What Made Forrest Griffin Run?

Are MMA fans still in a quandary about Forrest Griffin jumping up and running from the ring after finally being knocked out by Anderson Silva at UFC 101?

At the time, I felt that being able to hop up and skedaddle was far more preferable than having to be carried out of the ring on a stretcher.

But come to think of it, boss Dana White probably has imposed a rule that anyone who is feeling the need of leaving the cage on a stretcher should never expect to fight in "his" organization again.

White enjoys his reputation as being a hard-ass, so if such a rule does exist, I am guessing he implemented it to assure the fans that MMA is not a bloodsport and no one is ever "seriously" hurt.

Realistically speaking, a fighter who has just suffered from an in-cage encounter of the worst kind, meaning having just lost a fight with the unbeatable Anderson Silva, must be quite a stud to leave under his own power and at a brisk run.

All I have heard on the situation was the less than elucidating news that Forrest's entourage (those who accompanied him on his run from ring to locker room), only said that he spent a long time alone locked in the bathroom, then left without attending the usually obligatory press conference post fight.

White had no explanation at said press conference.

Some had speculated that Forrest had a broken jaw resulting from Anderson's strikes to his face. There had been at least three that could have potentially broken his jaw, so that seemed a logical explanation, until it was later confirmed that he did not receive treatment for such an injury.

Well, okay, I can think of a lot of reasons to run from such a situation, can't you?

Having the typical issue of bowel or bladder incontinence as a result of Multiple Sclerosis and myself being stuck somewhere between the two, this would have been cause enough to make me attempt to run away after "losing it" in a fight.

I do remember hearing that Tim Sylvia had once just such an unfortunate consequence during one of his early defeats. Believe me, I feel for him and anyone else who has ever had this occur.

Loss of bowel and bladder is why I have tried to avoid death via hanging.

Don't laugh, there do exist people who would gladly think of doing such an act as "striking a blow" against my brand of journalism. There are sportswriters who have even tempted me.

My ability to run is not actually all that great, however, so staggering out in utter humiliation would be more my forte.

So I am both humbled and in awe of Forrest's speedy exit, which would be truly impossible for me.

Maybe I have lost my imagination, because suddenly I do not have a clue what made Forrest run.

It certainly caused an aura of mystery to hang over his exit, causing concern and confusion for his many loyal fans.

Maybe someday he will tell us the answer, if he indeed knows what prompted the action.

KO's can cause disorientation as well as certain forms of amnesia, so no one may ever know the real explanation.

Seeing him run rather than limp, though, was in many ways reassuring that one day he may return to the octagon again.

Since Anderson has the reputation for being "unbeatable" it may have been Forrest's good sense getting through to him at last.

Just speculating and projecting my feelings onto a helpless fighter once again.

Okay, readers, now it is your turn to see what makes Granny run.