Griffin Acknowledges Pressure, Ring Rust Ahead of Franklin Bout

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Forrest Griffin has been away from the fight game for longer than he ever has before.

On Saturday, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight champion will step into the cage for the first time in over a year to take on fellow ex-champ Rich Franklin at UFC 126. Last week, Griffin spoke to the media via conference call regarding his co-main event contest at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

“Being off for a year, that’s a weird feeling. I’m a little more nervous than usual. During this year, I’ve had some spurts of really good training when I thought I was going to fight,” said Griffin. “The big thing will just be that first minute, making that adjustment, getting back in there. This is the longest break I’ve ever had from fighting, so it’s weird.”

UFC 126 has a fight bill filled with talent on both the main and preliminary cards. When asked if he felt more pressure in co-headlining the stacked event after sitting on the shelf for so long, the ever-candid Griffin delivered a predictably honest reply.

“Yes, it does [feel like there is more pressure],” said Griffin. “If you look at the way Rich fights and you look at the way I fight, the makings for a great fight are there. You just hope that it comes together and it’s the fight that you think it can be, you know? ”

After avenging a loss to Tito Ortiz in the main event of UFC 106, Griffin was slated to return to the Octagon against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 114. A recurring shoulder injury forced Griffin to withdraw, however, and surgery was required. But even while sitting on the sideline, the Xtreme Couture product found ways to stay active.

“I was able to do some basic stuff. You never let the body just lie dormant. [I did some] hiking, physical stuff that wasn’t fight-related. I thought my shoulder was fine after eight weeks, but it wasn’t, so I had to take another three to four weeks off,” said Griffin.

While Griffin entered his bout with Mauricio Rua at UFC 76 with the injury, that setback did not prevent him from submitting the heavily favored “Shogun.” The dry-humored 31-year-old made light of the periodic problems inherent with such an injury.

“I [initially] hurt the shoulder in 2006. I had surgery on it and that gave me about two good years. So, that’s the plan. About every two years, I’ll just have surgery on it,” Griffin chuckled.

Though the layoff has provided the fighter with some mental relief from the grind of fighting for a living, he asserts that some negatives have also come with the sabbatical.

“Well, it sucks [not being able to train],” said Griffin. “It’s nice to get to do other things and not really worry about fighting. ... It’s mentally refreshing, but physically, even though a break every now and then is good for your body, it was too long without competing. This is the most ring rust I’ve ever had. I’m not excited about it. I’m definitely going to fight more.”

During his time on the shelf, Griffin has been forced to watch his peers suffer the triumphs and failures that come with fighting in the world’s largest MMA organization. These are the times when Griffin’s desire to compete surfaces most strongly.

“Usually during the fight weekends is really the only time [it's difficult to be out], you know? When the fights are on, I feel like I should be [out there competing],” said Griffin. “The biggest thing is that I’m not getting any younger. I’m kind of in the prime of my career, and I’d really like to get some fights in.”

So what is the original “Ultimate Fighter” looking forward to the most in returning to the Octagon?

“[I’m excited for] that feeling when everything starts clicking. It kind of feels like home.”