito Ortiz by unanimous decision. Griffin won three out of his last four fights but was forced to pull out of a scheduled bout with Phil Davis this year due to a torn MCL in his knee.

Griffin will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame July 6th at UFC 162 along with his TUF 1 co-finalist Stephan Bonnar. And, although the fighter sounds eager to get back into training and acknowledges the possibility of his return to competition, he warns not to read too much into his desire to be back in the gym.

“But, to say I’m unusual for that, most professional athletes have that,” Griffin explained.

“Most guys are like ‘Ok when can I start training again?’. I got into this because I like fighting, I like training. It’s fun, you know.”


(Video via MMA Fight Corner)

Athe UFC 160 post event press conference Dana White announced that former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin was retiring from MMA. Now, less than a month later, Griffin has revealed that he’s at least open to the possibility of coming back should his body heal up well from recent injuries.

“I’ll start training again, September, August. Maybe if I’m just magically healed and like everything works great, then I’ll have to try [fighting] again. But, I’m not healthy now,” the TUF 1 winner told MMA Fight Corner.

Griffin last fought in July of 2012, when he beat long-time champion Tito Ortiz by unanimous decision. Griffin won three out of his last four fights but was forced to pull out of a scheduled bout with Phil Davis this year due to a torn MCL in his knee.

Griffin will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame July 6th at UFC 162 along with his TUF 1 co-finalist Stephan Bonnar. And, although the fighter sounds eager to get back into training and acknowledges the possibility of his return to competition, he warns not to read too much into his desire to be back in the gym.

“But, to say I’m unusual for that, most professional athletes have that,” Griffin explained.

“Most guys are like ‘Ok when can I start training again?’. I got into this because I like fighting, I like training. It’s fun, you know.”

The as of yet still retired champion also says that his next fight is more likely to come outside of the cage than inside it. “If we’re at the movies and some guy pours a drink on my wife, it’s going down,” he joked.

So, what do you say, taters? Do you think Forrest can really stay away from fighting or will he be back in the Octagon before his Hall of Fame plaque can even begin to collect dust on his mantle?

– Elias Cepeda

[VIDEO] That Was Quick – Forrest Griffin Opens Door to Comeback

(Video via MMA Fight Corner)

Athe UFC 160 post event press conference Dana White announced that former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin was retiring from MMA. Now, less than a month later, Griffin has revealed that he’s at least open to the possibility of coming back should his body heal up well from recent injuries.

“I’ll start training again, September, August. Maybe if I’m just magically healed and like everything works great, then I’ll have to try [fighting] again. But, I’m not healthy now,” the TUF 1 winner told MMA Fight Corner.

Griffin last fought in July of 2012, when he beat long-time champion Tito Ortiz by unanimous decision. Griffin won three out of his last four fights but was forced to pull out of a scheduled bout with Phil Davis this year due to a torn MCL in his knee.

Griffin will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame July 6th at UFC 162 along with his TUF 1 co-finalist Stephan Bonnar. And, although the fighter sounds eager to get back into training and acknowledges the possibility of his return to competition, he warns not to read too much into his desire to be back in the gym.

“But, to say I’m unusual for that, most professional athletes have that,” Griffin explained.

“Most guys are like ‘Ok when can I start training again?’. I got into this because I like fighting, I like training. It’s fun, you know.”


(Video via MMA Fight Corner)

Athe UFC 160 post event press conference Dana White announced that former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin was retiring from MMA. Now, less than a month later, Griffin has revealed that he’s at least open to the possibility of coming back should his body heal up well from recent injuries.

“I’ll start training again, September, August. Maybe if I’m just magically healed and like everything works great, then I’ll have to try [fighting] again. But, I’m not healthy now,” the TUF 1 winner told MMA Fight Corner.

Griffin last fought in July of 2012, when he beat long-time champion Tito Ortiz by unanimous decision. Griffin won three out of his last four fights but was forced to pull out of a scheduled bout with Phil Davis this year due to a torn MCL in his knee.

Griffin will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame July 6th at UFC 162 along with his TUF 1 co-finalist Stephan Bonnar. And, although the fighter sounds eager to get back into training and acknowledges the possibility of his return to competition, he warns not to read too much into his desire to be back in the gym.

“But, to say I’m unusual for that, most professional athletes have that,” Griffin explained.

“Most guys are like ‘Ok when can I start training again?’. I got into this because I like fighting, I like training. It’s fun, you know.”

The as of yet still retired champion also says that his next fight is more likely to come outside of the cage than inside it. “If we’re at the movies and some guy pours a drink on my wife, it’s going down,” he joked.

So, what do you say, taters? Do you think Forrest can really stay away from fighting or will he be back in the Octagon before his Hall of Fame plaque can even begin to collect dust on his mantle?

– Elias Cepeda

Forrest Griffin Retires: Looking Back at What Became of Cast of TUF 1

A funny little thing came tucked into the news conference that followed UFC 160. To the surprise of the assembled media, former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, who hadn’t fought in nearly a year and had no apparent connection to the event (…

A funny little thing came tucked into the news conference that followed UFC 160. To the surprise of the assembled media, former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, who hadn’t fought in nearly a year and had no apparent connection to the event (beyond the fact that it was promoted by a promotion that also once promoted him), announced his retirement. 

Maybe it’s just me and my feeble mind, but it seemed a little anticlimactic. Then again, it provided some nice symmetry after a fashion, as it brought to mind the manner in which Griffin diluted the retirement announcement of another famous fighter, Mr. Tito Ortiz, who Griffin oddly interviewed in the cage after Ortiz’s final fight.

So it was all a little strange, is what I’m saying. At least to me. But I don’t know, really. I’m not a fight promoter. 

In any event, it’s been a long journey since The Ultimate Fighter 1, when Griffin first arrived in the national consciousness. But did you know there were other people in the cast? And I don’t mean Stephan Bonnar. No, I looked it up. There were 16 guys on that show, with half coached by Chuck Liddell and the other half coached by Randy Couture.

What became of those guys, anyway? Here’s a full rundown. Ready to feel old? Great, let’s go.

Begin Slideshow

Are Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar Truly UFC Hall of Famers?

After Forrest Griffin’s impromptu retirement announcement during the UFC 160 post-fight presser, Dana White announced that Griffin, along with Stephan Bonnar, would be headed for the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.Yes, Griffin and Bonnar took part …

After Forrest Griffin’s impromptu retirement announcement during the UFC 160 post-fight presser, Dana White announced that Griffin, along with Stephan Bonnar, would be headed for the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.

Yes, Griffin and Bonnar took part in that epic battle to decide the winner of the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter.  Yes, they helped put the UFC on the map with their amazing effort that night at The Cox Pavillion, and on SPIKE TV.  Griffin won by unanimous decision; both fighters would earn six-figure contracts.  It was the UFC’s first big step in crossing over into mainstream status and acceptance.

The memories and the nostalgia from the night of April 9, 2005, would stay attached to those two—as they would stay attached to each other—for the rest of their respected careers.

The sole reason and most important criteria for these two fighter’s impending induction is on this merit, and this merit alone.  

What they’ve done in their careers simply pales in comparison to the crop of existing Hall of Famers.

Before we can look at if either one of the TUF Season one finalist’s has any argument in their favor, let’s look at who is already in the Hall of Fame and some of their achievements.

Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes were all UFC champions.  Couture was a multi-time champion in two different weight classes.  Hughes, Liddell and Ortiz each defended their belt at least four consecutive times.

Royce Gracie won three out of the first UFC events—which were all one-night tournaments.

Ken Shamrock was the first to win the super-fight championship (open-weight title before weight classes were introduced), and a semi-finalist and finalist in the early tournament style UFC cards.  

Mark Coleman is the first-ever UFC heavyweight champion—who also won both the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournaments.

Forrest Griffin’s crowning achievements were his upset victory over Maruicio “Shogun” Rua, and his upset win over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson to win the UFC light heavyweight championship.  He lost the title his very next fight to Rashad Evans, went 3-3 the rest of his career and was bitten many times by the injury bug.  He finished with a 10-5 record in the UFC.

Griffin was a fan favorite and best-selling author, with sometimes quirky behavior, who always gave his best in the Octagon.  He just wasn’t good enough and shouldn’t be considered for the Hall of Fame.

Aside from being held in high esteem for his famous battle with Griffin, Bonnar has tested positive for steroids more than he’s had impressive victories.  His most impressive win was over Keith Jardine. After that he went 5-6 overall, finishing his career with an 8-7 record in the UFC.  Case closed.

Griffin, to his credit, is the only man other than Jon Jones to defeat both “Shogun” and “Rampage,” and he did it three years prior.  He also won a title, so you can argue a case for him.  Bonnar you cannot.

Which brings up the question:  What is the necessary criteria needed to become a member of the UFC Hall of Fame?

Is it based on what you’ve done in the Octagon, and if you’ve won a title?  Or, is it simply the president and owners having a soft spot for you?

If the latter is the case, are they championing mediocrity?  The fans always get behind a fight that is more “Rock‘em, Sock’em Robots,” than it is skill and precision.  Those fights are always up for “Fight of the Night,” and are held in high regard by the bosses.

That was the type of fight that Griffin and Bonnar put on that night.

Make no mistake, they deserve all the credit in the world for that magical night.  They will always be talked of in reverent tones for the courage and valor that they put on display that fateful evening.  They can be honored in so many other ways, and should be.  But the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the greats of their time and era, which those two were not.

Will the induction of these two fighters set an example to others that you don’t necessarily have to be the best to be a Hall of Famer, you just have to be entertaining?  Or perhaps, this is just a special case made for them based on that one special evening, and the future candidates going forward will have to get in the old fashioned way: based on their accomplishments over their career, not one night.

Hopefully this is the exception, not the rule.

Michael Stets is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

[VIDEO] Forrest Griffin Discusses His Retirement

(Video via ” target=”_blank”>MMA Fighting)

After UFC 160, Dana White announced that Forrest Griffin has retired. The announcement came as a surprise to the MMA world.

Griffin won the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and went on to become the first truly unified light heavyweight champion of the world when he won the UFC 205 pound belt. His last fight was a win over Tito Ortiz in July of 2012.

White also announced that Griffin and his fellow TUF 1 finalist Stephan Bonnar will both be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame next month. Griffin spoke with MMA Fighting last night after the announcement and spoke about why he made the decision to retire and what he’ll do next.

– Elias Cepeda


(Video via MMA Fighting)

After UFC 160, Dana White announced that Forrest Griffin has retired. The announcement came as a surprise to the MMA world.

Griffin won the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and went on to become the first truly unified light heavyweight champion of the world when he won the UFC 205 pound belt. His last fight was a win over Tito Ortiz in July of 2012.

White also announced that Griffin and his fellow TUF 1 finalist Stephan Bonnar will both be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame next month. Griffin spoke with MMA Fighting last night after the announcement and spoke about why he made the decision to retire and what he’ll do next.

– Elias Cepeda