Forrest Griffin played spoiler at UFC 148. | Photo: Sherdog.com
UFC 148 “Silva vs. Sonnen 2”
July 7, 2012 | Las Vegas
It will likely go down as the last time Tito Ortiz ever competed inside the Octagon.
Former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin weathered a pair of knockdowns -- one in the first round and another in the third -- to defeat Ortiz by unanimous decision in the UFC 148 co-main event. Ortiz showed glimpses of his former self, as he delivered takedowns and some patented ground-and-pound in the first and third frames. However, it became clear midway through the fight that he lacked the energy required to finish the job. Griffin consistently beat him to the punch, landing two, three and sometimes four strikes to his one. Ortiz saw his last best chance at victory come and go in round three, where he floored Griffin with a clean left hook. He did not have the reserves he needed to pursue the finish. Griffin recovered, picked up where he left off and took the rubber match between the two former champions.
Ortiz’s 27 career appearances still rank first on the UFC’s all-time list.