Forrest Griffin probably made about $100k for the fight itself (actual pay hasn't been released yet). He also got $60k for "fight of the night"

I could see a pretty simple conversation involving the promise of the "fight of the night" bonus, and a good payday or other perks on upcoming fights. Especially since Dana White completely controls his destiny, who he fights and where. Kind of hard to get those big endorsements and sponsors when you're on the undercard fighting a nobody.

UFC isn't boxing. The fighter ultimately doesn't get to choose who he fights, or when or where.

Having watched all of Forrest Griffin's fights before that one, it just didn't look like the same fighter. I know people say "Anderson Silva is just that good". But Griffin took better shots from Rampage, for example, but kept going. Griffin literally gave up at the end of the fight. He never has before.

Bottom line, nothing about that fight fits what's been seen in the past.