411 Fighter Profile: Forrest Griffin
Posted by Scott Kuczkowski on 07.02.2008
One of the UFC’s most popular fighters gets his chance for the Light Heavyweight Championship on July 5th! Before he steps into the cage with “Rampage”, let’s take a look at Forrest Griffin’s career.
Forrest Griffin
Record: 15-4 Weight: 205 lbs. Height: 6'3" Hometown: Evans, Georgia. Ranking: #6 Light Heavyweight Association: Xtreme Couture Organizations: UFC (Current), IFC, KOTC Accomplishments: First season light heavyweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter
Introduction
People like to believe that hard work and dedication pays off. They cling to that belief, even when the odds are stacked against them. Folks like to think that everything happens for a reason and that if a person wants something bad enough and works for something hard enough, they will reach their goal. Now, not everyone is born with the natural ability to be great at something. Some people can't even manage to be just "good"; even with hard work. This week's profile is about someone who's worked extremely hard to reach his goals and he has become great in the process. That person's name is Forrest Griffin.
Early Life
Forrest Griffin was born in Columbus, Ohio, on 1 July 1979. He eventually moved to Evans, Georgia, which is a small suburb of Augusta. Griffin trained at the HardCore Gym in Athens, Georgia for five years under Adam and Rory Singer (TUF 3). Griffin attended college and graduated with his BA in political science before going to work as a police officer. Forrest ended up leaving his law enforcement position and began training full time to become a MMA fighter. In 2005, Forrest Griffin starred on the first season of Spike TV's reality show The Ultimate Fighter, a mixed martial arts competition in which the winner receives a professional contract to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
MMA Career
Loss, Dan Severn, Decision, Round 3, 4:00 RSF 5: New Blood Conflict, 10.27.01 Win, Wiehan Lesh, Rear Naked Choke, Round 1 Pride and Honor, 11.24.01
- This was the start of an eight fight win streak. Win, Jason Braswell, Decision (Split), Round 3, 4:00 RSF 7: Animal Instinct, 01.26.02 Win, Kent Hensley, Triangle Choke, Round 1, 2:26 ISCF: Battle at the Brewery, 04.12.02 Win, Jeff Monson, Decision, Round 4, 4:00 WEFC 1: Bring It On, 06.29.02
Win, Travis Fulton, TKO (cut), Round 1, 5:00 CC 1: Halloween Heat, 26.10.02 Win, Steve Sayegh, Submission (strikes), Round 1, 1:45 KOTC 20: Crossroads, 12.15.02
Loss, Jeremy Horn, KO (kick), Round 2, 3:40 IFC: Global Domination, 09.06.03
Win, Edson Paredao, KO (punch), Round 1, 1:04 Heat FC 2: Evolution, 12.18.03
Win, Stephan Bonnar, Decision (unanimous), Round 3, 5:00, TUF 1 Light Heavyweight Winner The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale, Las Vegas, NV, 04.09.05
- In the Light Heavyweight Final, Forrest Griffin – representing Team Liddell – defeated Team Couture's Stephan Bonnar by a close but unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). The Forrest Griffin v. Stephan Bonnar fight is considered one of the best, most exciting bouts in UFC history and voted as "Fight of the Year" by over 19,000 MMAWeekly.com readers. Dana White frequently refers to this bout as one of the most important in the history of the UFC. Win, Bill Mahood, Rear Naked Choke, Round 1, 2:18 UFC 53: Heavy Hitters, Atlantic City, NJ, 06.04.05 Win, Elvis Sinosic, TKO (strikes), Round 1, 3.30 UFC 55: Fury, Uncasville, CT, 10.07.05 Loss, Tito Ortiz, Decision (split), Round 3, 5:00 UFC 59, Reality Check, Anaheim, CA, 04.15.06
- This was Forrest's first opportunity to step up in competition since joining the UFC. Many people thought Griffin won this fight. The scoring was 30-27, 28-29, 29-27. Win, Stephan Bonnar, Decision (unanimous), Round 3, 5:00 UFC 62: Liddell vs. Sobral, Las Vegas, NV, 08.26.06
- In a rematch from their climactic TUF 1 finale bout, both Bonnar and Griffin put on another slugfest. Loss, Keith Jardine, TKO (strikes), Round 1, 4:41 UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz, Las Vegas, NV, 12.30.06
- This was a surprising loss for Griffin, as many expected him to easily handle Jardine. Win, Hector Ramirez, Decision (unanimous), Round 3, 5:00 UFC 72: Victory, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 06.16.07 Win, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Rear Naked Choke, Round 3, 4:45 UFC 76: Knockout, Anaheim, CA, 09.22.07
The Future
Forrest recently finished coaching the 7th season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite his next opponent, Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. The two are scheduled to meet at UFC 86, on 5 July. This next fight is extremely important for Forrest Griffin, but also for The Ultimate Fighter reality show. Not only could Forrest Griffin emerge as the Light Heavyweight Champion, but it would he would also be the first TUF winner to capture a championship. (Matt Serra won TUF 4 and eventually the welterweight championship, but he was a UFC fighter prior to TUF 4). A victory by Griffin could validate The Ultimate Fighter program.
