Video! Ortiz Returns, Signs Combate Americas Contract Cageside

Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz is putting retirement aside to make a return to fighting later this year.

That’s according to MMA journalist Amy Kaplan, who captured Ortiz signing a contract with Hispanic-owned mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion Combate Americas cageside last night (Fri., April 26, 2019) at the Reinas event inside Galen Center in Los Angeles, California.

The video can be seen below and features Combate Americas CEO Campbell McLaren putting ink to paper and happily blurting out “it’s an honor” to Ortiz.

ESPN’s Ariel Helwani later confirmed that Ortiz’s first fight under the Combate Americas banner is expected to happen this fall. The opponent is unknown at this time.

Ortiz, 44, was last seen knocking out arch nemesis and UFC legend Chuck Liddell at Oscar De La Hoya’s first Golden Boy MMA event back in November. Before that, the former UFC light heavyweight champion and current UFC Hall of Famer managed to put together a 3-1 record under the Bellator MMA banner from 2014-2017, defeating the likes of Chael Sonnen and Stephan Bonnar in the process.

While Ortiz isn’t the needle mover he once was, people still like to watch him fight. The details of his contract have yet to be released but Ortiz is likely to bank big bucks, especially after earning $200,000 for his thrashing of a 49-year-old “Iceman.”

This is especially a good move for Combate Americas, who has steadily been rising the ranks of MMA with ratings to prove it. The promotion now gains some added recognition.

Stick with Mania for more details on Ortiz’s new deal.