Forrest Griffin News
News
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March 5, 2010
UFC helping state with census count
The Ultimate Fighting Championship and Nevada's secretary of state are teaming for a different kind of fight: The 2010 census.
Wednesday afternoon at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building in downtown Las Vegas, Secretary of State Ross Miller announced a partnership between Nevada and the UFC to promote awareness for the upcoming census.
"UFC is Nevada's sports franchise," Miller said. "And they are the best partner you could have when trying to accomplish something as significant as this."
During the press conference, Miller unveiled the state's advertising campaign, which heavily targets the 18- to 30-year-old demographic, one that has shown to be less likely to fill out the forms.
"It's hard to overstate the important of the census to Nevada," Miller said.
According to Miller, completing the 2010 census means about $917 of federal funding per person each year, which translates to almost $10,000 a person over the 10-year time period.
"This isn't something people should ignore," he continued. "Nor is it about the federal government trying to see where people live. This is about Nevada getting their share of the pie."
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin was in attendance and is featured in one of the state's television spots promoting the campaign.
"Obviously anything in Nevada is UFC territory," Griffin said. "We take it that way and the more funding for Nevada, the more for the UFC."
The campaign will utilize three different television commercials — one including Griffin and UFC President Dana White — as well as advertising outdoors.
The 2010 census forms will be mailed out around March 17.
This marks the second time UFC has collaborated with the state to promote a political cause, dating back to the 2008 presidential election, when both parties urged citizens to vote.
"Anytime we've needed them, they have come through for us," Miller said. "They are such a persuasive brand for our demographic."
He said Nevada is the only western state to allocate a portion of its state budget for a campaign like this.
"It's a competition amongst states," Miller said. "If Nevadans don't fill out the forms, other states will."
Source: Las Vegas Sun
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February 21, 2010
Forrest Griffin on Nogueira: "This is a horrible fight for me."
Forrest Griffin, former UFC light-heavyweight champion and winner of Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter" season 1, will return to the Octagon on May 29 when he faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 114.
Griffin, in his familiar self-depreciating way, has a single word to describe the match-up.
Horrible.
It's really not too hard to see why Griffin feels this way when you compare the records of the two men over the past two years. During that stretch, Griffin has gone 2-2, with his most recent win a close split decision victory over a rusty Tito Ortiz at UFC 106. Over the same period, Nogueira has gone an impressive 6-0, and in his last fight needed less than two minutes to finish a dangerous Luiz Cane by TKO, also at UFC 106.
Speaking to MMASportsMag last year, Griffin summed up his feelings about a potential match-up with Nogueira.
"That is a horrible fight for me," Griffin stated flatly. "I have trained with his brother a little bit, so he already has the "inside scoop" on me, he's a southpaw, has got a good chin, and has good power. Plus he is pretty solid on the ground. The only place I would have an advantage would be wrestling... and my wrestling is not that good. So yeah, that's a tough matchup for me. I'd do it, if that's what they wanted, but being straight up, there are other guys I'd rather fight."
Unfortunately for Griffin, the fight with Nogueira, which at that time was only a possibility, has now been finalized. Of course, Griffin has turned the tables in tough fights in the past, most notably when he scored a shocking upset over then-champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to win the UFC light-heavyweight belt at UFC 86.
Griffin will doubtless have his chin tested by the heavy-handed Nogueira when the two men meet in May. However, when asked who hit the hardest of all the fighters he has faced, Griffin had a somewhat surprising answer, picking a former sparring partner rather than any of his Octagon opponents. On second thought though, maybe his choice isn't really that hard to understand at all.
"The hardest I have been hit without being knocked out was from Wanderlei (Silva)," Griffin said. "He hits you like 10 times as your falling back, and then you just take a knee and are like "Damn!". He will knock a couple years off of your life, if you spar with him too much."
Source: FiveKnuckles
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February 15, 2010
Forrest Griffin vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira Gets Date Change, UFC 114 Likely
A fight between light heavyweight contenders Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, originally targeted for UFC 113, has been moved to UFC 114 on May 29. UFC 114 will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia. The event has not been officially announced by the UFC but is expected to be headlined by the grudge match between Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, the two coaches of this past season of "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show. The two were scheduled to face off at UFC 107 in December, in Jackson's home town, but Jackson pulled out to do the upcoming "A-Team" movie.
A report from MMAJunkie confirmed the change citing sources close to Forrest Griffin. A fight card with two high profile light heavyweight matchups should produce a challenger to the winner of the Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Lyoto Machida battle that will happen just a few weeks prior at UFC 113.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3) has just one fight inside the Octagon but is currently riding a six fight winning streak. He has not lost a fight in three years since being knocked out by Thierry Sokodjou at Pride 33, in February 2007. Nogueira fought for the now defunct Affliction organization as well as Japan's Sengoku, since Pride closed its doors. He has victories over Vladimir Matyushenko and Edwin Dewees, in addition to his UFC win over Luis Cane.
Rogerio, known to mixed martial arts fans as "Lil Nog," is the twin brother of heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and is the smaller of the two fighters, fighting at a weight class below his sibling. In his career, eleven of his eighteen victories have come by way of knockout or submission.
Working his way back up the ladder, Forrest Griffin (17-6) rebounded after a two fight losing streak with a win over Tito Ortiz at UFC 106 in November. Prior to his win over Ortiz, Griffin was TKO'd by Rashad Evans in an unsuccessful title defense, and was then embarrassed by Anderson Silva in an early first round knockout at "UFC 101: Declaration." In his career, Griffin has notable victories over Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson. A win over Nogueira would put him back in the mix as a potential title contender.
The rumored fight card for UFC 114 is as follows:- Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Rashad Evans
- Forrest Griffin vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
- Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow
- Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway
- Efrain Escudero vs. Evan Dunham
Source: MMA Spot
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January 30, 2010
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with FORREST GRIFFIN
FORREST GRIFFINBy Mike Denny for MMA Sports. Photos by Josh Hedges, courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.He became the first winner of reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter, He won the UFC Light Heavyweight title, His fight with Stephan Bonnar has been listed as one of the greatest fights in MMA history and his colorful character has scored him fans around the world… welcome to the world of Forrest Griffin.
Mike: Congrats on the win over Tito first of all. What are your thoughts on how that fight went down?
Forrest: Umm you know, it was a decent fight I think. I think there were some areas I could have done better, I think if he would have thrown back a little in the 3rd, I could have gone after him a little more. But when I start rushing I end up getting sloppy and that’s when I get put on the floor, and I am tired of that happening.Mike: Tito made a fuss about the decision, I had you winning in a close fight, do you think it was fair?
Forrest: I had me winning to. And not to be a jerk about it or anything, but I think I could have possibly won all 3 rounds. I mean in the 2nd he had one good takedown, and one good elbow… but I felt like I was winning on the feet and everything. I don’t know, I'm glad I don’t have to score fights. At the end I thought I won, but I knew in my heart I probably could have done more, and not spent as much time on my back… got up quicker, went after him a little more… you know that stuff. I am always a little negative about things, so I wasn’t too sure and asked him "did you just get this one?" and he said "yep"... so I was just like "Shit! Why did I let that happen". I guess I am a worrier. Not a WARRIOR, but a WORRIER.Mike: You and Tito as coaches of The Ultimate Fighter. Is that something you’d be up for?
Forrest. Yeah man. I'm in. Whatever they think is best, then I'm in. I think Tito and I both have the same game plan that, you know, what ever Dana thinks is best then he is probably right. It’s worked pretty damn good for me so far at least. And now that I think about it, I think it would be a good idea. At first, you know… like the night of the fight when it was brought up I wasn’t too sure about it. But I have a broken foot, and can’t train for like a month, so doing the show would be good rehab for it.Mike: How do you think the 3rd fight will go?
Forrest: You know, I know he wasn’t 100% and I could have done some stuff better. So I think it will be a good fight man. I mean there are some other guys out there I would like to fight, but whatever. I'm not avoiding a 3rd fight with Tito, and I think it would be a good fight. Thats a pretty non committed answer for ya. (laughs)Mike: Speaking of other fights, Lil Nog said he would like a fight with you. Is that something you'd be interested in?
Forrest: That is a horrible fight for me. I have trained with his brother a little bit, so he already has the "inside scoop" on me, he's a southpaw, has got a good chin, and has good power. Plus he is pretty solid on the ground. The only place I would have an advantage would be wrestling... and my wrestling is not that good. SO yeah, that’s a tough matchup for me. I'd do it, if that’s what they wanted, but being straight up, there are other guys I'd rather fight.Mike: Who do you think will win that one?
Forrest: I don’t know. Rashad pulls stuff out of his butt sometimes. He's one of those guys that can just pull stuff out of his butt, or maybe doesn’t always fight to his potential. I'm not sure which it is. I mean in his fights with Lambert and that dude he head kicked... Sean Salmon, he looked really good. But then in his fight with Stephan (Bonnar), he just kind of laid and prayed. So he is one of those up and down fighters. If he goes back to his roots and uses his wrestling and ground and pound... which I think was pretty decent in the fight with me, and the Lambert fight then you never know... (laughs) that was a lot of talk that led to nowhere. You’re welcome.Mike: (laughs) Thanks. So let’s touch on your book for a minute.
Forrest: Good. I was hoping we could touch on that. I need to push that, and you should get people to buy it.Mike: Don’t worry; I bought two for Christmas gifts.
Forrest: Sweet! You’re awesome. Thanks. The book company is getting on me about pushing it, and doing the new book… I think I'm gonna punch them in the liver.Mike: Wait, so there’s gonna be another book?
Forrest: Hell yeah there is! I didn’t actually finish the first book in time. The final copy came in like a week or two before my fight with Rashad, so I just left it on the floor, cause I didn’t have time to deal with it then. So I finished it afterwards and they were like "its too late, it’s out of our hands now". Apparently there is a big turnaround on books. I didn’t know that. I do now though… but yeah the new one is gonna be called "When Shit Goes Down You Better Be Ready, Forrest Griffins Guide to the Apocalypse". They are getting on me already about that. Saying kids won’t buy it cause it says shit, but I'm gonna say it again… and put it on the cover cause its true! It will start off with a little guide by me, and you know video games and movies and stuff are rated, and have restrictions… but books aren’t… cause kids don’t read now, and If they do they do it on the internet.Mike: Very True. Any word on when it might come out?
Forrest: Well I haven’t really written much yet, that’s the thing. But I want to get it out soon if possible, cause this time I don’t get paid until it is released, last time I got some before… so I’m thinking maybe sometime in summer. Is that cool with you then? Does summer sound good?Mike: Yeah that works, I will pick it up. So how are things going at Xtreme Couture?
Forrest: Well I can’t train at all right now. I just went in and got it checked, and they said to stay off of it for like a month. So I just have to lift weights now, which I am actually where I am going now. It sucks, cause I am pretty much stuck doing weights and aerodyne right now... and I hate doing aerodyne. I don’t know, I may go over to Drysdale’s next week and try to grapple a little. But what I don’t want to do is half ass train with it, and never fully let it heal.Mike: What’s the hardest hit you have ever landed on someone in a fight?
Forrest: I don’t know man, I'm not really that much of a power puncher... especially ever since I lost my shoulder. So I'm not too sure on that one.Mike: What about the other side of that, what’s the hardest shot you have taken?
Forrest: The hardest I have been hit without being knocked out was from Wanderlei. He hits you like 10 times as your falling back, and then you just take a knee and are like "Damn!". He will knock a couple years off of your life, if you spar with him too much.Mike: If they made a movie about your life, who would you want to play your role?
Forrest: It wouldn’t matter who played me man. It would be a boring movie. Even with all of my exaggerations, people would see it and be like, “that sucked”. So I don’t think I would want them to make one about me.Mike: (laughs), That’s all I have for you man. Anything you wanna close with?
Forrest: Thanks to BSN, Silverstar and buy my book. Seriously it doesn’t suck as bad as you might think.Mike: I can back him up there, the book definitely doesn’t suck.
Source: MMA Sports Mag
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December 18, 2009
UFC rankings/MMA rankings featured in USA Today for December 2009
Our partners in crime over at BloodyElbow.com have once again published their divisional rankings for mixed martial arts in the nation’s largest daily newspaper, USA Today, for the month of December 2009.
For those of you unfamiliar with the process, here’s how it works:
“The rankings, which will offer a definitive perspective of top MMA fighters across all weight-classes, will be released monthly and published in the Sports section of USA TODAY, online at USATODAY.com and on SB Nation’s MMA commentary and community blog, BloodyElbow.com … The USA TODAY/SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings are compiled each month by Nate Wilcox and Richard Wade of BloodyElbow.com. The rankings utilize each of the top MMA rankings from multiple unique sources. A weighted-formula is applied to normalize and distill the various rankings into one consensus ranking per weight class.”
To check out the latest USAT/SBN rankings clickhere. We’ve also listed their top 10 in each class after the jump for your convenience.
What do you think? Share your ranking rants in the comments section below.
Heavyweight:
1. Fedor Emelianenko
2. Brock Lesnar
3. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
4. Frank Mir
5. Junior Dos Santos
6. Cain Velasquez
7. Josh Barnett
8. Shane Carwin
9. Brett Rogers
10. Alistair OvereemLight Heavyweight:
1. Lyoto Machida
2. Mauricio Rua
3. Rashad Evans
4. Quinton Jackson
5. Forrest Griffin
6. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
7. Gegard Mousasi
8. Thiago Silva
9. Anderson Silva
10. Randy CoutureMiddleweight:
1. Anderson Silva
2. Nate Marquardt
3. Dan Henderson
4. Demian Maia
5. Vitor Belfort
6. Chael Sonnen
7. Jake Shields
8. Yushin Okami
9. Yoshihiro Akiyama
10. Mamed KhalidovWelterweight:
1. Georges St. Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Thiago Alves
4. Josh Koscheck
5. Dan Hardy
6. Mike Swick
7. Paulo Thiago
8. Matt Hughes
9. Carlos Condit
10. Paul DaleyLightweight:
1. B.J. Penn
2. Shinya Aoki
3. Eddie Alvarez
4. Kenny Florian
5. Gray Maynard
6. Frank Edgar
7. Diego Sanchez
8. Tatsuya Kawajiri
9. Sean Sherk
10. Joachim HansenFeatherweight:
1. Jose Aldo
2. Mike Brown
3. Urijah Faber
4. Bibiano Fernandes
5. Hatsu Hioki
6. Rafael Assuncao
7. Manny Gamburyan
8. Wagnney Fabiano
9. Michihiro Omigawa
10. Mackens SemerzierOf course, nothing brings MMA fans closer together than a list of divisional rankings. Let’s hear it: Who belongs and who doesn’t? And be sure to say why. “He sucks” is not a valid argument.
UFC News Credit and Full Story: MMA ManiaSource: MMA Interplay
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November 27, 2009
Forrest Griffin Writes His Own Ending
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 | 3:06 a.m.
As many are well aware, Forrest Griffin’s success as a writer nearly equals his success as a fighter.
On Saturday night, following his split decision win over Tito Ortiz at Mandalay Bay Events Center, Griffin finished a chapter in his own life.
The Anderson Silva chapter.
After reporting to the post-fight press conference full of jokes and smiles, Griffin tended to some unfinished business with the UFC middleweight, who he ran out on after losing badly to three months ago.
“I’m sorry I ran out on you, it was no disrespect,” Griffin was heard saying to Silva towards the back of the media center. “I just wanted it to be a great fight and I was really disappointed when it wasn’t.”
It was a much different Griffin following Saturday’s fight than the one that took the first plane back to Las Vegas after his loss to Silva in Philadelphia.
With UFC President Dana White and other fighters from the card already in their seats and fielding questions from the press, Griffin snuck in late and interrupted Amir Sadollah in mid-sentence, claiming he had a question.
“No, no, it’s my turn I have a question,” interrupted Griffin as one reporter started to address Ortiz. “Sorry I’m late. My question is for Dana, ‘Who do you think won the fight?’ I thought I won, I thought you could even give me every round. That was my question and my answer to my question.”
Really, things couldn’t have fallen into place better for Griffin than they did Saturday night.
Not even originally scheduled to fight Ortiz, Griffin stepped up for the fight when Mark Coleman was forced to pull out of the fight with Ortiz due to injury.
Next, as fate would have it, UFC heavyweight Brock Lesnar pulled out of his scheduled bout at UFC 106 due to illness, opening the door for Griffin’s fight with Ortiz to become the night’s main event.
Basically out of thin air, Griffin had become the main event against the perfect opponent — a guy he had wanted to fight for years after losing a narrow split decision to him in 2006.
“There was definitely a revenge factor in this fight,” said Griffin’s trainer, Jimmy Gifford. “It’s like in the NFL when you sit down at the beginning of the season with the 17-week long schedule and you see in week nine, ‘Oh yeah, we’re playing these guys. I can’t wait to get back at these guys.’ That’s what this was like.
“This was the perfect fight because I knew Forrest was going to show up against this guy.”
The only thing that seemed to go wrong leading up to Griffin’s comeback was a series of injuries, that began four weeks before the fight when he suffered from a pinched nerve in his neck.
That was followed by a rib injury three weeks before the fight and then a broken right foot two weeks before.
“That happened about two weeks ago,” Gifford said, referring to Griffin’s foot injury. “But Forrest and I have a theory that if you’re 100 percent coming into a fight, you probably didn’t train.
“It didn’t matter. Forrest could have had one arm and he would have fought this fight.”
With a training camp based on forgetting the pressure of fighting and remembering how to enjoy the sport, Griffin gave an inspired performance against one of the biggest legends of the sport.
While some, including Ortiz, felt that getting taken down in early rounds cost Griffin the fight, the majority of fans seemed fine awarding the fight to Griffin who dominated the final round.
“I thought we won the first round, I thought we won every exchange,” Gifford said. “The second round I honestly thought we lost, he really opened up Forrest with some big elbows.
“In the third round I felt like Tito mentally quit. We felt like we could test his will and I think Tito mentally broke in the third round. Forrest dominated it.”
Griffin was gracious after his comeback win, telling Ortiz that the score was now 1 to 1 and that there would have to be a third.
Although White said it was way too early to even think about that, he did say that there would probably be interest in a third and even grinned and shrugged when the idea of the two becoming coaches for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter was brought up.
“Bottom line, they were both great fights,” White said. “They were both close and I think there is a rubber match there.”
Whether that fight happens or not, there’s no need for Griffin to do anything but enjoy the moment of Saturday.
Even as a New York Times bestselling author, it’s hard to imagine he could have wrote a better ending to the night.
“He needed this win as bad as anybody has ever needed a win,” Gifford said. “It was a tough place to come from. Wanting to pressure Anderson and have what happened. This was a huge win — mentally and emotionally — for this kid.”
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.
Source: Las Vegas Sun
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November 19, 2009
Forrest Griffin: "Life's good, I'm very happy with life in general"
Following Anderson Silva loss, Griffin seems far from mentally broken
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 | midnight
Here’s the thing about talking to Forrest Griffin.
In even the shortest of conversations, it’s a safe bet that Griffin will stray completely off topic, make fun of himself and others, and crack at least one joke that no one knows is a joke and, therefore, doesn’t laugh at.
A recent 20-minute talk with the former light heavyweight champ was no different, however, nothing Griffin said seemed as important as his first words.
“Life’s good,” he said. “I’m very happy with life in general.”
That’s good news, considering life wasn’t so good for Griffin the last time many saw him.
On Aug. 8 in Philadelphia, an emotional Griffin made a frustrated charge at Anderson Silva in the first round, had his night ended by one punch and ran from the Octagon as Silva’s hand was still being raised.
Although he mostly refuses to answer questions about that night, Griffin has admitted he was mentally broken by what happened at the time.
“I was definitely broken that day, no doubt about it,” Griffin said. “I was so stressed about that fight and I was really disappointed because I thought I was mentally stronger than that. I thought I could handle whatever happened.”
In the weeks leading up to his fight with Tito Ortiz at UFC 106 in the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, Griffin’s mental recovery from that loss has been in question by everyone, including his opponent.
However when it comes to understanding the mentality of Griffin, it’s important to remember things tend to have the opposite effect one would think.
After becoming the UFC light heavyweight champ in July 2008, Griffin seemed more angry than proud, bullying through a moody camp before losing his first title defense to Rashad Evans.
Now, following arguably the worst loss of his career, he says he’s on his way to becoming more comfortable than ever.
“In the beginning, fighting was fun — I wasn’t concerned with the outcome,” Griffin said. “At some point, I started training out of fear and anger. I wasn’t really happy. Right now, it’s about staying positive and enjoying the moment.
“When you step in, in that moment when that (expletive) shuts, it’s a surreal moment. You can kind of decide how you’re going to let your body process it. You can be terrified or you can embrace that experience. Everybody wants to get their say and have their 15 minutes — that’s my 15 minutes. I think I can change direction, enjoy the sport and find my happiness again.”
For an emotional fighter like Griffin, the pressure that comes with defending a championship belt or taking on the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world can be a challenge in itself.
Because for all of his success, Griffin is at his absolute, competitive best when a fight is just a fight — something he can enjoy, with no expectations or responsibilities to live up to other than to simply compete.
“When he won the UFC title against Rampage, he showed the belt to a few people then threw it in the closet,” said Griffin’s trainer, Jimmy Gifford. “You, me — we hang that on the mantle and show it to family and friends. He threw the UFC light heavyweight belt in his closet.
“That next camp he was pissed at the world because he was the champ. It’s a bit unusual, but it’s Forrest. With the Anderson fight, there was this pressure because everybody was expecting us to make Anderson fight. He felt he had to make something happen.”
Both Griffin and his trainer say the focus on turning fighting back into the enjoyable occupation it used to be has had an immediate effect on his training for Ortiz.
Instead of worrying about creating a fight that lives up to its promotions, Griffin’s focus has been only on how to defeat his opponent.
“With Forrest you’re always talking about different things. He’s well-rounded so you talk about everything,” Gifford said. “This camp we’ve been talking about Tito a bit more than normal. With all fights we have our strategy, but this one we talk about everything Tito’s been doing.
“He’s focused this time. He’s not saying, ‘Oh, I’ve got to make Anderson fight.’ He’s focused on what we do.”
Given his unwillingness to talk about it, it seems accurate that whatever prompted Griffin to run from the cage that night in August still bothers him.
But to assume that memory will be a weakness for Griffin come Saturday night, might be a mistake.
“We’ve never talked about the fight, I won’t bring it up,” Gifford said. “It’s going to get talked about someday, but it’s on his terms. But I’ll tell you what: Him saying he doesn’t want to talk about it has nothing to do with this next fight.
“It’s actually the opposite. People are so worried about his mental state — he’s so focused on beating up Tito Ortiz right now, I can’t even tell you.”
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.
Source: Las Vegas Sun
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November 11, 2009
UFC 106 Ortiz vs. Griffin 2 - November 21st
Mandalay Bay Events Center - Las Vegas, Nevada
In 2006, UFC superstars Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin engaged in a memorable battle for the ages. On Saturday, November 21st, they finally meet again in the main event of UFC106, with Ortiz looking to make an immediate impact in his return to the Octagon and Griffin trying to settle the score with "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy."
Also, two of the hardest hitting welterweights in the world, Josh Koscheck and Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, square off in a match that will lead the winner closer to a shot at the welterweight title.
Check out the video of Forrest's prefight interview!
Source: UFC
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October 16, 2009
Forrest Will Face Tito Ortiz in UFC 106
On Saturday, November 21st, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Ortiz and Griffin will finally meet again in the co-main event of UFC 106: Lesnar vs. Carwin.
Forrest will replace Hall of Famer Mark Coleman, who was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a MCL tear in his knee suffered during training camp. Forrest is looking for redemption against Ortiz after losing a razor thin split decision to Ortiz at UFC 59 Reality Check.
Source: UFC 106
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July 30, 2009
MMA 101 with Forrest Griffin: Coming Soon!
Coming soon to BSNOnline.net, BSN Video Productions presents UFC® icon and Team BSN superstar Forrest Griffin in his own original series, MMA 101!
The show will provide viewers with an overview of the fundamental elements of MMA training and what it takes to make it in this sport, along with Forrest's reflections on his personal journey to the top of the UFC®.
The show is loaded with never-before-seen footage from Forrest's training camp, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look into the making of a UFC® champion as Forrest takes you step-by-step through his regimen. And of course, the interviews are peppered with Forrest's quirky humor and unique sensibility.
The series debuts Monday, August 3 with the first of nine weekly installments, with new episodes released every Monday by 5 PM EST, and you can check out the all-new trailer online now! This is one show guaranteed to both educate and entertain, so be sure to tune in every week, and let Forrest Griffin take you to school!Source: BSN Online
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July 15, 2009
Body & Style Interview with Forrest Griffin
Check out this interview from Forrest Griffin with Body & Style.
Some excerpts are included below:
B&S: Let's talk about this Anderson Silva fight coming up at UFC® 101. What do you think of him, his rep as the best pound-for-pound fighter, etc?
FG: You know, in this sport you want to challenge yourself. You want the fight that makes you really want to train, and even scares you a little bit, you know? So it's an easy fight to get ready for; you don't have to look too far to find motivation.
B&S: You mention in your book that you often tailor your training to your specific opponent. How has Silva's game influenced your training this time around?Source: Body & Style
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July 15, 2009
Forrest's NY Times Best Seller "Got Fight"
Order Forrest Griffin's New York Times Best Seller, "Got Fight?" today, now available in stores and online.
The pages in this book feature his boisterous personality and trademark sense of humor to demonstrate to readers that being a fighter takes more than simply an adrenaline rush--it takes focus, a little cunning, and the intelligence to know that the best way to avoid serious injury is to stay away from 'Rampage' Jackson's right hand, bro."Click to read an exclusive excerpt from Forrest's book!
"Forrest came to the attention of millions of fans when he won the season finale of the first season of 'The Ultimate Fighter,' the mixed-martial arts reality show that propelled the UFC into the pop culture mainstream (and that today draws more than 2 million viewers an episode).
Order your copy now at the following on-line retailers now!
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Borders
IndieBoundSource: ForrestGriffin.net
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June 26, 2009
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT from Forrest's Book "Got Fight"
EXTRA EXCLUSIVE! Only here at ForrestGriffin.net can you exclusively read part of Forrest's book, "Got Fight" that didn't make it to print!
Check it out and be sure to click Read More for the entire excerpt!
Dick in a Box By Adam SingerI have read Forrest’s book, Got Fight?, and I saw that he gave a lot of advice on picking up chicks. Seriously, I don’t know where he gets the balls. Granted he found a lovely wife, but back in the day, Forrest went out with a gaggle of monsters. We’re talking hippie chicks with smelly armpits, the whole nine yards. And if they didn’t have furry legs and smell like incense, they had something else seriously wrong with them. It’s not like Forrest had to go out with these bestial creatures. He was a cop and often worked in the bars—both of which get you more tail than you can handle. But leave it up to Forrest to find the worst chick out of the bunch.
Source: www.forrestgriffin.net
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June 25, 2009
MMA Mania Boasts Forrest's Best Seller Status
From MMAMania.com, everyone is boasting about Forrest Griffin's book "Got Fight" making the NY Times Best Seller List:
"Forrest Griffin has made a career out of surprising people. The former Georgia cop-turned mixed martial artist has done it again — only this time its for his accomplishments outside the Octagon.
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner from the inaugural season and previously ranked number one light heavyweight fighter in the world now finds himself ranked number eight in the top 10 of the New York Times best-seller list for hardcover advice books.
If you have had the opportunity to spend a little time with Griffin, as well as read the book, it should come as no surprise though. His blend of biting sarcasm, self deprecating humor and down-to-earth personality lends itself perfectly to any medium fans can easily access.
His book, “Got Fight?,” which is subtitled “The 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat” brought all of that together in an engrossing read that went well beyond the ‘been there done that’ autobiographical.
When MMAmania.com had the chance to attend his book signing out in Long Island, N.Y., on June 1, 2009, it was enlightening to witness how well fans connected with Griffin and how well he connected back in response.Source: MMA Mania
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June 23, 2009
Got Fight? Forrest Griffin KOs the Publishing World
From UFC.com comes the interview with Forrest Griffin, who now in addition to being The Ultimate Fighter season one winner; Former UFC light heavyweight champion; Cover athlete on the UFC 2009 Undisputed video game, you can add bestselling author to the list. His book “Got Fight – The 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat” currently sits at number eight on the New York Times Best Seller List for Hardcover Advice books.
“You can hope, but you never know,” said Griffin when asked about the success of his first foray into the publishing world, which was co-authored with Erich Krauss. “We all like to be listened to in conversation, so for people to actually spend money to find out your thoughts on stuff is a very flattering concept. I thought that it might just get lost in the shuffle of there being so many fighters’ books. Now, it having the success it has, I’m almost thinking, man, if I had really tried, I could have really written a good book.”
Luckily for readers, “Got Fight” captures Griffin – warts and all – perfectly, making it one of those rare books that has moments that are simply laugh out loud funny. “I’ve always been pretty decent sitting around the bar telling the story in a conversational sense,” he said. “So that’s kinda what I wanted to make it, just telling a story where you can picture me telling it.”Source: UFC.com
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June 21, 2009
"Got Fight" Makes New York Times Best Seller!
Forrest Griffin's new book "Got Fight" is a New York Times Best Seller!
What are you waiting for? Order your copy of Forrest Griffin's "Got Fight?: The 50 Zen Principles of Hand-to-Face Combat" on amazon.com today!Source: NY Times
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June 2, 2009
Forrest's New Book Now Available
Order Forrest Griffin's New York Times Best Seller, "Got Fight?" today, now available in stores and online.
The pages in this book feature his boisterous personality and trademark sense of humor to demonstrate to readers that being a fighter takes more than simply an adrenaline rush--it takes focus, a little cunning, and the intelligence to know that the best way to avoid serious injury is to stay away from 'Rampage' Jackson's right hand, bro."
"Forrest came to the attention of millions of fans when he won the season finale of the first season of 'The Ultimate Fighter,' the mixed-martial arts reality show that propelled the UFC into the pop culture mainstream (and that today draws more than 2 million viewers an episode).
Order your copy now at the following on-line retailers now!
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Borders
IndieBoundSource: www.forrestgriffin.net
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May 20, 2009
Forrest Griffin to Appear on Last Call with Carson Daly
Watch Forrest Griffin tomorrow, Friday, May 22nd at 1:35am / 12:35am central time on Last Call with Carson Daly! Also appearing on the show will be Marlon & Shawn Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. and musical guest Glasvegas.
Source: Last Call with Carson Daly
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May 11, 2009
Forrest Griffin BSN Photo Shoot
This past week, Team BSN athlete Forrest Griffin took time out from his ever-busy schedule to complete an extensive photo and video shoot with the BSN video production team. The crew flew out to Las Vegas, where Forrest is currently in full-on training mode for his upcoming main event fight at UFC® 101.
As every MMA fan is no doubt aware, Forrest will be squaring off against the sport’s current pound-for-pound king, Anderson “Spider” Silva, in a star-powered dream matchup that no doubt has Forrest training as hard and as focused as ever.
The BSN cameras were able to capture much of this intensity over the course of the three-day production, shooting plenty of photos and video footage of his training regimen, and the team also managed to sit Forrest down for some in-depth and insightful interviews.
Source: www.forrestgriffin.net
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May 7, 2009
Forrest Griffin to Appear on Dr. Phil
NOTE Date Change: Forrest Griffin to appear on Dr. Phil next Friday, May 15th on the episode entitled "Dangerous Teen Trends." Check your local listings for times and channels or click here.
Source: www.forrestgriffin.net
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April 29, 2009
Hate Stuff, Break Stuff: An MMAmania.com Interview with Forrest Griffin
When fans talk about the overnight success of the UFC, most of the time the first name mentioned is that of Chuck Liddell.
And while “The Iceman” is indeed responsible for taking pay-per-view buys into uncharted territory, it is his television counterpart that helped transform mixed martial arts into an acceptable form of mainstream entertainment.
If Chuck Liddell was the manifesto, then Forrest Griffin was the revolution itself.
Live on Spike TV, in front of an audience that no one was quite sure they would ever capture again, Griffin polarized the causal fan with a gritty performance opposite Stephan Bonnar in the finale of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) that may go down as the greatest mixed martial arts fight ever featured on live television.
And to the victor belong the spoils.
Griffin would eventually legitimize not only himself, but also the TUF farm system by capturing the light heavyweight title from Quinton Jackson at UFC 86. He may have subsequently surrendered that title to another TUF grad, Rashad Evans at UFC 92, but he will never surrender his legacy in the evolution of the UFC.
Now, after spending most of the year sidelined with a broken hand he suffered back in January, Griffin is poised to return at UFC 101 on August 8, against mixed martial arts’ deadliest warrior: Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
Griffin was called to duty to succeed where others have failed. His mission is not just to dethrone the Brazilian juggernaut, but to force him to engage, and prove himself worthy of the championship title.
We know why, now find out how, in our exclusive interview with Forrest Griffin.
Source: MMA Mania
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April 29, 2009
Forrest's Book Events in June
Forrest will be appearing at book stores in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and California in early June. Get your copy of his memoir, "Got Fight?" and meet Forrest in person!
June 1, 2009
Book Revue
313 New York Avenue
Huntington, NY 11743
7:00 PMJune 2, 2009
Bookends
232 East Ridgewood Avenue
Ridgewood, NJ 07450 7:00 PMJune 4, 2009
Barnes and Noble
2900 Peachtree Rd NE
Atlanta, GA
7:00 PMJune 9, 2009
Barnes and Noble
810 West Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92025
7:00 PMJune 12, 2009
Barnes and Noble
567 North Stephanie
Henderson, NV 89014
7:00 PMSource: ForrestGriffin.net
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April 27, 2009
Forrest to Fight Anderson Silva at UFC 101
Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White made good on his promise to land a significant fight for suddenly under siege middleweight champion Anderson Silva, telling Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday that he had signed a deal for Silva to face ex-light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin in the co-main event of UFC 101 in Philadelphia on Aug. 2.
White wanted to find a fighter who would challenge Silva, winner of a UFC record nine consecutive fights, and believes he’s done it by signing Griffin.
“Forrest loved the idea and said he’d do it right away, and Anderson told me he would fight anyone I wanted him to fight, no matter who it is,” White said. “So we got the deal.”
Source: Yahoo Sports
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April 15, 2009
Forrest Interviewed on the Ground & Pound April 7 at 7 pm PST
On April 7th, Forrest was interviewed on MMA Madness Radio's Ground & Pound. Listen now!
Source: ForrestGriffin.net
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April 14, 2009
Forrest on His Cover Boy Status and UFC 101
When the Las Vegas Sun asked Forrest Griffin about his thoughts of being featured on the cover of the upcoming "UFC 2009 Undisputed" video game, the former light heavyweight champion said, "I don't play video games...my little brother thinks it's cool, so that's important." He expounded a little more in an interview last month when IGN.com showed him a copy of the game from publisher THQ: "That's awesome, it actually looks like me if I were in a video game...it looks like me, but meaner and with a little bit of chest, so I'm stoked...I can die happy now."
Source: Las Vegas Sun
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March 31, 2009
Forrest Griffin on Cover of "UFC 2009 Undisputed" Video Game
THQ and Zuffa announced that Forrest Griffin will appear on the worldwide cover of "UFC 2009 Undisputed." Griffin is a former light heavyweight champion who got his contract with the UFC by winning on the finale of Spike TV's "The Ultimate Fighter" reality show in 2005. In Canada, the cover will feature Georges St. Pierre, a Quebec native.
"Forrest Griffin and Georges St. Pierre helped elevate UFC to the place we are today," said Dana White, president of the UFC. "We are confident that these two fighters' many strengths both inside and outside the Octagon will have the same effect on 'UFC 2009 Undisputed' as we prepare for the game's worldwide launch on May 19."
Source: IGN.com
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March 29, 2009
Forrest vs. Silva Likely for UFC 101
Forrest Griffin and Thiago Silva are slated for the main card of UFC 101 in Philadelphia, sources close to the fight said. Griffin will return to the Octagon in August in his first fight since his loss to Rashad Evans in December 2008. Silva is also coming off of a loss, the first of his career, to Lyoto Machida in January. Silva has always been seen as a dangerous competitor in the Octagon, but a few mistakes led to his knockout loss to Machida.
Source: MMA Weekly
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February 23, 2009
Meet Forrest at the 2009 Arnold Sports Festival March 6th-8th!
From March 6th-8th, Forrest Griffin will be signing autographs and meeting fans at the BSN booth at the 2009 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. Sports stars from around the world will be at this prestigious event, and BSN is proud to announce that the list includes MMA superstar and Team BSN athlete Forrest Griffin. He will be making appearances in the BSN booth all weekend, signing autographs and posting for photos.
Source: ForrestGriffin.net
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February 20, 2009
Forrest to be Featured in Topps' New Line of UFC Trading Cards
Topps, the leading creator and marketer of sports and related trading cards and entertainment products, was granted exclusive rights to produce UFC-brand trading cards featuring current, future, and former UFC athletes, including Forrest Griffin. The deal lasts through May 2011 for UFC trading cards and stickers.
"MMA continues to become one of the most popular sports in the country and Topps is looking forward to joining forces with UFC's rising stars and illustrious history," said Warren Friss, Topps' GM of Sports and Entertainment. "We are extremely excited to work with UFC and give our collectors access that has never before been available in our industry."
As part of the deal, UFC will provide Topps with unique elements of their organization such as gloves used in matches and pieces of the UFC Octagon. Some of the UFC cards will feature Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Matt Hughes, Brock Lesnar, Royce Gracie, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.
Source: Topps / Forrest Griffin
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February 16, 2009
Forrest Griffin to Appear at Street Fighter IV Tournament on February 19
Forrest Griffin, the "original ultimate fighter," is slated to appear at Gamestop's kickoff party for a national tournament of the not-yet-released Street Fighter IV game at their Universal CityWalk location in Los Angeles. The event features a costume contest, martial arts demo, and a 64-player one-night Street Fighter IV tournament. The winner gets a trip for two to the Street Fighter IV national tournament finals party on April 18 in San Francisco.
See Forrest on Thursday, February 19, 2009 from 7:00-11:00 pm at:
GameStop
Universal CityWalk
1000 Universal Studios Blvd., Ste. 101
Universal City, CA 91608Click here for more information.
Source: GamingBits.com / Forrest Griffin
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February 2, 2009
Forrest to Host MMA Training Seminar in Lafayette, LA Saturday, February 7
Forrest will be teaching a three-hour MMA seminar at Gladiators Academy in Lafayette, LA on Saturday, February 7th. Please call Tim at (337) 356-8643 for information.
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January 29, 2009
Forrest Griffin to Provide Lessons from a Champion January 31, 2009
Forrest Griffin is returning to his home state of Georgia on Saturday, January 31st, to instruct a seminar at Edge AMA in Oakwood. "I've been fortunate to work with a lot of people and I've stolen stuff from all of them," Forrest said from his home in Las Vegas. "I'm gonna try and give a little bit back."
Forrest plans to teach moves like cross-side escapes and submissions from the top, focusing on jiu-jitsu. While seminar attendees won't be able to spar with Forrest, they'll learn some techniques from an established UFC star. "He's a very good technical instructor," said Edge AMA co-owner John Grantham, who is also a personal friend of Forrest's. "Being around champions is motivational."
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January 19, 2009
Forrest to Host MMA Training Seminar in Oakwood, Georgia Saturday, January 31, 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Join Forrest Griffin for the ultimate mixed martial arts training seminar at Edge MMA in Oakwood, Georgia. The three-hour session is jam-packed with strategies for both stand-up and ground games. Space is limited; call or email now to register!
Edge ATA Black Belt Academy
4619 Smithson Blvd.
Oakwood, GA 30566
(770) 539-9245
edgeata@bellsouth.net -
January 15, 2009
Forrest Griffin Recovering, Excepts Summertime Return
MMA Weekly amends rumors that Forrest Griffin was to be sidelined for the majority of 2009 with a hand injury. A source close to Forrest stated that he is recovering well from surgery and hopes to make a return in the summer. He should not have to sit out for any major period of time.
Griffin had surgery on one of his metacarpals to repair the injury he sustained during his fight against Rashad Evans at UFC 92. He currently has a cast on but expects to be healed in two to three months. He is in good spirits after the surgery and hopes to return in late June. MMA Weekly says he could end up to be part of one of the major summer fight cards.
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January 15, 2009
Forrest Featured in Reality Magazine
Did you know that Forrest Griffin appeared on "Law & Order" as an MMA champion and murder suspect? How about that his favorite food is cookies? In this issue of Reality magazine, Forrest shares some fun facts and personal information about himself and his experience in the UFC.
Forrest was first introduced to martial arts during his time at the police academy; he and his classmates were watching a martial arts video to help them learn self-defense, and Forrest was hooked. "When I saw Belfort knock somebody out, I was like, oh my God! That's the coolest thing I have ever seen, and I knew then I had to fight!"
When asked whether he thinks he has changed since becoming a huge success in the UFC, Forrest says he's the same person except that he now has health insurance. (Laughing, he explains that he fought for years without being insured.) "I still don't really like to go anywhere except the gym; my favorite place to be is at home watching movies. I have added a few movies to my video library, by the way."
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January 13, 2009
Griffin vs. Jackson (UFC 86) wins Fight of the Year on NBCSports.com
NBCSports.com readers voted the fight between Forrest Griffin and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson "Fight of the Year." Other categories include "Fighter of the Year" (Rashad Evans), "Knockout of the Year" (Rashad Evans over Chuck Liddell), "Submission of the Year" (Nate Diaz triangle sub vs. Kurt Pellegrino), "Upset of the Year" (Mike Brown def. Urijah Faber), "Breakout Star of the Year" (Brock Lesnar), "News Story of the Year" (Brock Lesnar wins heavyweight title), and "Personality of the Year" (Gina Carano).
Read the full story here.
Source: NBCSports.com / Forrest Griffin
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January 8, 2009
Forrest Ranks #3 on SportsIllustrated.com's Top MMA Fighters List
Forrest Griffin ranked #3 on SportsIllustrated.com's list of top MMA fighters, behind Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson. Others in the light heavyweight list include (in order): Lyoto Machida, Dan Henderson, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Keith Jardine, Vladimir Matyushenko, and Thiago Silva.
The article also notes that 60% of the 70 fighters on the list compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship or World Extreme Cagefighting. Also noteworthy is that 40 of the fighters are from the U.S.; for the time being, it appears that America is the leading manufacturer of top mixed martial artists.
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January 7, 2009
Forrest Griffin Ranks #2 on Sherdog.com's Official Mixed Martial Arts List
In the light heavyweight category, Forrest Griffin made #2 on Sherdog.com's official ranking, only behind Rashad Evans, whom Forrest fought at UFC 92. Also on the list (in order) are Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Keith Jardine, Thiago Silva, Luis Arthur Cane, and Vladimir Matyushenko.
Click here to see the complete list with all categories.
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December 23, 2008
Forrest on Rashad Evans and Making Money
Forrest Griffin talks about how surprised he is to be making so much money doing something he loves. "I was making $26,000 a year as a cop. My goal was to make $26,000 a year as a fighter," he says. But he's making a lot more than that; in fact, he now makes seven figures as the UFC light heavyweight champion. But Forrest thinks stars like himself might make too much money compared to the UFC undercard fighters, who sometimes make just a few thousand bucks a fight. "I would like to see it be more level," he says. "The top guys make a ton and everyone else doesn't. But they're getting an opportunity."
He also talks about his upcoming fight with Rashad "Sugar" Evans. Forrest is the favorite against Evans, but Forrest isn't so sure he'll win. "He's extremely explosive, he's quick, he's got great knockout power in his hands and feet, and he's a real good wrestler," Forrest says of Evans.
Source: MMA Fanhouse
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December 22, 2008
MMA Weekly Interviews Forrest Griffin
In this article, Forrest talks about his transition from competitor to coach on "Ultimate Fighter," the series that helped launch the current rise in success that mixed martial arts has received. Says Forrest, "It’s easier to tell people what to do than do it. But actually I’m a selfish bastard. I care about me primarily. So I’d rather be getting trained than training people." He also talks about Wanderlei Silva, who trains with Forrest. “I love him as a training partner. It's that unchecked aggression,” he says.
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December 22, 2008
Forrest Joins Team BSN
Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champion of the world, became a member of Team BSN (Bio-Engineered Supplements and Nutrition, Inc.). Founded in 2001, BSN provides unique and effective products scientifically engineered to enhance physique, physical performance, and well being. BSN is excited to have Forrest on board!
Source: BSN Online
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December 18, 2008
Forrest Griffin is a Literature Freak
Who are the four people you would most like to have over for dinner? The UK Telegraph asks Forrest this question and is surprised by the answer. Forrest picks an eclectic group of party guests: Chuck Palahniuk, author of “Choke” and “Fight Club,” David Fincher, director of the movies "Fight Club" and "Se7en," James Roday from the USA Network’s “Psych,” and absurdist writer Christopher Moore.
Source: The UK Telegraph
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December 18, 2008
Forrest on the Cover of Fight! Magazine
Fight! Magazine chronicles Forrest’s rise to the top and the people who surround him. “Originally, I just wanted to get one win in the UFC,” Forrest explains. “But after I’d done that, it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I wanted the belt.” His old friend Lucas Rakofsky says, “Money and fame haven’t changed Forrest one bit. He’s the same guy, only now everyone knows who he is.”
He goes on to discuss his choice of Las Vegas as a home (“For training, there are lots of fighters here...”), what the former cop keeps in his car (“a Glock, several knives, a full CD case, sponsor checks, energy drink cans" and his new, extremely lucrative UFC contract) and what he does on a typical Saturday night (he’s at home watching “Pushing Daisies” or “Dexter”).
Source: Fight! Magazine Forrest
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December 18, 2008
Forrest on the Cover of Men's Fitness
Forrest appears on the cover of the October 2008 issue of Men’s Fitness. In one of his most in-depth interviews, the hardest-working guy in the UFC details his three daily trips to the gym. In the lead-up to UFC 92, the profile gives a candid look into the champ's routine and mindset.
In addition, Forrest quells all rumors about an acting career. “I did a play in tenth grade and I sucked at that and I have no reason to believe that I have gotten any better.”Source: Men's Fitness - Forrest Griffith
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December 18, 2008
Forrest Considers a Match-up Against Wanderlei Silva
While it is premature, Forrest contemplates a possible match-up vs. Wanderlei Silva. The winners of the upcoming UFC 92 on December 27 will decide the next match-up. The event features two bouts: Silva vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Griffin vs. Rashad "Sugar" Evans. Says Forrest of Silva: "[He’s] a bad dude. He's hard to put out. If he was a video game, he'd have no life bar. You've got a life bar that goes down but his life bar doesn't go down. That's why I like watching him fight."
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