Ethan Miller - Getty Images
6 months ago: LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 30: Mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz arrives at the Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards 2011 at the Palms Casino Resort November 30, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz have faced each other in the UFC Octagon twice already, but if the two have it their way they'll do it one more time. While Ortiz was able to earn a split decision victory in their first meeting at UFC 59, it was Forrest's ability to make it close that signaled to the world that he was ready to be more than just the guy who won The Ultimate Fighter. They would meet over three years later at UFC 106, this time with Forrest on the winning side of the split decision.
With Tito looking for one last UFC fight before calling it a career, he took to "Inside MMA" to issue the challenge:
"Forrest, you know I deserve it, man. Step up. Let's do this. It's an awesome fight for you. I lost my last one. You lost your last one. Let's do this -- unless you're scared!"
Griffin responded:
"He knows better than that. You know what's funny about me and Tito? The truth is we each consider the other an easy fight. For me, that's the perfect 'get right' fight. Coming back from a bad loss and beating Tito Ortiz up? No problem. For Tito, he's thinking, 'Forrest ain't that good. He's getting old, prematurely. This is a great way to go out, with a win over Forrest!' So, I think it's a beautiful match up because we both think of the other as an easy fight."
This is a bit of a sign that Forrest is likely approaching his final days in the cage as well. A win over Ortiz doesn't do much for his career, he already beat him in '09 and only has a win over a blown up Rich Franklin and a brutal KO loss to Mauricio Rua since then. Beating Ortiz again doesn't put him in the title hunt, but it's a "name fight" and the kind of thing that keeps him in the spotlight.
There are a lot of miles on Griffin's 32 year old body and we're a long way removed from a meaningful win over a top-tier light heavyweight (Franklin only beat a horribly shot Chuck Liddell to earn his spot in the rankings). I suppose a fight with Ortiz may be the best we can hope for at this point.
(HT: MMA Mania)
0 recs | 71 comments
Ugh.
I swear to God, if this ends up being a main event or co main event I am gonna throw my TV out the window. I’m not sure what it would accomplish, but I would do it anyway.
LenBarson - January 31, 2012
It’ll prob be a co-main. Have an old CRT TV you can throw?
sexysassytravismmafan - January 31, 2012
Haha there you go. I need a designated throwing TV for if and when the UFC does that.
LenBarson - January 31, 2012
Check your window too.
It’s really embarrassing when you try to throw your tv out the window and it bounces right off your double paned insulated storm windows. So add designated TV throwing window to the list.
DankNabbot - January 31, 2012
Not interested but what the Hell it is a squash match there 1-1 with each other so go ahead and give it to em.
youfailme91 - January 31, 2012 via mobile
Only question is: who's squashing who?
VenusBlue - January 31, 2012
Forrest squashed Tito in the last fight
He’ll do it again.
discoandherpes - January 31, 2012
False
I thought Tito won the 1st 2 rounds. Then he gassed and got picked apart with jabs in round 3.
Very much a close fight. The only real damage done was by Tito’s ground elbows cutting Forrest’s face all up.
aaronb - January 31, 2012
More to the point
They both got run through in their last fight.
VenusBlue - January 31, 2012
True story
Both guys look like they are at the end of the line.
aaronb - January 31, 2012
agreed, aaron
i thought tito tried to cruise in the third because he was well ahead after 2 rounds, and then he got robbed. he took griffin down at will in the first two rounds.
tha dude - January 31, 2012
The last round of that fight was a 10-8 round!
Griffin dominated the stand up and was able to get up or sweep every time Tito got him down.
Seriously, did no one watch this fight? No one should think Tito won that fight.
discoandherpes - January 31, 2012
Meh, it was a close fight. Griffin never does enough damage to earn a 10-8 round, IMO.
Shnak - February 1, 2012
I didn't see any way it could have been a 10-8 round
Griffin stayed on the outside and peppered Tito with range shots. However he didn’t knock down Tito or even really rock him.
Clear 10-9 round for Forrest IMHO.
aaronb - February 1, 2012
The one positive about this is that neither of them will do any real damage to the other. No, not the one positive, the only positive.
sheikybaby - January 31, 2012
Unfortunately, I must admit....
This was kind of my first thought, when they both said they consider the other an easy fight. The thought was, an easy fight to win, or an easy fight, were should they lose, it won’t be by getting the complete shit beat out of them.
As for the fight, I don’t think we’re looking at fight of the year by any means, but it’s not going to be any less exciting than anything we saw this weekend on the Fox ‘tripple-header.’ Plus, with the 1-1 split history, and where they are in their careers, there’s really no reason not to do it.
SteveevaD - January 31, 2012
meh
if you must, then let’s get it over with.
fatsamurai - January 31, 2012
They can coach TUF against each other
They’re both names, might do better than any current champ outside of GSP.
menckenstein - January 31, 2012
I agree.
I’d honestly prefer watching them coach TUF instead of fighting, but maybe in can be the main event of the TUF finale or something.
mburtoni - January 31, 2012
Good idea
They are both good on tv and each have their own fanbase, it won’t tie up a belt during filming, and the fight should actually be pretty decent. They are both on their way out, with Tito being farther out the door, but it’s not like the fight would be a total mismatch.
FragglesHateKos - January 31, 2012
Yeah
And also, as a kind of reward for good service to the sport, they get the opportunity to showcase their post-fighting trainer skills. I like it. They’re probably pretty good coaches at this point. I just don’t look forward to the lame theatrics Tito brings to the talking smack department.
By the way, I am going to miss Forrest’s straightforward and often insightful commentary on himself and the sport. he does say dumb things about life in general, but when it comes to being real, especially about himself, he’s the best. I love his take on this fight, it’s just refreshingly frank and yet without rancor.
DankNabbot - January 31, 2012
this
Coaching TUF is a great idea. Both of them have great TV personalities, are actually good coaches (unlike some), and won’t tie up anything in the LHW division. Fighting on the finally also guarantees a larger TV audience that the UFC can use to attract more sponsors.
M C M - January 31, 2012
I like the idea, but wouldn’t they have to sit on the shift for a long time, to do that? The Faber/Cruz season hasn’t even started filming yet.
woooburn - January 31, 2012
sit on the SHELF, rather.
woooburn - January 31, 2012
im sure tito cant find an injury to keep him busy
hewsdaddy - January 31, 2012
Sitting on the shift is how my wife won me over at our first date to the drive-in
menckenstein - January 31, 2012
sounds like a keeper
Clifford J - January 31, 2012
For the WIN baby.
DankNabbot - January 31, 2012
Good idea.
I’d rather see this kind of guys coaching TUF instead of tying up belts.
Sweet Scientist - January 31, 2012
Yeah, that's a good idea.
I wish they would just make them the coaches of the new season, and just set up the Cruz/ Faber rubber match.
Connoisseur - January 31, 2012
I have always found Forrest to be one of the most fascinating guys to ever step in the cage, not for his in-cage ability (always been underrated), but for his mental makeup. Ive never seen another guy so completely and utterly shattered by the result of a single match the way he was with Anderson. I dont even think it was actually that he got his ass kicked, I think he just felt completely betrayed by UFC management in the buildup to that fight, and really hasnt given a shit about the UFC ever since. Its a shame, its likely that people wont remember hium for being as good as he was.
Hutchy - January 31, 2012
That’s the thing forrest is underated and a completly well rounded fighter just his lack of confidence and I’m a dog that just goes outs and fights attitude isn’t helping him win either
youfailme91 - January 31, 2012 via mobile
I love diminishing people’s accomplishments.
HeroCasey - January 31, 2012
so excited for this fightCunny - January 31, 2012
An actual appropriate use of sarcasm font. HOORAY!
Tonley - January 31, 2012
It's like seeing a unicorn.
Dave Strummer - January 31, 2012
I dunno man, unicorns are overrated
merryprankster - January 31, 2012
GSP exposed.
menckenstein - January 31, 2012
I'm sending you my shrink bill
Dave Strummer - January 31, 2012
the goggles do nothing!
Clifford J - January 31, 2012
eh why not...as long as it isnt a main event or co-main im ok with it
…i guess
gxc - January 31, 2012
It almost certainly will be
At some point, having fights like this occupying prime PPV real estate gets to be annoying. Wouldn’t be a bad giveaway for a Fox/FX show though.
Dave Strummer - January 31, 2012
Agreed
Both guys are big enough names and proven ratings grabbers. They could headline a an FX card along with some prospects in showcase fights underneath them. I’d love to see a 4 piece main card of something like
Tito/Griffin
Yuri Alcantara/Erik Koch
Michael McDonald/Eddie Wineland
Stipe Miocic/Edinaldo Oliveira
aaronb - January 31, 2012
Eesh
Those fights…
halitosis - January 31, 2012 via mobile
yeah, exactly, that's what i said below
get a bunch of eyeballs on the exciting little guys.
Clifford J - January 31, 2012
Let em fight. Maybe we’ll get a draw, a double retirement, and both guys can do things that won’t give them severe body trauma.
MicahtheCynic - January 31, 2012
It’s sad that this shit will happen and push an actual fight that is interesting and pertinent into an under card.
Redconsensus - January 31, 2012
Forrest's assessment is spot on
I applaud his intellectual honesty. Basically, both Tito and Forrest think the other is past their prime and is beatable. For the average fan, the name recognition is enough to attract interest. I’m with the other posters above that this would make a decent side-bar to the main event, since this could be the final fight for the victor (if/when Tito loses, he’ll try to drum up another match to once again get his name out there, whereas Forrest will indeed retire). The quick psychological profile on Tito is one where sadly, he won’t live too long after he retires. His entire identity is wrapped up in being a UFC name. When that comes to an end (both in reality and in his mind), I see some deep depression setting in. I hope he gets the help and support he needs when those days arrive.
glib_mf - January 31, 2012
I too have thought that
But I hold out hope that he can transition to being a really good coach and mentor. He seems to be doing well, and talked about his gym a few times in ways that made me feel that it was important and meaningful. Plus, the way he’s talked about his kids sounds solid too.
DankNabbot - January 31, 2012
Mmm pillowfisted brawling...
I could not give any less of a shit for seeing this match again.
Jack Slack - January 31, 2012
The (only) interesting thing....
about this fight is that it will be Forrest’s first fight after leaving Xtreme Couture. That’s enough to make me care, at least a little bit.
skeebop - January 31, 2012
IDK if I agree with this being a fight where they come away unscathed.
I mean, didn’t Tito have a ruptured XJ-329-FW392-CQM-533JE-42KHI4XJ9er after the last fight with Forrest? To go with the hairline fracture on his RW2109C9 Alpha?
deathbydegrees20 - January 31, 2012
There's only one fight in the world I'd be more interested in than Ortiz-Griffin III
Ikuhisa Quinoa - January 31, 2012
I know I know
Herschel Walker vs Ken Shamrock!
DankNabbot - January 31, 2012
Make this the first fight on a FOX card
Get the viewers watching, then showcase lighter guys
halitosis - January 31, 2012 via mobile
Eh, why not? It's not like these guys really got anything else to do right now.
It’s a good retirement fight for Tito with that 1-1 storyline, and it’s a good way to see if Forrest still wants it without risking both their healths too much.
Sweet Scientist - January 31, 2012
I can easily see this on the next Fox card...
as posted above, hopefully as the first of 3 fights. Get some casuals in and showcase lesser known guys.
ChicagoMMAFan - January 31, 2012
I think they can put Aldo in the main event
And build him up in talks before and after the Ortiz/Griffin fight. Then have him fight a guy who kind of deserves a shot and make him a star.
halitosis - January 31, 2012 via mobile
why the hell not?
the ufc is a business and this is marketable. put it on a ppv, or have it headline a free tv card and put a bunch of fun bantamweight fights on it.
Clifford J - January 31, 2012
Something for the casuals, I guess. Could be worse...
some schmuck in texas - January 31, 2012
Wow, so much hate for Rich Franklin.
Leaving aside for the moment the obvious swipe at the relevance of Matt Hamill, Franklin did impress in his losses at LHW. A razor-thin split decision against Dan Henderson is hardly a knock on the guy.
Stanlee - January 31, 2012
I don't really hold much interest to see Ortiz vs. Griffin III
I would much rather see Tito face somebody like Shogun. Let him go out in a bloody blaze of glory.
If this fight does happen (which I expect it will), I see both Tito and Forrest hanging up the gloves after. I think Forrest has lost the passion to compete in MMA.
@KatanaClothing - January 31, 2012
Their first fight kicks ass, and the second fight was surprisingly fun. I am all in favor of the trilogy.
Fraser Coffeen - January 31, 2012
Why am I reminded of this
Dootch - January 31, 2012
Dickhead
dancingChicken - January 31, 2012
Related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq5-6PkVGCg
menckenstein - January 31, 2012
Creepy stuff. Ugly kid, too.
dancingChicken - January 31, 2012
so dana would pay those guys about 500,000 for a fight with no purpose? instead of hosting the fight in the ufc,..how about send them both 2 stirkeforce
excellente - January 31, 2012
Why?
RolloTomasi - January 31, 2012
Does no one remember the last round of their last fight?
discoandherpes - January 31, 2012
I don’t. Shows how memorable it was.
I’m not against this fight happening again if it means both retire after… Griffin could still win some fights against mid-tier guys, but if he doesn’t care to fight anymore, time to retire. Then again, I’m not sure the UFC would keep paying him $500k per fight if he doesn’t want to fight up-and-comers to build them up…
Shnak - February 1, 2012
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