Still untested: MMAmania.com exclusive sit-down with UFC lightweight Tyson Griffin
By: Andrew Nostvick
When Tyson Griffin enters the Octagon on Super Bowl weekend, he will be doing so with one goal and one goal in mind:
Climbing higher up the ladder of the exciting, fast-paced lightweight division.
And for Griffin to come out on top at UFC 81: “Breaking Point,” he will need to go through rising lightweight star Gleison Tibau.
“I need to fight to my gameplan, keep doing what I’ve been doing, fighting hard paced and try to break Gleison’s spirit,” Griffin said.
Since losing to Nick Diaz in his UFC debut at UFC 65: “Bad Intentions,” Tibau has won three straight fights inside the Octagon. His last victory was against Terry Etim at UFC 75: “Champion vs. Champion.”
“I think he is a tough jiu-jitsu guy like Thiago Tavares,” Griffin said. Griffin outpointed Tavares on all three judges scorecards his last time out at UFC 76: “Knockout” back in September 2007.
“Like I said, I need to put some pressure on him, break him and try to turn a black belt into a white belt by punching him in the face.”
As for Griffin, the Xtreme Couture fighter has won his last two fights in the UFC and three of four since his debut at UFC 63: “Hughes vs. Penn” in 2006.
Griffin also has wins against Clay Guida, David Lee, Duane Ludwig and WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber earlier in their careers — it’s his biggest win to date.
You always get your ‘bang for a buck’ when watching a Tyson Griffin fight and one thing is always true, his fight will always be a ‘Fight of the Night’ contender.
In fact, all three of Griffin’s fights in 2007 earned the prestigious honor.
“It’s the pure sport of it, pure competition, I’ve been after it my whole life ,” he said. “I love to compete, I love to train hard. The harder you train, the harder you can go out there.”
Griffin would like to finish Tibau early, but he is willing to go all three rounds if it means winning at UFC 81.
“I always try to press my opponents and finish them early, but you never know, these guys are tough in the UFC,” Griffin said.
What was once considered dead several years ago, the UFC lightweight division is now booming with many talented fighters like Griffin, Guida, Sean Sherk, Frankie Edgar, Kenny Florian and UFC lightweight champion, BJ Penn.
Griffin is satisfied with how the division has grown.
“I think it’s awesome, with the level of competition and so many tough guys,” Griffin said.
Griffin feels that he still needs to prove himself in the lightweight division. And he knows that if he one days wants to win the UFC 155-pound title that he must go through the gauntlet.
“I still feel I haven’t tested myself against true UFC veterans,” he said. “I fought a lot of up-and-comers like myself and I’ve separated myself as being one of the top up-and-comers but I’d like to fight against some of those veterans and really put myself up there with the names in the UFC.”
No doubt, a win over Tibau will open a floodgate of UFC fighters and veterans looking to take on this rising star.
29 Comments »
This is going to sound completely racist but what ethnicity is Griffin? He’s an awesome fighter but I do think he lost that fight to guida. I think he could finish Tibau early for a change.
i like how Joe Rogan said Tyson griffin has a ba-donk-a-donk.
[quote comment=”281967″]This is going to sound completely racist but what ethnicity is Griffin? He’s an awesome fighter but I do think he lost that fight to guida. I think he could finish Tibau early for a change.[/quote]
I disagree. I see Griffin winning by unanimous decision.
The UFC is curremtly in Negotiations with Gomi, “Kid” Yamamoto, an Hayato “mach” Sakurai….If that happens….WOW!
GOmi vs. Huetra
“kid” vs. Faber
“Mach” vs. Florian
Tyson griffin is still 2 big wins away from a title shot. He isn’t event fighting on the televised card
Regardless pf what he says Tyson has faced top level compitition. The only thing that has kept him from a title shot is that loss to Frankie Edgar.
[quote post=”4711″]I disagree. I see Griffin winning by unanimous decision.
The UFC is curremtly in Negotiations with Gomi, “Kid” Yamamoto, an Hayato “mach” Sakurai….If that happens….WOW!
GOmi vs. Huetra
“kid” vs. Faber
“Mach” vs. Florian
Tyson griffin is still 2 big wins away from a title shot. He isn’t event fighting on the televised card [/quote]
PLease keep on writins these news on the comments section. If the ufc gets Kid i will be so amped to see him fight. Hes one of my favorite fighters.
I’d like to see Griffen/Edgar. That would be a fight to see.
Mania, Earlier this week you asked me for my source of proof that Gary “smiley” turner was fighting Antonio Silva instead of Ricco. Well now he is fighting Ricco again. Here’s the proof, read it cause its a pretty interesting lead, but lengthy:
Turner Vs Elite XC: Press release on being dropped & not being told!
Gary Turner was set to take on Antonio Silva. Sounds like Elite XC and that crook Gary Shaw properly screwed him over. Check this out:
Management TEAM GARY TURNER
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Without any notice, Elite XC removed British heavyweight Gary ‘SMILER’ Turner from their February card vs. Antonio Silva in Florida. They don’t even have the politeness to inform the fighter in person but Gary needed to learn it thru their website!
The reason we publish this email to Elite XC is mainly because it’s not only an insult to Gary Turner but to the whole British MMA community.
Sirs,
This is highly upsetting.
I’ve discovered on the internet this morning that I’ve been dropped from my fight with Silva. Dropped? Finding out on the internet? Bit of an insult don’t you think?
To quote Gary Shaw himself, ‘we put the fighters first, they are the stars. We will do everything we can to put them first.’ I was at the press meet in London when he said this. This does not seem to ring true at all in practice, and even if Gary Shaw believes this, his staff definitely do not subscribe.
Let me explain the effects of Elite XC playing with someone’s life. My life.
I spoke with Dave O’Donnell of Cage Rage this morning. He says you contacted him late last night (I missed his call - I had already gone to bed!) and told him to tell me that you have dropped me due to my eyesight and the question whether I could achieve a license in Florida. As explained quite clearly to you I was licensed in 2006 twice by Florida. I provided you with the medical documentation that achieved my license to fight in Florida. I personally contacted Florida State Athletic Commission who confirmed that the medical documentation I presented was acceptable, and they confirmed that with these presented facts I would be licensed in Florida. I believe that either JT Steele is incompetent or even negligent for not checking his facts (as evidenced below in previous emails) or is hiding behind a different agenda.
The fight was offered, and basic terms offered. A negotiation took place and the basic terms agreed on. Offer and acceptance. Elite XC publish and advertise the fight. I put my life on hold.
I throw myself into training specifically for this fight. I book in trainingpartners. I book in sparring with the British Army Boxing Team. I am traveling the UK to ensure I get to spar and train with the best of Britain. My kickboxing, boxing and grappling coaches throw their commitment behind me. I book in specific training partners to ensure I am prepared for Silva.
I become my training!
As soon as Elite XC announced the fight publicly I spent time marketing the fight on the internet and contacting friends in Florida and the USA and Canada, ensuring that I could ensure good ticket and PPV sales. I even have a group of people here in the UK that are looking at flying out to watch the fight live.
I have my own business as a Building Surveyor who is Chartered (closest thing to this in the US is probably an Architect), and I have cancelled all my work running up to the fight in order to immerse myself in my preparations. This loss of business, and the knock on business it would generate, is obviously highly costly to me, and that work is now lost.
The timing of the fight is bad for personal relationships, with me not going to be at home on 14th February, which is Valentine’s Day in the UK, an important date for any relationship in the UK! Obviously my fiancée is upset that I won’t be doing anything with her that day, as I have put my sport before her.
Further, I have not earned money since the fight was accepted, yet have experienced numerous costs in training, let alone my living expense and mortgage that my fiancée will have to cover for this period. Can I ask what I am supposed to live on?
And then you decide to drop me, without even contacting me first. It is not just me who is affected.
Your ‘decision’ also affects everyone involved in my training. My coaches make personal and financial sacrifices to support me. The same with my training partners. Our personal lives are adversely affected by all of our commitment to prepare and be the best we can be the day of a fight.
So now the fight doesn’t take place, apparently at your unqualified ‘whim’. I now have to go on the internet and explain why this fight is not taking place. I have to explain that I can, and have, a license to fight in Florida. I have to explain that I had nothing whatsoever to do with the fight not taking place. I have to make it clear to other promoters that I am a committed sportsman who when HE AGREES to something to do whatever necessary to perform to his best. I have to make it clear that I am a professional who checks he can do what he says he can do prior to making an agreement. I have to confirm with everyone who questions that I had nothing at all to do with your decision to stop this fight from taking place.
Obviously I am very upset this morning, but have tried to remain objective in this email.
I want to know the real background as to why this fight is not taking place and the reasons behind your decision. And what you are going to do to put it right.
GARY TURNER
Mania, you need a new picture for Tyson Griffin. That one make it look like he has some kind of horrifying skin disease.
c-war, um i think that already happened,and why is the title called “still untested”
In reply to the query of Tyson’s ethnicity - it has been previously stated his mother is white and his father African American.
Untested? Edgar and Guida quizzed his chin pretty well, I think.
Nate Diaz called Griffin out the other day on a Sherdog video. He said Griffin left their Gracie camp and went Hollywood. He made it clear Griffin would not want to fight him. Interesting statement. Nate Diaz ain’t no joke. I’d like to see that fight. Joe Silva where you at?
[quote post=”4711″]Tyson griffin is still 2 big wins away from a title shot. He isn’t event fighting on the televised card [/quote]
Tyson thinks that as well and he knows he’s not ready for a title shot and wants to take on the top fighters in the lightweight division. He deserves to be fighting on the main cards. This fight could be his fourth straight FOTN.
It is kinda beyond my comprehension how folks put Huerta ahead of guys like Griffin and Edgar in the rankings…. those two have just as good a record and have faced better competition. It is amazing how the UFC hype machine can puff someone up so much that folks actually buy in without having the results to justify it yet.
I like 2 see Nate Diaz fight any of these guys.He’s not even talked about in the list of names.Huerta beat Guida and he wasn’t in there either.
“You always get your “bang for a buck’ when watching a Tyson Griffin fight and one thing is always true, his fight will always be a “Fight of the Night’ contender.
In fact, all three of Griffin’s fights in 2007 earned the prestigious honor.”
…exactly why it makes absolutely NO sense that this fight isn’t on the televised card. what the hell?
[quote comment=”281985″]I’d like to see Griffen/Edgar. That would be a fight to see.[/quote]
They already fought and edgar won a Unanimous desicion.
WHY THE HELL ISN’T TYSON ON THE MAIN CARD?!?!
bah!
[quote comment=”282581″]WHY THE HELL ISN’T TYSON ON THE MAIN CARD?!?!
bah![/quote]
I would rather see the Tyson fight intead of Marquardt/Horn who’s styles will make for a snoozefest!
Fighters like Tyson/Guida/Huerta/Florian are what make this division in UFC probably one of the top divisions in UFC…if not the top division. All like to push the pace and win their fights on their own with a submission or knockout…instead of a Tim Sylvia grind and hug it out and hope the judges give you the nod.
I think UFC has to do a little more scouting and see if they can find some young talent in the 185 lbs weight class. I don’t necessarily know how bad it really is…just seems like there is a very dominate champion in that weight class.
As far as Tyson goes I think he is headed for greatness. Still quite young…puts on great fights…and turns out a winner in most occassions. Not to mention he doesn’t appear to have that COTE attitude…”give me Silva.” So with the proper progression he should bring a legitimate shot at winning the lightweight title when it comes his time.
I was reading a quote from Nate Diaz in which he called out Griffin.
Here it is:
“First of all i forgot to mention in that interview that Tyson is a disloyal piece of shit i could give a rats ass if we use to train together that makes it worse he should have never left the team he had all of us to train with 1 hour away so he moved to vegas to train at E C he should have never left………Fuck that Bitch” -Nate Diaz
3 Reasons why i can guaran-DAMN-tee this will be Tyson’s next fight after Tibau:
1) Nate Diaz just called him out.
2) Nate Diaz is begging to fight a contender.
3) and they’re schedules match up. They’re fighting within 2 weeks of each other.
It’s on!
Tibau is a bigtime underdog in this one… but who is to say it can’t happen….a cut, injury, quick slip and it could be over for Tyson that quick.
I’m sure Tyson will probably come out on top anyway.
As far as Nate Diaz…. its funny, I think years from now ppl will see both Diaz brothers appologizing for being so immature and arrogant in their ‘early’ years. Fighters that move around from gym to gym actually become ‘better’ fighters. Maybe the Diaz brothers should try it after Nate loses his next fight. (my opinion)
There are so many “good fighters in the LW, but so few “great”. Penn will have no real competition after Sherk for a while. All these fighters are young, inexpirianced, and have never fought a real top tier championship quality opponent.
Said it before, but I think Penn will make his WW jump sooner than we expect, after Sherk, there wont be a whole lot of match ups taht will exite many.
I mean, Penn vs Huerta? Or Penn vs. Edgar? It’s like Anderson and the rest of the MW’s(besides Hendo).
Anyone else hear about Nate Diaz calling out Tyson Griffin?
Tyson Griffin is a contender, but I’m gonna go with Nate Diaz. The kid’s better than his older brother. And just sick with the BJJ. I see him knocking on the door of a title shot within 2 years. This could be a great rivalry at 155. A grudge match.
Let’s see it!
[quote post=”4711″]Tyson griffin is still 2 big wins away from a title shot. He isn’t event fighting on the televised card [/quote]
Tyson Griffin not fighting on the televised card is an insult to Tyson and us fans. Tyson had THREE Fight of the Nights last year! Who else can say that? Everyone of Tyson’s fights are exciting. I don’t know how he does it, but I can picture a fight between Tyson Griffin and Blake Bowman being a fanstastic 3 round fight. Well maybe not Blake, but Tyson is always in an exciting 3 round fight. And THAT is something that this fan wants to see when I pay for a PPV.
And regarding Nate Diaz… A fight with Tyson makes sense. Nate wants to fight a contender, he called out Tyson, Tyson used to train at Ceaser Gracie’s gym but left for Xtreme COuture. And like someone mentioned above, they are fighting two weeks apart, so thier schedules match up perfectly.
I have always been a huge fan of the Diaz brothers (obviously a fan of Nick’s first…), but I still see this being a very difficult fight for Nate to win. I’ve seen Tyson in some pretty bad spots in fights against BJJ guys, and he seems to either power out of arm bars, or stand up when getting choked and drop people on thier heads. He is ridiculously strong for 155. Him, Sherk, and Joe Stevenson are probably the 3 physically strongest LW’s. Tyson is great at grappling and scrambling and will have a huge strength advantage. I would think that Nate’s best chance at winning would be to lock up a triangle choke. Nate is quickly on his way to having one of the best guards in all of the UFC.
I would absolutely love to see Nate defeat Tyson Griffin and catapoult his way toward the top of the division. They used to train together, and if Nate is calling him out, he must know something that we don’t, that he learned from training together.
I’d like to see a Griffin vs. Huerta match.
Nate Diaz is not that good from what I’ve seen. Griffon has been fighting competition of higher caliber.
Id put my money on Griffon anyday..he has the power/technique/experience to completely dominate Nate imo.
[quote post=”4711″]Griffon has been fighting competition of higher caliber.[/quote]
Can’t argue that one. That is why Nate is asking to fight a contender, and not some ‘can’