which debuted in June of 2009. Griffins is a member of the training organization, Xtrmeme Couture, founded and headed by former UFC Champion, Randy Couture.
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FORREST GRIFFIN
 Got Fight? Best known for his “Sprawl and Brawl” style, a combination of martial arts and bare knuckle technique, Forrest is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu which he achieved under Cameron Diffley. To go straight to the Forest' fan stuff see the UFC Store. They have a lot of cool stuff. Born Born on July 1, 1979 in Columbus, Ohio, Forrest Griffin moved to Athens, Georgia where he later attended the University of Georgia.After earning a degree in Political Science, he worked in law enforcement. In his spare time, Forrest trained at the HardCore Gym where he evolved his signature moves. It is stated on Forrest Griffin's official website that he is fueled by power and heart. Nothing could be more true. Debut Forrest Griffin debuted in MMA in RSF (Reality Superfighting) 5: New Blood Conflict on October 27, 2001 against Dan “The Beast” Severn. Although four minutes into the third round, he lost via unanimous decision, Forest Griffin bounced back only one month later to win against Wiehan Lesh in South Africa in the Pride and Honor event. He took the fight in the first round via a rear naked choke. Career Begins Despite his rocky start, Forrest was now on a roll. On January 26, 2002, he won against Jason Braswell four minutes into the third round by decision at RSF 7: Animal Instinct. He then went on to beat Kent Hensley via submission from a triangle choke at the Battle of the Brewery, ISCF Sanctioned in April of 2002. In June, it was Jeff Monson he defeated four minutes into the fourth round at an ISCF event entitled “Bring it On”. On October 31, 2002, he won over Travis Fulton by TKO at “Halloween Heat”. The heat was on and Griffin was hot, winning next against Steve Sayegh via submission due to strikes.Forrest Griffin was 7-1 when he took on Ebenezer “Pitbull” Fontes Braga. The fight was held in Brazil. Close to 7,000 spectators watched the much anticipated fight. With a rear naked choke he won by submission in the first round. The fight was Forrest's most impressive up to that time. It was a triangle choke that forced Chael Sonnen into submission on September 6, 2003, with Griffin winning 2:25 in round one. Roadblock But Jeremy Horn had different plans for Forrest Griffin. On September 6, 2003 in “Global Domination”, Horn layed into Griffin with a head kick, ending the winning streak, 3:40 into round 2.
Though Forest won his next fight against Edson Paredao in Rio Grande do Norte via knockout at Heat FC 2: Evolution, he considered retiring from MMA. Instead, he agreed to participate in the new television reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV on April 9, 2005. He went in considered an underdog but in the season finale fight, beat Stephan Bonnar by unanimous decision in what would be called the most important fight in UFC history. It was a turning point for Griffin who put aside his career in law enforcement and put all his efforts into MMA. 
First UFC FightBill Manhood was Griffin's first opponent after winning the Ultimate Fighter at UFC 53: Heavy Hitters on June 4, 2005 in Atlantic City, new Jersey. Griffin won 2:18 into the first round by rear naked choke hold. His fans were elated. Again Forrest reigned victorious, taking Elvis Sinsic by TKO at UFC 55 in October. UFC 59 would be a different story, however, on April 15, 2006, Forrest went up against the former Light Heavyweight Champion, Tito Ortiz in an event called “Reality Check”.
It was the first UFC event held in California since the legalization of MMA in the state. It was a sold-out crowd and the fastest sell out in UFC history with 13,060 tickets sold. Despite the hype of the crowd and the flurry of fans cheering Forrest Griffin on, Tito won by a controversial split decision. But all was not lost, Forrest Griffin still managed to win over the crowd with his display of endurance. In a rematch with Stephan Bonnar on August 26, 2006 at UFC 62, Griffin won via unanimous decision 5:00 into round 3. Griffin's next opponent was Keith Jardine, aka “the Dean of Mean” and semi-finalist of the Ultimate Fighter 2 series. The event was UFC 66 on December 30, 2006 held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Jardine won the bout by TKO four minutes and fourty-one seconds into the first round. Forrest Griffin was devastated. Obviously shaken, he sat in the corner of the ring, crying and later evaded an interview by walking away from an saying, “I'll be back.” He never showed. After six months, a regrouped Griffin faced off with Hector Ramirez at UFC 72: Victory which was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The fight would be exactly that...a victory. Forrest won by unanimous decision five minutes into the third round. Yet another victory for Forrest was against Grand Prix Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 76 in September of 2007. Mauricio was ranked by several reputable MMA publications as being the number one light heavyweight fighter in the world. But Griffin would prove them wrong. 4:45 into round three, he won via submission by rear naked choke.
In season 7 of the Ultimate Fighter, Griffin coached opposite Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. In the season finale, the two faced off at UFC 86 on July 5, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The fight was for the UFC Light Heavyweight title which Jackson held. In the first round, Forrest Griffin received an uppercut which appeared to have done him in. But he then landed a leg kick in the second round and ground strikes in the third. Five minutes into the fifth round, Griffin won by unanimous decision. The title was his. Defending his championship, on December 27, 2008, Forrest went toe to toe with Rashad “Sugar” Evans at UFC 92. Having recently beat Chuck Liddell to get to a shot at the championship, Evans was running full throttle.
Two minutes and fourty-six seconds into the third round, Evans took the title by KO via punches.UFC 101 in August would not go well for Forrest either. After receiving three knockdowns, Griffin let into Silva with a flurry of punches that would prove to not be enough to keep Silva down who returned a counter right. The fight was stopped and Silva won by knockout in the first round. The Tito Rematch
After a heated battle, Griffin won by split decision having shown his strong striking and ground skills. Private Life Forrest wears Griffin took on former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126. He did a good job controlling most of the fight with kicks and combinations knocking Franklin down in the second round. He also took Franklin down and controlled him on the ground. Griffin went on to win by unanimous decision although he injured his right foot in the fight. Sprawl in the ring. Outside the ring, Forrest married and is very active He is also the author of the autobiographical book, Got Fight?
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