What a difference a win makes

UFC 106 was an event that didn't even have the fights it was expected too. With injuries to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin, the card was left in shambles, and the co-main event with Tito Ortiz and Mark Coleman was scrapped when Coleman was injured and in stepped Forrest Griffin. For a co-main event the UFC threw on a top-notch fight with Josh Koscheck and Anthony Johnson, despite both fighting on short notice. It's needless to say UFC 106 had low expectations that just made them easy to exceed.

We've seen the comeback fight (again) from Ortiz. In the lead up to this fight, the former UFC light heavyweight champion said on numerous occasions that he was the healthiest he's ever been, he was back to the old Ortiz, the one that dominated the UFC a few years ago. But after a razor sharp decision loss to Griffin, out came the excuses of having two bulging discs in his back, and a cracked skull. No, Ortiz, you would not be allowed to step in the octagon with a cracked skull. You got beat up and out came the excuses. The real reason for the loss is that Ortiz is past his prime and is realistically a one-dimensional fighter. He'll take you down and hit you a bit while never attempting to pass guard. Unfortunately for him this doesn't work anymore. Each time Ortiz got Griffin down, Griffin got right back up and even on one occasion reversed him on the ground and “Ortiz'd” him a little bit.

I used to be a big Ortiz fan, but that all has changed. There was some hope held out that he would return to form and dominate again, but it's apparent that will not be the case, he'll coast through this contract with mediocre fights and then will not be re-signed when he's completely irrelevant.

As for Griffin, what a difference a win makes. Here's a guy coming off fighting nothing but top guys in his last four fights (Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva) and going 2-2 in that time. After being embarrassed by Silva in his last fight he had a lot to prove. He also came out to the best entrance music ever when he walked to the octagon to Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. There simply wasn't a better song to prove he was ready to fight and move on from his last fight as the song lyrics go: “I get knocked down, but I get up again. You're never gunna keep me down.” Well played, Griffin.

Griffin sets himself up nicely now to get a title shot if he can reel off another two or so wins, but we know in the UFC's light heavyweight division, that is easier said than done.

In the co-main event between Koscheck and Johnson there was some controversial eye pokes, but that's besides the fact. Koscheck proved that experience prevails even when you're at a size disadvantage by rear naked choking Johnson in the second round.

Koscheck sets himself up to be atop the UFC's welterweight division and in some minds is more deserving of a title shot over Dan Hardy. Either way, both guys don't stand much of a chance against a healthy Georges St. Pierre.

Finally at the next UFC event we get to see a title put on the line with BJ Penn taking on Ultimate Fighter winner Diego Sanchez for the lightweight title in a sure-fire war.