At the beginning of the UFC 160 post fight press conference, UFC President Dana White announced that former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin is announcing his retirement.
Along with announcing the retirement of Griffin, White said that Griffin would have a job with the UFC and joked that he hoped Griffin would work more than Chuck Liddell.
“I would like to say a few words about a gentlemen who has meant a great deal to this company,” White said. “He is a guy whose charisma, his personality, his fighting style has helped elevate the UFC and mixed martial arts to where we are today. He is one of the guys who has been one of building blocks of the sport and this company.”
Griffin (19-7) won The Ultimate Fighter 1 over Stephan Bonnar and it’s considered the fight that has meant the most for the rise of mixed martial arts and the UFC in the United States. During his UFC career, he defeated former champions Tito Ortiz, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rich Franklin.
He won the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 86 against Jackson by unanimous decision. He would lose the title in his first title defense and his last fight took place nearly one year ago against Ortiz at UFC 148.
“It has been a great eight years I guess,” Griffin said. “The biggest thing I have learned is when Dana White says retire, you should retire. Otherwise, you will blow your knee out before your next fight.”
At his post fight media scrum, White announced that Griffin and Bonnar will both be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July. He went on to admit that he has not told Bonnar yet and told the media to call him and tell him to check Twitter.
Due to how important the Ultimate Fighter finale fight between Griffin and Bonnar was, it seems fitting that the UFC will induct them into the Hall of Fame at the same time.