Sherdog’s Top 10: The Ultimate Fighters

5. Forrest Griffin

Griffin won Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and his historic three-round donnybrook with Stephan Bonnar at the finale remains a classic that is largely credited for breathing new life into what was then a dead Ultimate Fighting Championship brand. Griffin went on to accomplish much more.

He stunned the mixed martial arts world at UFC 76, where he not only upset 2005 Pride Fighting Championships grand prix winner Mauricio Rua but submitted him with a third-round rear-naked choke. Ten months later, on July 5, 2008, Griffin became the first competitor spawned by “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series to win a UFC championship, as he captured the light heavyweight crown with a unanimous decision over Quinton Jackson.

Griffin’s attritive style was not conducive to longevity, and injuries slowed him late in his career. He went 3-3 after he defeated “Rampage,” his wins over Tito Ortiz (twice) and Rich Franklin offset by violent knockout losses to Rua, Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva. Griffin was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on July 6, 2013, a little more than a month after he announced his retirement.

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