Fighters make weight, Dana White talks Rampage/Rashad

Brett Okamoto

Tito Ortiz (left) and Forrest Griffin (right) stare each other down during Friday’s weigh-ins for UFC 106 at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Ortiz and Griffin are scheduled as the main event for UFC 106 on Nov. 21, 2009.

By Brett Okamoto (contact)

Friday, Nov. 20, 2009 | 5:02 p.m.

Tito Ortiz has made up with UFC president Dana White and fixed the back problems he’s suffered from since 2003.

Now it’s time to get back to business.

A fired up and serious Ortiz hopped on the scale at his first official UFC weigh-in in over 18 months. He came in at 204 pounds for his main event bout, a rematch with Forrest Griffin at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday.

Fans received Ortiz with an even mix of cheers and boos. Ortiz seemed happy to receive both.

“Tomorrow night is all about the fans,” Ortiz said. “I’m glad Forrest took this fight but he’s going to come out on the short end. He asked for two more rounds the last time we fought and now he’s going to get them. I’m very excited, there’s nothing like this.”

Griffin weighed-in a pound heavier at 205 and looked happy to be on-stage as well, ready to put a disappointing loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 101 behind him.

When the two fighters met the first time in 2006, Griffin was basically just beginning his UFC career while Ortiz was one of the sport’s bigger stars.

At Friday’s weigh-in, Griffin eluded to the idea that Ortiz’s time as an elite light heavyweight may be over.

“It’s obviously great to be here,” Griffin said. “I’m looking forward to fighting the ‘former man.’”

Welterweight Anthony Johnson gave a smile when he came in at perfect 170 pounds following his last fight where he failed to make weight.

His opponent, Josh Koscheck, weighed in at 171.

In other big news, White announced during a Q&A session with fans that he believes Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson will be back in the UFC following his filming of the new ‘A-Team’ movie and says that the much anticipated fight between he and Rashad Evans is still likely.

“Rashad has a fight with Thiago Silva in January,” White said. “If Rashad is able to get out that with a win he’ll fight Rampage next.”

Full Results:

Tito Ortiz (204) vs. Forrest Griffin (205)

Josh Koscheck (171) vs. Anthony Johnson (170)

Paulo Thiago (169) vs. Jacob Volkmann (170)

Luiz Cane (205) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (205)

Amir Sadollah (170) vs. Phil Baroni (170)

Ben Saunders (170) vs. Marcus Davis (170)

Kendall Grove (186) vs. Jake Rosholt (185.5)

Brock Larson (171) vs. Brian Foster (171)

Caol Uno (155.5) vs. Fabricio Camoes (155.5)

George Sotiropoulos (155) vs. Jason Dent (155)