What a difference a win can have on a fighter, particularly one as emotionally charged as Forrest Griffin.

The jaded, world-weary version of Griffin that emerged after Anderson Silva humbled him at UFC 101 surprised many fans who were used to seeing a completely different side to the star. He left them in no doubt that he had taken the defeat very personally and that it had left a serious dent in his self-confidence and general outlook on life.

One man who knew how to get the fighter out of his depression was UFC president Dana White.

“When these guys lose, you gotta get back on the horse. Especially Forrest. Forrest is a real emotional guy, and he didn’t take that loss easily. He wasn’t Forrest after that fight, and I think it’s better to jump right back in there and fight again rather than sit around and commiserate until you fight again,” White told reporters ahead of his next fight some three and a half months later.

He would prove to be right. After Griffin avenged an old loss to former champion Tito Ortiz in the main event of last weekend’s UFC 106 event, the relief and renewed confidence gained from getting back to winning ways was plain for all to see.

How long that lasts may very well depend on how long he can maintain his winning form, but for the mean time it appears that a demon had been exorcised and the old Forrest Griffin is back.

Don’t take my word for it though. Watch the first interview Griffin gave after his loss to Silva at UFC 101 below, and then contrast it with a new interview, again with Dave Farra for mma30.com, on the night of his victory at UFC 106.

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A few weeks after his loss at UFC 101 in August:

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A few hours after his win at UFC 106 in November:

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Article by RossC