Griffin Reacts to Affliction's Demise

It's safe to say that Forrest Griffin will have a job in the UFC for the remainder of his MMA career. The fighter who is largely credited for resurrecting the promotion as a result of his April 2005 fight against Stephan Bonnar on Spike TV should expect nothing less.

However, that doesn't mean Griffin, who is scheduled to face Anderson Silva at UFC 101 next month, is happy to see organizations like Affliction cease promoting events. In fact, the former UFC light heavyweight champion told FanHouse on Saturday that the demise of Affliction Entertainment really hit close to home.

"The Affliction thing kind of does affect me personally a little bit [because] there were four guys training out of Xtreme Couture that were fighting on that card," Griffin said. "You know, a guy I work with a lot, Shawn Tompkins, basically was going to get money back-end from four guys who were fighting, and you know, it really hurts them. He's been training guys for six and eight weeks. I don't know. It just sucks that they went under the way they did. Now those guys don't get paid. You know, it's rough.

"I was down and nothing actually directly happened to me. But these are your friends; these are your guys. You know they've been working hard because they've been with you months now working hard for this fight that isn't happening."

Griffin also wondered out loud if a UFC-dominated MMA world would ultimately be a good thing for his fellow fighters.

"Does the UFC want everybody? Is there room for all of us under the umbrella of the UFC?

"... Right now, there's only the UFC. You only have to fight in the UFC to make a living fighting, and I mean, everybody can't fight in the UFC, you know. They only got so many fight cards; there's only so many fights. And you know, there's just a wealth of good fighters coming up."

The rest of my interview with Forrest Griffin will be posted later this week on MMA FanHouse.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-26-2009 @ 12:33PM

Massivecock said...

Yeah Forrest knockout that pussy andy silva

7-26-2009 @ 2:33PM

imshortyk said...

Riiiight . . . Forrest hasn't knocked anyone out since Elvis Sinosic lol. I sincerely doubt he'll knock out Silva. If he wins . . . it'll be by a three round tactical stand-up battle, but I can't see him chopping away at Silva's legs like he did Rampage. He's at a disadvantage wherever the fight goes, but he's also known to surprise people.
We'll see . . .

7-26-2009 @ 2:50PM

Anderson silva is small compared to forrest griffin
Griffin can barrly make weight at 205
Remember he fought at heavyweight in the ultimate fighter
The OG of TUF

7-26-2009 @ 2:56PM

Uhmm . . . Rashad Evans fought at Heavyweight on TUF . . not Forrest. It was Light Heavies and Welterweights on the first season. Heavyweights on the second . . . Forrest was on the first season.

Griffin's just an inch taller than Anderson and they have about the same muscle density. Anderson walks around at around 210-215, while Griffin does the same . . so, again . . disadvantage to Griffin.

7-26-2009 @ 3:22PM

No, forrest walks around in the 220's not 210
Plus silva is not as strong are you out of yout mind
Well see Forrest is very good on the ground so I don't see him being submitted. Anderson silva has my respect but this fight I see ending on the feet.
The former cops way

7-26-2009 @ 4:15PM

johnnynumber5 said...

"knockout that pussy andy silva"

You are such a douche.

"Remember he fought at heavyweight in the ultimate fighter"

That never happened. Griffin fought at light heavyweight during the first season. You may be confused with the second season in which Evans fought at heavyweight and won the show against MUCH larger opponents.

"Anderson silva has my respect but this fight I see ending on the feet."

He has your respect? Thats why you called him a "pussy?"

I really like Griffin as a fighter and as a person but if anyone gets knocked out in this fight it will be he and not Silva. It's a good fight on paper but in practice I envision Griffin getting beat up like he did against Rashad Evans. Silva destroys these ultra aggressive fighters and I think Griffins style feeds into what Silva wants to do in the octagon ... counter.

I think Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko are the two best fighters on the planet. I don't see anyone taking them out anytime soon. I would also bet on Silva beating Machida if they were to ever fight in the octagon. However, thay is unlikely considering they are friends and training partners.

Long story short: The only way I see Griffin winning is via a 3 round decision.

7-26-2009 @ 4:30PM

Bad Ass Mo Fo said...

I see all these "Griffin's only way of winning is a decision" comments. Truth be told I really don't see Griffin winning at all. Silva is too methodical and calculative to lose a round and/or be knocked out with someone lacking in the technical department. He isn't going to overpower him because Griffin's frame has to lose muscle to make weight and that tolls on a fighter's strength and stamina. I really don't see this fight out of the second round because of just how much Silva seems to get better each match is amazing. His stand up and Muay Tai is beyond anything Griffin could handle. Ground work they're most even there but I still think if Griffin takes it to the ground Silva's long body can twist what ever way he needs to squeeze and advantage. I got Silva winning TKO Round 2

7-26-2009 @ 10:39PM

The only way I think Griffin could win would be via a decision. Thats not the same as saying he will win by decision. It just depends if Griffin pushes the pace and if Silva fights cautiously like against Leites and Cote. It's tough for me to envision any scenario in which Griffin wins short of a 3 round decision and even that is extremely unlikely.

7-26-2009 @ 4:34PM

It's funny how you just forget who forrest has beatin
Like rampage, stephann,shogun .Its funny hoe your all underestimating Griffin I guarantee he'll shut your fuken mouths up come fight night haters.
I'm not asking you to like him but to respect Forrest he's very underestimated
And everybody knows that rampage jackson would destroy Anderson silva
The win over Jackson speaks for itself
Forrest is goig to show up at the fight can't say that for Anderson
Anderson silva isn't the top two fight
On the p4p list he's number 4 behind
1.Fedor
2.GSP
3.Miguel torres

7-26-2009 @ 6:13PM

Wow . . . mm'kay. Hey, we're all entitled to our opinion, but there's no need to call each other names 'cause of 'em, hrmm? All I can say is . . . I WIDELY disagree with your opinion, Massive Testicles. We're debating styles here, sir. Forrest (like Machida AND Silva) have the perfect styles to beat Rampage and Bonner. They're aggressive, don't move much, such and such. Shogun's a different thing. Honestly I dunno much about him so I can't comment on him.

But as Johnnynumber said above, when he got into the octagon with a counter puncher like Rashad it was done. Honestly Rashad would have a better chance of taking out Anderson than Forrest.

He's not underestimated, and I don't know many people that are "Forrest Haters". A lot of people (including myself) like and respect him. It's just stylistic analysis, bro. Make like a fridge and chill.

And another thing . . . how can GSP be considering p4p? Don't you have to go to different weight classes and win to be considering a p4p ranker? He hasn't done that. He's dominated one weight class. BJ Penn's more p4p than GSP. CAN he dominate another weight class? Of course. He just hasn't yet. So he's not p4p (imo).

And Bad Ass, we're saying the only way Griffin can win that way is 'cause there's ALWAYS a chance it doesn't go the other fighter's way, and in doing so, that's how. Could Matt Serra POSSIBLY beat GSP? No . . . oh wait, he did ;D You never know, bro.

All I DO know is that Forrest versus Anderson's gonna be a good one.

7-26-2009 @ 10:41PM

Dude I like both of these fighters and just because I think Silva will win doesn't mean I'm a Griffin hater. Seriously!

For the record I thought Rampage won that decision against Griffin.

7-26-2009 @ 6:35PM

Awight , shortdyk
Bj penn is not p4p
He can't take gsp and I don't even like gsp
Go Yankees
I'm out
YouTube channel discosean21

7-26-2009 @ 6:37PM

. . . Alright. Go Buccaneers!

7-27-2009 @ 2:35AM

Cliff said...

Hello..not to be critical or anything but.

To be eligible to be considered the "pound for pound" best. You don't have to fight in multiple divisions. You just have to be really skilled. It just so happens that those that are considered for the p4p lists often have at one point or another in their careers fought at different weight classes.

When someone says so and so is the best pound for pound fighter. They are literally saying, that for every pound that person weighs they get x amount of effectiveness out of that pound.

In the REAL world this translates to.

Assuming all things are equal as far as size and strength go. Who is the best fighter?

For instance, I think kenny florian is a better pound for pound fighter than brock lesnar.

If Brock and Florian were identical in every dimension but they kept their skills as they exist today, I think Florian would win every time.

That's what pound for pound stuff means, it's an assessment of skill, not really anything to do with what you weight.

It's just that these guys on these lists are so good they can jump weight classes and remain competitive based on their skill, because they don't need to be stronger or bigger to win.

That's all, just wanted to clarify.