UFC President Dana White commented with his usual direct manner on Ortiz vs Griffin 3: "I thought Tito looked old tonight. So did Forrest. Neither one of them looked like young guys. It reminded me of the first two fights. Forrest barely won this fight."
Forrest Griffin was one of my first favorite fighters after watching him on "The Ultimate Fighter", but I'm over it now. If I don't see Forrest fight again, it will be alright with me. I think fans have seen the best Forrest has to offer. Both he and UFC Hall of Famer, Tito Ortiz--now retired--can each enjoy their $75,000 Fight of the Night bonus. Hopefully, Forrest will decide to hang up the gloves too.
It's not the age, it's the mileage
Thinking back on his performance against Tito Ortiz at UFC 148, Forrest Griffin has a fighting style that just seems sloppy to me. Maybe it's because there are so many new, talented fighters--with excellent technique--I'm no longer willing to watch sloppy brawlers or guys who aren't progressing and improving their game with every new fight.
I agree with Dana. Forrest, , age 33, just looked old.
Running Man
I didn't appreciate watching Forrest Griffin run out of the octagon. Then when he grabbed the microphone and started interviewing Tito, I thought maybe he was having a manic episode or something.
UFC 148 post-fight press conference highlights: Ortiz vs Griffin video
No gas left in the tank
Forrest Griffin on his third fight with Tito Ortiz: "If you watch it, it just feels like one long fight with the same feel to it. Forty five minutes over five years-it just feels like the same fight pretty much. Tito comes out strong, takes me down, beats me up a little bit. I come back on him. He gasses a little bit. I take advantage a little bit. I pressed the gas button, but nothing happened...He did exactly what he does and I do exactly what I do. I should've gone to the body a little more. He should've worked a little more that second time he took me down." (quote from post fight show on Fuel TV)
I don't think I've ever complained about a fight that received Fight of the Night honors before.
I think I'm just bored with Forrest. He is, however, still very popular with multitudes of UFC fans.
Forrest tweeted an apology to Tito Ortiz for interfering with his interview with UFC color commentator and post-fight interviewer, Joe Rogan. "I feel really bad that I took Tito's mic from Joe, I apologize for that, I was in a weird mindset" and "I want to apologize to @titoortiz and his fans for f***ing up his interview. It was an honor to be his final fight!"
According to what Dana White said in his post-fight Fuel TV interview with Ariel Helwani, Forrest still has more explaining to do. Dana said that Forrest's behavior was "ridiculous".
Unfortunately, there's another fighter, getting long in the tooth, waiting for another chance to face Forrest in the octagon--Stephen Bonnar, age 35--might never get the chance to replay their first historical, memorable epic battle in the Finale of the original "Ultimate Fighter" series.
Maybe that's how it should be. I don't think Forrest has one more (great) fight left in him.
Source: "UFC 148 Post-fight Show on Fuel TV" Notes For UFC 148: Silva vs Sonnen II, Sherdog.com
More from this contributor:
Anderson Silva's Shoulder Bump Sets Stage to 'Dominate and Exterminate' at UFC 148: Fan Reaction
Chael Sonnen Says Anderson Silva Has 'Amateur' Skills and 'He Sucks': Fan's Look
Anderson Silva Dances like Michael Jackson for Rolling Stone Magazine: Fan's Look
Forrest Griffin Drops by 'UFC Tonight' on Fuel TV 02/28/12
Cheryl Ragsdale started out boxing and has added kicks and BJJ so she can practice MMA. Currently, she trains with Keith Florian and has trained with UFC Fighter Kenny Florian at Florian Martial Arts - follow @thatgirlisfunny
