Tito Ortiz lost the final fight of his career on Saturday at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, and he was upset with opponent Forrest Griffin for ruining his sendoff interview.
Griffin, who won the trilogy fight by unanimous decision, walked out of the Octagon and headed for the dressing room before the decision was announced. UFC President Dana White had to chase him down and force him to go back to the cage to hear the decision.
Griffin explained after the fight that he left impetuously because he was upset with his performance.
“I just forget [to stay in the cage] sometimes,” Griffin told Ariel Helwani of MMA Fighting. “I’m an emotional guy. I was frustrated with myself.”
Griffin even conceded that he wasn’t sure if he had won.
After hearing that he had won by unanimous decision, Griffin ripped the microphone out of commentator Joe Rogan’s hand and proceeded to interview Tito Ortiz, who was retiring after the fight.
He asked a question to Ortiz, received a complete answer, and then he followed it up with a second question. When Rogan regained the mic, he wrapped things up instead of asking more questions. Ortiz was upset with Griffin for ruining the interview.
“That was bull—-,” Ortiz said at the post-fight news conference. “Understand, 15 years ago, May 3, 1997, Joe Rogan was the first person to interview me. I told him, ‘I’m going to make a mark in this sport.’ It was my first fight.
“For Forrest to step in and do what he did, after running … I can’t complain about anything, as I said, I fought, I did what I could do. I wish Joe Rogan got to interview me.”
Griffin explained his actions.
“I kind of just wanted to, you know?” he told Helwani. “I don’t think about things. I just do it — it’s emotional.”
Griffin was extremely apologetic after the fight once he learned how upset Ortiz was.
“I sincerely apoligze,” Griffin said. “I obviously wasn’t thinking. I wish I could take that back. I’m sorry. I feel badly I took Tito’s moment from Joe. I was in a different mindset and I feel badly about it.”
It sucks that Griffin ruined the moment for Ortiz, but the guy clearly wasn’t all there. What do you expect from someone who gets his head bashed for a living? Rogan was the clear-headed one and should have interceded rather than let it continue.
At least Ortiz retires as a Hall of Famer.
