Forrest Griffin vs Tito Ortiz — Fight recap

Forrest Griffin earned a split-decision victory over Tito Ortiz on November 21, 2009, in a three-round light heavyweight contest that showcased contrasting approaches. Griffin landed 70 significant strikes at 33% accuracy while attempting just one takedown, relying on his striking volume to control the fight's pace despite accumulating only 1:11 of control time.

Ortiz, meanwhile, secured three takedowns on nine attempts (33%) and dominated positional control with 4:09, but managed just 24 significant strikes at 32% accuracy, unable to translate his grappling advantage into decisive damage. The split decision reflected the fight's competitive nature—Griffin's superior striking output against Ortiz's wrestling-based control—with referee Josh Rosenthal overseeing the full fifteen minutes.

The result kept Griffin's title aspirations alive while signaling Ortiz's declining effectiveness at the division's elite level.