Tito Ortiz was one of the most feared men in the UFC.
He was the champion of the UFC’s most talked about division at the time and perhaps even till this day—light heavyweight—and was not only the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” but was the bad boy of mixed martial arts as well.
However, those days have long since passed.
Ortiz is now winless since 2006 and hasn’t finished an opponent not named Ken Shamrock since Elvis Sinosic—who was 4-3-1 at the time and is 8-11-2 now—in 2001. Ortiz’s last victory was a controversial split decision to Forrest Griffin which Griffin managed to avenge.
These reasons, combined with the numerous personal and legal problems Ortiz has had recently, make the former light heavyweight’s reputation a tarnished one.
If Tito Ortiz defeats Ryan “Darth” Bader at UFC 132 will that help the former champ regain his lost luster?
Defeating Bader would help, but would still not absolve Ortiz of all his sins (be they in or out of the Octagon).
Defeating Bader would, at the very least, give Ortiz an opportunity to retire on a high note.
He would have snapped his five-fight winless streak (winless but not a losing streak; of his last five fights, four were losses and one was a draw) and would have had the satisfaction of beating one of the young up-and-comers at light heavyweight.
His hypothetical return to form may even help him get a chance to avenge losses (or a draw) should Ortiz choose not to retire and should certain fighters—namely Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans—lose their upcoming bouts.
Beating Bader will enable Ortiz to retire with dignity or to continue his career as at least a somewhat relevant fighter. However, even if Ortiz is victorious at UFC 132, he will still not be able to rid his reputation and his legacy of certain stigmas.
Therefore, Tito Ortiz defeating Ryan Bader demonstrates that Ortiz at 36 years of age has not become like his contemporaries Chuck Liddell and Ken Shamrock but this will only go so far since Ortiz himself will only go so far at 36.
At the end of the day, what Ortiz has done in the Octagon already speaks for itself, what happens at UFC 132 notwithstanding.
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