In the semi main event of UFC 148, former Light Heavyweight champions meet as Forrest Griffin (18-7; 9-5 UFC) faces Tito Ortiz (16-10-1; 15-10-1 UFC). This is the final fight in their trilogy, as they currently stand 1-1 against each other. The USA TODAY / MMA Nation Consensus MMA Rankings currently have Griffin as the #11 Light Heavyweight in the world and Ortiz at #15, though, to be honest, neither man is really a contender at this point. The UFC 148 PPV card airs live Saturday night July 7 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
The big story of this fight is not simply that it will wrap up the Ortiz vs. Griffin trilogy, but also that it will wrap up the career of Tito Ortiz. The 15 year UFC veteran's contract expires after this fight, and he has stated that it will be his last. Prior to the fight, Ortiz will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. It's a good fight for Ortiz to end his career on, as the two previous battles were both excellent contests, and Griffin feels like the one man Tito still has that sense of unfinished business with.
How do these two stack up?
Griffin: 33 years old | 6'3" | 77" reach
Ortiz: 37 years old | 6'2" | 74" reach
What have these two done recently?
Griffin: L - Mauricio Rua (KO) | W - Rich Franklin (UD) | W - Tito Ortiz (SD)
Ortiz: L - Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (TKO) | L - Rashad Evans (TKO) | W - Ryan Bader (Sub)
How did these two get here?
Forrest Griffin made his name in the now mythic fight with Stephan Bonnar at the first Ultimate Fighter finale. With that win, he became the poster fighter of the TUF generation, using a combination of skill and popularity to make it all the way to the Light Heavyweight title. But ever since his 2009 loss to Anderson Silva, he just hasn't been the same fighter. He's looked increasingly apathetic about fighting in every fight, and his last outing against Shogun Rua was not a good performance in any way. Griffin's been in enough wars to deserve a ton of respect, but you have to ask if he should be joining Ortiz in retirement here.
What else can you say about "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz? A 15 year veteran who was, at one time, the most popular UFC fighter and the company's most dominant champion, Ortiz has had a tough time in recent years. Last year, he looked on the way out, but a surprise win over Ryan Bader gave a puff of life to his career. He's had a series of back injuries that have plagued him for years, and while he always brings the excitement, his body is just not in the shape to keep it going. I'll be sad to see him go, but it's the right move.
Why should you care?
Some people are against this fight, but those people have no heart. This is one of the UFC's all time greats going out for the last time. If you don't get goosebumps when he makes his entrance Saturday night, I've got nothing for you.
More UFC 148 preview coverage from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II
UFC 148 Weigh-In Live Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC 148: Forrest Griffin Vs. Tito Ortiz Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 148: Cung Le Vs. Patrick Cote Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 148: Silva Vs. Sonnen II Staff Picks And Predictions - Tim Burke
UFC 148 Video: Anderson Silva's 'Coach' Steven Seagal Spars With Feijao Cavalcante - Nate Wilcox
UFC 148: Can Demian Maia Revitalize His Career At Welterweight? - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 148: Cody McKenzie 'Cowboy Is Just A Dumb Jock' - Steph Daniels
UFC 148 Preview: Rewatching Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen I - Josh Nason
UFC 148: Chael Sonnen's Mean Street Pizza Raffling Off Signed Controversial T-Shirt - KJ Gould
UFC 148: Dong Hyun Kim Vs. Demian Maia Dissection - Dallas Winston
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 182: Vinny Magalhaes, UFC 148 Preview - Matt Bishop
UFC 148: Vinny Magalhaes Says 'Chael Sonnen Can Submit Anderson Silva' - Scott Haber
UFC 148: Cung Le Was Hand Picked For His Role In Upcoming Tarantino Production - Steph Daniels
UFC 148 Preview: The Complete Judo Chops Of Anderson Silva - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 148: Silva Vs. Sonnen Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 148: Chad Mendes Vs. Cody McKenzie Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 148: Patrick Cote Says Michael Bisping Is A Crybaby - Steph Daniels
UFC 148: The Hall Of Fame Career Of Tito Ortiz - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 148 Judo Chop: How Chael Sonnen Out Struck Anderson Silva - Jack Slack
UFC 148 Video: Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen Full Countdown Show - Anton Tabuena
UFC 148 Gods of War: Anderson Silva - T.P. Grant
UFC 148: Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen Rematch Almost Didn't Happen - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 148 Video: Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen By The Numbers - Anton Tabuena
FREE $100 UFC 148 Kountermove Fantasy Cash Tourney - Steph Daniels
UFC 148 Video: Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen 2 - It's Personal - Anton Tabuena
UFC 148 Judo Chop: Beating Anderson Silva - Jack Slack
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