F. Griffin. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
Forrest griffin, who announced his retirement from MMA in May this year, declared that his body would not be able to return to active duty.
The North American, winner of the first season of reality show The Ultimate Fighter and former UFC light heavyweight champion, surprised by announcing that he would stop fighting at 33 years of age. This is because, just a few months earlier, he was scheduled to face Phil Davis at UFC 155, but had to withdraw from the fight with a knee injury.
In an interview with the North American website MMA Fighting, Griffin stated that he initially resisted the idea of retiring. “Physically I can’t go back. At first, I didn't want to stop. When I announced my retirement, that's when I was trying to come back and I realized that wasn't feasible,” he stated.
“My shoulder is finished. Now, I brush my teeth with my left hand. That's the way things are. I can't play basketball or shoot any kind of ball. I'm right-handed, but in the last three years I fought with one arm”, continued the now former fighter.
According to Griffin, his physical limitations also hindered his training routine. “My training focused on what hurt the least. I thought 'what am I going to do today? What's not hurting? Well, that's what I'll train today,'” he said.
The last performance of Forrest griffin, now a member of the event's Hall of Fame, was at UFC 148, in July 2012, when he defeated Tito Ortiz in the judges' decision.
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