Forrest Griffin took Xanax night before Anderson Silva fight, flunked UFC 101 drug test

Forrest Griffin, who stepped up to the plate to face Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 101 way back in Aug. 2009, admitted today (Oct. 1, 2012) on "The MMA Hour" that he took the anti-anxiety prescription drug, Xanax, before his light heavyweight showdown with "The Spider" in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He did it, of course, with a doctor's prescription.

The conversation came up when Griffin was asked what kind of advice he could offer Stephan Bonnar, a fighter he knows all too well, as he prepares to face the 185-pound kingpin, Silva, at UFC 153 on Oct. 13, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Having faced the wrath of the Brazilian bomber already, Griffin simply stated that it would be in the best interest of "The American Psycho" to not be hopped up on Valium or Xanax the day of the fight. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 1 winner then revealed he failed his post-fight drug test after he was emphatically knocked out by Silva in the very first round.

"I failed my drug test I think for Xanax. I had a doctor's prescription, I was just, I didn't do it before the fight, I did it the night before, I was nervous and I couldn't sleep."

Admit it, if you were lined up to face the baddest man to ever lace up mixed martial arts (MMA) gloves, you'd be a bit anxious, too.

Though the failed drug test wasn't made public Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, Griffin explains why he himself never confessed to the usage of the anti-anxiety drug:

"What's the point? Why add more humiliation to a bad situation?"

After defeating Tito Ortiz for the second time at UFC 148 this past July, Griffin will now face Chael Sonnen, who makes his return to the 205-pound division at UFC 155 on Dec. 29, 2012.

Not one to back down from a fight, Griffin says he accepted the bout after "The American Gangster" asked for the bout in what will be a rematch of their initial encounter that took place in 2003. A fight Griffin won via submission in round one very early in their MMA careers.

"Chael asked for it, from my understanding. He asked for it. I think I was the first one to pop and say ‘sure.' I didn't even say ‘sure,' I said ‘When. When and where?"

Griffin says the bout with the former two-time number one middleweight contender is right up his alley:

"I think it's stylistically a good matchup for me. I honestly, the thing that's been getting me in trouble are guys that are quicker than me and beating me to the punch with something I don't see coming. That's the problem I've had recently."

Though rumors have run rampant the Griffin is leaning toward retirement, he admits he may be nearing his final years in competing before hopefully landing a job with Zuffa, but he's not quite ready to hang them up just yet because, at the end of the day, he's been at the lowest of the low before ... and survived:

"Look what happened when I fought Anderson Silva. It can't possibly get worse than that. I've already seen the bottom and it wasn't that bad. I made it through. I survived. It's fighting. It's not the end of the world."

Any of you Maniacs out there shocked at this revelation from Griffin? Are you surprised this wasn't made public sooner, or is it much ado about nothing?

Who's your early pick in his bout against Chael Sonnen?