Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
This past Saturday Night at UFC 148, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz announced his retirement, ending a fifteen year MMA career. Tito Ortiz has fought all of the best fighters that MMA had to offer, from Chuck Liddell to Forrest Griffin. With his career now in the history books, it is time to reflect of the ten best fights in the long MMA career of Tito Ortiz.
#10: vs. Wes Albritton (UFC 13 – 5/10/97)
It all had to start somewhere for Tito Ortiz and it started on May 10th, 1997 for the future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Tito Ortiz came into the tournament as a late replacement and even competed as an amateur in order to remain active as an NCAA wrestler. Although the fight lasted less than a minute, it was very clear that a star was born in the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy.†However, it would be the man he fought later in the tournament finals, Guy Metzger, which truly made Tito Ortiz a star.
#9: vs. Jeremy Screeton (West Coast No Holds Barred Championships 1 – 12/8/98)
Tito Ortiz fought twenty seven times in his MMA career and this fight against Jeremy Screeton marked his only fight outside of the UFC. This would also be the first time Tito Ortiz fought following the classic encounter with Guy Metzger at UFC 13. This fight would not last very long either as Tito Ortiz would destroy Jeremy Screeton in less than twenty seconds. Jeremy Screeton would go onto have a decent MMA career, retiring in November 2008 following a Gladiator Challenge 87 victory.
#8: vs. Evan Tanner (UFC 30 – 2/23/01)
At this point in his career, Tito Ortiz had already captured the UFC Light Heavyweight Title and even defended it a few times. While the fight featured the late, great Evan Tanner, it was how the fight concluded that fans remember the most. Very early into the opening round, Tito Ortiz violently slammed Evan Tanner to the ground for a takedown and that takedown actually knocked Evan Tanner out cold. While the slam knockout was a setback for Evan Tanner, it became a highlight to remember for Tito Ortiz fans and MMA fans worldwide.
#7: vs. Forrest Griffin (UFC 59 – 4/15/06…UFC 106 – 11/21/09…UFC 148 – 7/7/12)
This series of fights against Forrest Griffin showed both the return of Tito Ortiz and also the rapid decline of his career. Tito Ortiz returned to the UFC at UFC 59 after a long layoff following a dispute with management and a split decision later, he earned a UFC Light Heavyweight Title shot against then champion Chuck Liddell. The two would hook up again at UFC 106 and this time it would be Forrest Griffin capturing the victory, he would do so again at UFC 148. When two of the three fights ended with a split decision, you know just how good the three fight series between Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin actually was.
#6: vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (UFC 33 – 9/28/01)
This was a lot more than just another UFC Light Heavyweight Title contest, because UFC 33 marked the first event following the September 11th terrorist attacks. This event would also mark the first time that Tito Ortiz would bring the joint United States and Mexico flags to the octagon. The fight would go the distance and it would be Tito Ortiz holding the title following a unanimous decision. In the end though, it was not the winner that mattered, it would two talented fighters dueling it out following the worst tragedy in American history.
#5: vs. Guy Metzger (UFC 13 – 5/10/97…UFC 19 – 3/5/99)
After defeating Wes Albritton earlier in the evening, Tito Ortiz got the opportunity to face Guy Metzger and us MMA fans got a legendary fight. Guy Metzger would attain victory in this fight after Tito Ortiz gassed out, but it was the fight that made Tito Ortiz the star. The two would lock horns once more at UFC 19 and this time it would be Tito Ortiz who would gain the victory and the post-fight antics would lead to a rivalry with Ken Shamrock. These two were set to settle the score several years later at UFC 50, but Guy Metzger withdrew from the fight and Patrick Cote would make his UFC debut against Tito Ortiz.
#4: vs. Ken Shamrock (UFC 40 – 11/22/02…UFC 61 – 7/8/06…UFC: The Final Chapter 10/10/06)
Outside of Chuck Liddell, there may not have been a more heated rivalry in the UFC for Tito Ortiz other than the one with Ken Shamrock. Tito Ortiz would successfully defend his UFC Light Heavyweight Title at UFC 40, battering Ken Shamrock until his corner threw in the towel. The two would coach opposite each other at the UFC Ultimate Fighter 3, Tito Ortiz would win the rematch after a controversial call from referee Herb Dean. The two would finally settle the feud for good at UFC: The Final Chapter on Spike TV, where Tito Ortiz would defeat Ken Shamrock by TKO in the opening round.
#3: vs. Chuck Liddell (UFC 47 – 4/2/04…UFC 66 – 12/30/06)
This was the fight that all the MMA fans wanted to see because these two training partners had a feud that needed to be settled. The first time these two battled was at UFC 47, where Chuck Liddell defeated Tito Ortiz by TKO in the opening round. The two clashed again for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title at UFC 66, Chuck Liddell would again win by TKO to retain his title. The two then coached opposite each other on the UFC Ultimate Fighter, but a third fight would not happen after Tito Ortiz suffered a back injury.
#2: vs. Wanderlei Silva (UFC 25 – 4/14/00)
Before Wanderlei Silva became the “Axe Murdererâ€, he fought Tito Ortiz in Japan to crown a UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. For twenty five minutes, Tito Ortiz just dominated Wanderlei Silva on route to winning his lone UFC Championship. Tito Ortiz would go onto hold the championship for over three years, that is when Randy Couture defeated him for the title at UFC 44. It is interesting to think that nearly a decade later, both Tito Ortiz and Wanderlei Silva are still active in UFC competition.
#1: vs. Frank Shamrock (UFC 22 – 9/24/99)
While Tito Ortiz ultimately lost this championship encounter, he would be remembered as the first fighter to really challenge a then dominant Frank Shamrock. This fight would last four brutal rounds before Frank Shamrock forced Tito Ortiz to tap out to his strikes. Sadly, these two would never get to go at it once more because Frank Shamrock would leave the promotion after this fight. Tito Ortiz would then go onto fight Wanderlei Silva for the title vacated and he would become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Follow me on Twitter @DaveTeesMMA
Contact me at bigteesps3@yahoo.com
