This Week’s MMA Birthdays: Forrest Griffin Turns 35

Forrest Griffin turns 35 this week. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

“The Ultimate Fighter” Season 1 winner and former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder Forrest Griffin will celebrate his 35th birthday on July 1.

Griffin burst on the global MMA scene in April 2005, when he earned a unanimous decision in a historic three-round brawl with Stephan Bonnar at “The Ultimate Fighter 1” Finale. He peaked some three years later, as he upset 2005 Pride Fighting Championships middleweight grand prix winner Mauricio Rua at UFC 76, submitting the Brazilian superstar with a third-round rear-naked choke. The victory thrust Griffin into a July 2008 title bout against Quinton Jackson at UFC 86, where he struck 205-pound gold with a unanimous verdict over the man they call “Rampage.”

A Columbus, Ohio, native, Griffin went 3-3 over his next six appearances, closing out his career with a one-sided unanimous decision over Tito Ortiz at UFC 148. He announced his retirement on May 26, 2013 and was later inducted into the UFC hall of fame.

Those in MMA celebrating a birthday during the week covering June 29-July 5: