Top 10 Light Heavyweight Bouts In UFC History
The UFC’s light heavyweight division is arguably the most prestigious outfit in the history of mixed martial arts. All-time…
DOB: January 23rd, 1975
Birthplace: Huntington Beach, California
Nickname: The Huntington Beach Bad Boy
Gym: Team Punishment
Style: Wrestling
Weight Division: Light Heavyweight
Championships: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Tito Ortiz had a hard life growing with two heroin addicted parents. He would get in a lot of trouble growing up, always getting into fights.
When Ortiz was a sophomore in high school, he went out for the wrestling team and excelled at the sport. Ortiz won a regional title and finished fourth in the state his senior year.
He developed a drug problem after high school, but overcame it thanks to his old wrestling coach. His old coach encouraged him to wrestle at the junior college he coached at.
At Golden West Jr College, Ortiz got back on track and won the Jr state championship.
After Jr college, Tito went to Cal State at Bakersfield to wrestle, but wasn’t on the starting team. He trained along former UFC vet Tank Abbott.
Ortiz then discovered MMA and immediately started training. Tito began training while still attending college and couldn’t go pro to stay eligible for wrestling, so he fought amateur bouts.
Tito’s very first pro fights were at the UFC 13 tournament. He won his first fight by TKO in 31 seconds against Wes Albritton. On the same night he also fought MMA veteran Guy Mezger losing by guillotine.
At the time Tito was only 22 years old and showed a lot of potential for improvement. He would go 3-1 in his next 4 fights including avenging his loss to Mezger.
In just his 6th fight, Tito fought for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight title against legend Wanderlei Silva. He would use his wrestling to control the fight and earn a decision to win the title.
After winning the title, Ortiz would defend the belt 5 times with the last defense stopping his nemesis Ken Shamrock.
Ortiz would face Randy Couture in his 6th title defense, but would get outworked for 5 rounds. Losing a unanimous decision and the title. He would also lose his next fight by KO against rival Chuck Liddell.
Now with 2 losses in a row, Tito would get back to his winning ways beating his next 5 fights. Two of them against Ken Shamrock, who he stopped with strikes in both bouts.
With 5 wins in a row this set him up with another rematch against rival Chuck Liddell. Unfortunately, the rematch did not go his way either losing by stoppage again.
After losing to Liddell for a 2nd time, Ortiz did not have much more success in the UFC. Going 1-7-1 in his last 9 UFC fights before being released
Ortiz found himself in Bellator MMA after his long UFC run. He would win his debut against former Bellator middleweight champ Alexander Shlemenko.
Overall he would go 3-1 before his contract expired.
When Ortiz’s Bellator contract ended, he fought on Golden Boy Promotions only MMA card. Avenging 2 losses against his rival Chuck Liddell.
The Huntington Beach Bad Boy would then sign with promotion Combate Americas. Facing pro wrestler Alberto Patron and winning by strikes in the first round.
The UFC’s light heavyweight division is arguably the most prestigious outfit in the history of mixed martial arts. All-time…
Mixed martial arts (MMA) has come a long way. Titles have changed hands, promotions have died, disciplines have transformed,…
When the UFC debuted on a fateful November day in Denver back in 1993, the opportunity for martial artists…
Tito Ortiz lost to Liam McGeary in a light heavyweight title bout as the main event of Bellator Dynamite…
Bellator Dynamite 1 took place this past Saturday, September 19th at the SAP Center in San Jose, California and…
With every decision comes a consequence and for those fighters who took part in battle this past at Bellator…
Bellator light heavyweight champion Liam McGeary picked up the biggest win of his career last night (September 19, 2015),…
Tito Ortiz vs. Liam McGeary met in a light heavyweight title bout as the main event of Bellator Dynamite…
Frank Shamrock hasn’t fought in six and a half years, but he revealed in a recent interview with MMA…
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has his career back on track following his stint in the UFC….