When Tito Ortiz takes on Chael Sonnen at Bellator 170 on Jan. 21 from inside The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., it will be a meeting between two of the best trash talkers in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. It will also be the last time MMA fans will be able to see “The Huntington Beach Bad Bay” in action, according to a recent social media submission by the man himself.
I want to thank @DanaWhite and @UFC for not putting an event the same night of my final fight! #Bellator170 @BellatorMMA @TheForum 1/21/17
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) December 2, 2016
If Bellator 170 will in fact be Ortiz’s swan song, it’s one hell of a way to go out. Ortiz vs. Sonnen is building up to be the biggest fight in Bellator MMA history and a main event outside of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) competition that will have the combat world buzzing.
Ortiz, 41, has a current professional record of 18-12-1, which includes legendary feuds with former UFC staples Chuck Liddell and Ken Shamrock. While Sonnen is a shell of his former self at the age of 39, he’s a nice addition to the collection of opponents Ortiz has verbally battled with.
Whether or not UFC actually rescheduled UFC 208 to make room for Ortiz’s final performance, it’s nice to know that one of the more infamous characters in MMA history will have the entire night to himself, while Sonnen has another opportunity to play “The Bad Guy.”