Forrest Griffin Is a "Quiet Jerk"

by Luke Thomas on Feb 5, 2008 9:30 AM EST in MMA News

In addition to his exciting style, Griffin has become a fan favorite partly because of his outgoing personality and sense of humor. He doesn't see it that way, however.

"Now that I'm a coach, people will realize that I don't have that buoyant personality," he said. "I'm actually more of a curmudgeon. I'm kind of a quiet jerk."

Here's the backstory as it pertains to me: in the summer of 2006, MMA.tv hired me to do two pilot shows of Whoopass Radio. During the taping of the second show, we interviewed Forrest Griffin because he was about to fight Stephan Bonnar for the second time. I don't know what we did, but he hated me and the show from the word go. When I first called to ask him if he'd come on the show, he was a jerk. That was a bad sign, but I didn't think much of it. Fast forward to the taping itself and it just went downhill. He was only giving one word or smart ass answers to questions, but not in a way that reminded me of the Forrest I'd come to know from television. This one could barely be bothered to do the interview.

Finally I kept pressuring him to answer the question "Who do you think you'll fight next should you defeat Bonnar?" He resisted and resisted until he finally said "Since you keep asking me this question, I think I'd like to fight you next." Trust me when I tell you if I was pushy, it was only because I recognized the interview sucked and I was trying to salvage it with some kind of info from Griffin. After he told me he wanted to pound my face in, we hung up on him and moved on.

I have no animosity towards Griffin whatsoever. But let it be known if he wants to be a prick to you, it's not that much of a departure from his true self for him to be able to do that.

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Re: Forrest Griffin Is a "Quiet Jerk"

You are not the only radio hose Forrest has been a "rude bugger" to. On the Jason Ellis show, Forrest was one of the biggest jerks I have ever heard on a radio. The only thing comparable was NBA commissioner David Stern being interviewed on the Dan Patrick show after the Suns players being ejected for leaving the bench. Just a really cankerous dude that day. I know very few people who could be that rude.

by mattwatt on Feb 5, 2008 1:41 PM EST reply actions

Re: Forrest Griffin Is a "Quiet Jerk"

Phew, glad to know it wasn't just me.

by Luke Thomas on Feb 5, 2008 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Forrest Griffin Is a "Quiet Jerk"

He also turned me down for an interview and called me a "cancer to MMA" for what I said about Mike Pyle. I should dig up the myspace message, it's actually quite awesome.

Actually, I have a policy of not posting what people write to me in private messages. What's public is fair game, but i don't wanna pass that douche line, ya know?

by fightlinker on Feb 5, 2008 7:20 PM EST reply actions

Re: Forrest Griffin Is a "Quiet Jerk"

Hahaha, the same Mike Pyle you should video of being a class act on the beach Fightlinker?

Also, although I don't agree with everything you say Fightlinker (and that could go the same with you Luke), I do want to thank both of you for providing me with fresh reads everyday. I know that I should not expect every viewpoint to fall in line with mine, so thank both of you for making me think, whether or not I agree or disagree. Keep up the good work.

by mattwatt on Feb 5, 2008 7:26 PM EST up reply actions

Re: Forrest Griffin Is a "Quiet Jerk"

hehe ... if you agreed with everything I said, i'd be afraid. Some of the stuff we write over there is SO WRONG it's not funny. Well, actually that's what makes it funny.

by fightlinker on Feb 5, 2008 7:30 PM EST reply actions

Re: Forrest Griffin Is a "Quiet Jerk"

Forrest hates the press. I spent quite a bit of time with the guy and he is pretty cool when he's in the mood, but he hates the trappings that go with being a MMA fighter... he just wants to be left alone.

I guess the best way to say it is that he's a grump. He's a funny grump. But then we chilled out together and he likes my magazine, so we're all cool :)

by Hywel Teague Fighters Only mag on Feb 5, 2008 8:51 PM EST reply actions

Re: Forrest Griffin Is a "Quiet Jerk"

You should of just kicked his ass Luke. Fightlinker is getting into a cage and so should you. Except I'm not too sure if Caplan & Forrest are on the same level.

by marco054 on Feb 6, 2008 1:17 PM EST reply actions