Ortiz upset with Griffin’s postfight antics

Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz hoped to wrap up his career with a victory at UFC 148 at the MGM Grand on Saturday night.

At the very least, he wanted to go out with one final postfight interview with the organization's longtime color commentator, Joe Rogan.

Ortiz got neither. After Forrest Griffin's name was announced as a somewhat controversial unanimous-decision winner over Ortiz, Griffin grabbed the microphone and conducted a strange interview with the retiring star.

"That was (expletive)," an agitated Ortiz said later at the news conference. "You've got to understand, 15 years ago Joe Rogan was the first person to interview me. I told him, 'I'm going to make a mark in this sport.' I helped build the sport that built me into the person I am today.

"I wish Joe Rogan would have interviewed me, but I guess that's what we've got a press conference for."

Griffin's bizarre antics started immediately after the final bell. He instantly exited the cage and began running back toward the locker room only to have UFC president Dana White chase him down and bring him back to hear the final decision.

"I mean, do I really have to tell you guys what I said to him?" White asked. "He's a great guy. But he gets a little kooky sometimes."

Griffin later explained he was depressed, but clearly felt remorse for taking Ortiz's moment.

"I sincerely apologize," Griffin said. "I can see you guys have got a ton of history and I apologize. I wish I could take that back. I'm sorry."

■ OVEREEM MENDS FENCES - Alistair Overeem is still barred from competing due to his nine-month suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission because of elevated testosterone levels during an out-of-competition test, but the UFC heavyweight contender still had one of his most productive trips to Las Vegas in some time.

Overeem met with both White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta, waiting more than 40 minutes for an audience with the former, at Zuffa offices last week. Overeem also announced an endorsement deal with a new energy drink, RIZE.

White recently expressed little interest in having Overeem back when his suspension is up in December, but the meeting apparently changed his outlook.

"Nothing but respect for Alistair now," White said. "We all make mistakes and we all do stupid (expletive). I say this all the time. It's all in how you handle yourself after. He handled himself like a (expletive) stud."

Overeem has put his time off to good use, settling into his new home in Miami and even starting to learn basketball, thanks to the success of the Heat.

"I'm going to be the last person to say life is perfect. It has its ups and downs. I can tell you I've had ups and downs before, but I'm a fighter. I don't give up. I have a positive mindset," he said.

"Comparing this downset to other downsets I've had in my life, this one is not that bad. It's giving me time off, which if the (title) fight would have happened and I would have beaten (champion Junior) dos Santos, which I think I would, there would not be time off. There would have been more opportunity and obligations. I'm using this time to recharge the battery, which I really needed."

In addition to his testing issues, Overeem also pled guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge for an incident outside XS Nightclub in January.

■ UFC TO CHINA - The UFC will host a card in China for the first time Nov. 10.

The event will take place at the Venetian property in Macau, which has a 15,000-seat arena.

No fights have been announced, though White indicated he hopes Cung Le will be on the card after his decision victory over Patrick Cote on Saturday night.

■ NEVER A REST - After one of the biggest weeks in company history, Zuffa is right back to work with a pair of West Coast events this week.

A middleweight contender bout between Chris Weidman and Mark Munoz headlines UFC on Fuel 4, which airs live Wednesday on Fuel TV (Cable 319) at 5 p.m.

Two Strikeforce titles will be on the line Friday night in Portland, Ore., as Luke Rockhold defends the middleweight belt against Tim Kennedy and Tyron Woodley and Nate Marquardt fight for the vacant welterweight title on a card that airs tape-delayed on Showtime (Cable 240) at 10 p.m.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj.