The judges awarded Forrest Griffin a split decision victory over UFC legend Tito Ortiz.
Two of the UFC's biggest stars met in a redemption match that headlined UFC 106. No title was on the line, but the two fighters' star power made it a compelling headliner nonetheless. They met previously in 2006 in an epic bout that saw both fighters at their best.
Ortiz entered the ring with a blackened right eye. Griffin scored with the first shots but Ortiz landed a hard right of his own about a minute in. Forrest answered with a combination of kicks and punches that led Ortiz to shoot in for the take down. Ortiz landed punches and elbows before Forrest threatened a kimura that he used to sweep Ortiz. Griffin survived a scramble and found himself pushed against the cage. He spun around and kneed Tito to the gut. Griffin peppered Ortiz with combinations, including hard leg kicks. Ortiz shot again but Forrest evaded it. The round ended with Griffin pushing Ortiz against the fence.
In round two, Tito landed the first hard shot and followed with a single leg take down. But Griffin was more than able to control Ortiz on the ground and quickly escaped to his feet. A Griffin front kick sent Ortiz' mouth piece flying. After a respite to replace it, Griffin attacked with a combination of kicks and punches. Ortiz took him down again but Griffin's guard kept Tito from landing much from the top. But Ortiz began to wear him down and started to land elbows and punches that cut Griffin over the eye. Then with 0:35 left, Griffin reversed position and answered with some ground and pound of his own.
Griffin came out scoring in the third, landing punches and kicks. Tito seemed to be holding back and letting Griffin tee off. With three minutes left Ortiz made a half-hearted shot that Griffin stuffed. Griffin landed shot after shot, mixing kicks, punches and attacks to the head, body and legs with aplomb. With a minute left, Ortiz began to fire back but it was too little too late. Griffin stuffed a final feeble shot from Ortiz and fired away with hooks and upper cuts.