The 15th class of the International Sports of Hall of Fame features another stacked lineup of all-time greats. Among those are former UFC Light-Heavyweight champion of the world, Forrest Griffin. Griffin’s induction will be extra special for not only him but for ISHOF founder Dr. Robert Goldman and Vice President Fairfax Hackley. Griffin was originally set to be inducted in 2020, but he was unable to be in attendance. His moment in the spotlight this year will close that loop and honor him in a way Hackley says he deserves.
Hackley shared, “At the time of Forrest’s original Induction, he was unable to travel as the UFC had a travel ban for their employees because of Covid. We had “unfinished business” and he deserved every part of a full Induction.”
Griffin’s best skill as a fighter may not have been a certain punch or kick, it was his mindset. He recalled always being more calm about the fights than other issues such as social settings when he was younger or longer flights to other countries. One place he never felt the nerves or pressure was in the cage or when it came to the fight game. That may be because from the time he first discovered it, he knew what he was going to do.
“I wanted to be a professional fighter, full stop.”
The accolades that Griffin brings with him to the ISHOF speak for themselves: inaugural light-heavyweight winner of the Ultimate Fighter, former UFC world light-heavyweight champion, UFC Hall of Famer, and a record of 19 wins against 7 losses. When Griffin looks back at his career, he first thinks back to his now legendary fight with Stephen Bonnar in the Ultimate Fighter finale in 2005.
“That was the moment that took everything over for me,” he recalled. Aside from both Griffin and Bonnar receiving UFC contracts, their iconic matchup is credited in part for changing the fortunes of the UFC going forward.
Griffin went on to have many memorable moments in the octagon with legends like Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz, Anderson Silva, and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who Griffin beat for his world title. Even though he shared the stage with all those greats, it was only fitting that he was inducted to the UFC Hall of Fame alongside Bonnar. While he was honored to be recognized in that fashion, Griffin said that he hoped for a longer run and felt he could have done more before calling it a career.
“I was hoping that I could have been like Randy Couture or Brandon Vera that had a great second-half to their careers.”
How Is Forrest Griffin Shaping the Future of MMA Athletes Today?
Aside from also becoming a two-time New York Times Best Selling author (Got Fight and Be Ready When the Sh*t Goes Down), Griffin now works for the UFC as their Vice President of Athlete Development and has been serving as a mentor for over a decade now. He now plays a part in helping fighters learn more about how to train, load manage properly, recover, and make weight without resorting to extreme tactics. The fight game is naturally dangerous, but Griffin plays a part in making it safer and helping the athletes get better.
“They wanted fighters to be more resilient, extend careers, fight more often if they wanted; they wanted professionals. All of these things are best for the athletes and for the product.”
Griffin has also done more speaking to kids and future fighters recently and will continue to do so. When asked about how to reach goals or achieve success in any field, he offers simple advice that he gained from rock climbing, another endeavor he has experience in.
“Don’t look up and don’t look down. Always look straight ahead. You should always be looking for your next move. That’s a great way to think about life when you’re stressed.”
That may be part of what he says when he takes to the podium with his gold medal around his neck as the next inductee in the ISHOF. The other members of the Class of 2026 include Dexter Jackson, Garry Kasparov, Vitomir Maricic, and the Harlem Globetrotters.
Griffin will be the ninth MMA legend to become a member of this Hall of Fame, joining Randy Couture, Royce Gracie, Bas Rutten, Frank Shamrock, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Stipe Miocic, and Kayla Harrison. Even someone with as many honors as he has, Griffin never takes moments like this for granted and is grateful for the opportunity to be recognized at this year’s ISHOF ceremony.
“Any time that your work is recognized, that’s something,” he stated. “It’s an honor to be among those people.”
The 2026 International Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for Saturday, September 26 at the Palms Casino and Resort Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 12:30 PM Pacific time and is open for the public to attend. For more information on the ISHOF, go to their website.
