Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin: what goes around comes around

What’s old is new again. Déjà vu. What goes around comes round. Whatever you want to call it, Saturday’s UFC 106 main event has it.

Four years ago, Tito Ortiz abandoned the UFC in a contract dispute that lasted fourteen months. His first fight upon his return to the fold was a three-round battle with Forrest Griffin that saw the Huntington Beach Bad Boy eke out a split decision.

Now, we’ve got the rematch as Ortiz is again returning to the octagon after an eighteen-month quasi-retirement to face Griffin. Not that it was planned that way. Ortiz was supposed to fight former UFC champ Mark Coleman, who pulled out with an injury and will next face Randy Couture, the fighter who famously spanked Ortiz during their five-rounder at UFC 44.

There are two big questions going into the fight: How has the lay-off – and back surgery – affected Ortiz and how have back-to-back knockout losses to Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva (the latter an embarrassing clowning) affected Griffin?

Those factors aside, it’ll all come down to takedowns. If Ortiz gets them, he wins. If Griffin avoids them, he wins. Ortiz is about the double-leg takedowns and the Greco Roman throws from the clinch and Griffin is striking (especially leg kicks) and an Energizer Bunny attitude. Griffin won’t be able to knock out Ortiz and if the fight gets to the ground, Griffin is great off his back and has ended many a fight by submission, not that Ortiz is likely to be submitted unless he’s been softened up with blows first.

So flip a coin. I’m saying Griffin by decision. Giffin actually needs the win more if he wants to remain relevant in the division. Although an Ortiz victory would certainly make the light heavyweight lineup a little more interesting.

MAIN CARD

* Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz

* Anthony Johnson vs. Josh Koscheck

* Paulo Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann

* Luiz Cane vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

* Phil Baroni vs. Amir Sadollah

PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)

* Marcus Davis vs. Ben Saunders

* Kendall Grove vs. Jake Rosholt

PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)

* Brian Foster vs. Brock Larson

* Fabricio Camoes vs. Caol Uno

* Jason Dent vs. George Sotiropoulos