UFC update

Published Thursday November 26th, 2009
A23

There's already talk of a rematch and that's not surprising. Forrest Griffin earned a split decision win over Tito Ortiz in the main event of UFC 106 on Saturday in Las Vegas.

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Forrest Griffin

"Tito was a great fight for me, I think we're gonna have to do a third - it's 1-1," said Griffin, who lost a split decision to Ortiz in their first meeting in 2006.

Griffin and Ortiz are both former UFC light heavyweight champions. Griffin improved to 17-6. Ortiz, 16-7-1, was in the Octagon for the first time in 18 months since undergoing spinal fusion surgery and he has three losses and one draw in his past four fights.

Sportsnet.ca conducted a poll following their bout on Saturday asking fans who they thought should've earned the judges' decision. Griffin was the favourite in 81 per cent of the votes.

Ortiz is now on a three-fight losing streak, but he believes he's finally 100 per cent healthy again. He had back surgery 18 months ago, had his appendix removed and also had a falling out with UFC president Dana White in the past year.

Ortiz battled with White, but always insisted it wasn't just about the money. In fact, he could've signed with Strikeforce for more money, but opted to come back with the UFC.

Ortiz has always maintained that his battle with White was about giving the fighters the respect they deserve because they lay their body on the line and have done so much to raise the UFC's profile. Ortiz claimed victory in this dispute, saying fighters now get paid what they deserve.

Ortiz noted on a U.S. radio show that fighters don't get paid for what happens on fight night. They get paid for the nights of hard training they do leading up to the fight so that they can put on the best possible show.

Ortiz has put his dispute with the UFC president behind him and he's moving on with his career.

"It was just one of those things, where you think life's too short, why hate?," Ortiz told sportsnet.ca. "I think (Dana White) said the same thing, too. I want to get the best fights in front of me. Me and Dana came to a conclusion it needs to happen in the UFC and they gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. It's nice to be around a positive environment in the UFC."

 

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