After a resurgent victory over Ryan Bader in July, former UFC champion Tito Ortiz again finds himself on the brink of the end after suffering a two-fight skid.
In his last couple of outings, Ortiz was stopped on strikes at the hands of rival Rashad Evans and former Pride star Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. The Brazilian wilted the fighter formerly known as “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” with a knee to the body followed by mounting ground-and-pound blows.
The slow demise of Ortiz is not unlike any other fighter of his era. Former champions Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes have all exited the sport on the crux of their own respective careers, with each succumbing to knockout losses in their final bouts.
Ortiz has no delusions of grandeur. The would-be UFC Hall of Famer foresees his own end. However, he calls for one last bout before he hangs up his gloves once and for all.
A battle between Forrest Griffin seems to be the most logical of choices, since both men have split two contentious decision wins between one another. A rubber match would seem to be a fitting end for either man, with the original Ultimate Fighter having since discussed his own looming exit from the sport.
While exceptionally well-rounded, Griffin has always had trouble with adept wrestlers. Ortiz may not have the same decisive and explosive power double which characterized his early accomplishments, but he still wields an unbridled strength which rivals most in the division.
Given his expert-like ground-and-pound blows and Griffin’s inability to come out of any fight unscathed, Ortiz will be able to muscle down the wilting fighter to the mat where his devastating array of punches and elbows will be enough to roll over the former world champion.
Whether the fight ends quickly or goes the distance will be irrelevant. If Ortiz wants to be among the few fighters to leave the Octagon with a win intact, he will do his best to close the final chapter of his career with no regrets.
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