With Mark Coleman forced to withdraw from his UFC 106 bout with Tito Ortiz due to an injury, speculation has been firmly focused on who would step up to face the returning “Huntington Beach Bad Boy.”
The new opponent has finally been revealed.
Hoping to avenge his decision loss to Ortiz at UFC 59, Forrest Griffin has stepped up to face Ortiz at the event. The co-main-event for a show headlined by UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin, Ortiz-Griffin will help UFC 106 do monster numbers for the leading mixed martial arts promotion.
Griffin, who has been quiet following his devastating UFC 101 knockout loss to Anderson Silva, will get an opportunity to start the rebuilding process on a major stage.
Since their 2006 fight (which Ortiz won via a heavily-debated split decision), Griffin has defeated big names like Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Quinton Jackson as part of his successful campaign to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion; he is currently, however, on a two-fight losing streak, with losses to Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva.
Ortiz, meanwhile, has been rather quiet–with losses to Chuck Liddell and Lyoto Machida and a draw against Rashad Evans, his only wins since the Griffin fight have come against Ken Shamrock.
