Ask the Fight Doc: Should Tito Ortiz compete again after spinal-fusion surgery?

Dr. Johnny BenjaminThe current 11th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” recently was thrown into disarray when coach Tito Ortiz announced an upcoming spinal-fusion surgery that forced him out of a planned fight with fellow coach Chuck Liddell at UFC 115.

Ortiz considers the procedure a speed bump in his fighting career. But should it be a permanent roadblock?

In our latest “Ask the Fight Doc” installment, MMAjunkie.com medical columnist Dr. Johnny Benjamin discusses the limited literature on spinal-fusion surgeries and whether fighters who undergo the procedure should compete again.


Dr. Johnny BenjaminThe current 11th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” recently was thrown into disarray when coach Tito Ortiz announced an upcoming spinal-fusion surgery that forced him out of a planned fight with fellow coach Chuck Liddell at UFC 115.

Ortiz considers the procedure a speed bump in his fighting career. But should it be a permanent roadblock?

In our latest “Ask the Fight Doc” installment, MMAjunkie.com medical columnist Dr. Johnny Benjamin discusses the limited literature on spinal-fusion surgeries and whether fighters who undergo the procedure should compete again.