We asked DWCS 15’s Jordan Griffin about long road to UFC, and the waterworks began https://mmajunkie.com/2018/08/dwcs-15-jordan-griffin-ufc-contract-waterworks/ …
Jordan Griffin flexes and gives a yell of elation after getting a UFC contract. YouTube screen capture.
Indian Country Today
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White announced last night that four athletes were awarded contracts at the “Dana White’s Contender Series 15 event,” among them was Jordan Griffin, a member of the Bad River Band Of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians.
After the announcement of the contracts, which took place at The Ultimate Fighter Gym in Las Vegas and streamed on UFC Fight Pass, Griffin spoke with UFC President Dana White.
At 3:45 in the video, White said, “Representing your Native American heritage is so important to you. You’ve got the Bad River Tribe watching back home, what is your message to them?” To which Griffin flexed and laughed and said simply, “I made it, I can’t believe I am here. I can’t wait to visit everybody and celebrate.”
In a later interview with MMAJunkie, Jordan Griffin — a 28-year-old Legacy Fighting Alliance vet and former “King of the Cage” champion with 13 stoppages in 17 career wins — said he felt confident he would get a contract.
“I was like, yeah, they’re going to let me in,” he told MMAJunkie. “I was just like, man, if they don’t let me in, that’s going to be wild. But I had a very strong feeling they were going to let me in because of the finish and my previous finishes.”
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When asked about his long road to a UFC deal, Griffin fought back tears.
“I knew I was just looking for the opportunity, and I got it,” he said. “And I knew I was going to take it.”
Follow Indian Country Today’s associate editor and senior correspondent, Vincent Schilling (Akwesasne Mohawk) on Twitter – @VinceSchilling
