Forrest Griffin Talks UFC 101, New Book

When Forrest Griffin (16-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) steps into the Octagon on Saturday, Aug. 8, for UFC 101, it will have been almost eight months since his last fight. The former UFC light-heavyweight champion kept busy during the break, training, touring, and writing a book.

The book, Got Fight?, has been well-received by critics, and Griffin has been promoting it in his typical, self-deprecating way.

“It will probably make you dumber if you read it,” Griffin told Ground & Pound Radio. “It’s just kind of my philosophy on life; an unorthodox manner of getting ahead, I suppose.”

Griffin admits he’s actually not too excited about the book’s release.

“People might hate it. And then that’s going to suck because I actually tried a little bit,” Griffin said.

In fact, it’s the fear of failure that motivates the Georgia native far more than the thrill of victory.

“It’s easy to have a little success and lose your hunger,” Griffin said. “I’m not a huge fan of winning, but losing really sucks.”

With that in mind, Griffin is especially wary of his next opponent, knockout specialist Thiago Silva (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC).

“I’m coming off a loss. I’m fighting a guy who is pretty damn good,” Griffin said. “It’s kind of a scary thing.”

“[Silva] trains at a really good school. I really like those American Top Team guys,” Griffin said. “He’s got a good style. Good Thai clinch, comes forward. I think it’s a good matchup.”

If Griffin is victorious at UFC 101, don’t expect any elaborate post-fight celebration.

“It’s like Barry Sanders; he never once spiked a football in the end zone or did a dance,” Griffin said. “His dance was on the way to the end zone, and that’s something I always really liked.”

“I don’t usually celebrate after fights. The celebration is the fight”

Ground & Pound Radio broadcasts live every Tuesday at 9:30 pm EST (6:30 pm PST). The show is hosted by MMAMadness.com’s Hector Castro and Fight! Magazine’s Johnny Dunn. For more information, or to download previous episodes, go to here.