“I've always kind of been the guy next door who just happens to fight for a living. I tried to figure out what was special and marketable about me early on in my career and I realized that there's absolutely nothing special about me, so I wanted that.”

American retired mixed martial artist

Forrest Griffin is an American retired mixed martial artist. He was born in 1979 and is known for winning the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, becoming a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, and later entering the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013. Before his fighting career took off, Griffin worked as a Georgia police officer. His rise began with the tournament final against Stephan Bonnar, a bout widely credited with helping propel the UFC into greater popularity. He now serves as Vice President of Athlete Development at the UFC Performance Institute.