Tito Ortiz Closes Out Career With Submission Victory Over Chael Sonnen
Tito Ortiz Closes Out Career With Submission Victory Over Chael Sonnen
MMA legend Tito Ortiz put an impressive cap on his storied career by defeating Chael Sonnen at Bellator 170.
On Saturday, January 21, UFC Hall of Famer and former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz stepped into the Bellator MMA cage against fellow UFC veteran Chael Sonnen in main event of Bellator 170 in Los Angeles.
Ortiz was looking to get back into the win column after being submitted by former champion Liam McGeary in their title fight at Bellator 142 in September 2015.
For Sonnen this marked his first professional fight following a two-year suspension after failing multiple drug tests ahead of his scheduled fight against Vitor Belfort at UFC 175. In terms of competition, Sonnen was last seen suffering a first round TKO loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 167 in November 2013.
Leading up to their highly anticipated bout, much of the narrative revolved around Sonnen's previous victory over Ortiz in 1998 during their collegiate wrestling days. Following the match, Ortiz made a name for himself in the UFC, while Sonnen continued to chase his amateur wrestling dreams.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/823031395538837504" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
But when the cage door finally closed behind them, with the roar of the crowd at The Forum blasting around them, Ortiz looked like the fighter of old.
Tagging Sonnen with a quick one-two combo right out of the gate, Ortiz followed up with a takedown in the center of the cage. Instinctively, Sonnen looked to sink in a guillotine and secure the first-round submission win. While Ortiz squirmed beneath him, giving the referee the thumbs up, Sonnen continued to squeeze.
While the choke initially looked tight, Ortiz managed to break free and immediately secured full mount. Looking to avoid heavy damage from the bottom, Sonnen secured the body lock but Ortiz responded by transitioning to the back and securing the rear-naked choke.
With his oxygen supply rapidly running out, Sonnen was forced to tap, much to the delight of the Los Angeles crowd.
"I knew I'd get the choke," said Ortiz during his post-fight interview inside the cage. "I knew he didn't want to get pounded by me."
An emotional Ortiz then announced his victory over Sonnen would indeed be the last of his long and illustrious career.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/823035284149256193" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
"Tonight, Jan. 21, 2017, I'm going to let my son lay my gloves down in the cage, because this is the last time I'll be fighting," Ortiz said.
And with that, Ortiz bowed to the crowd and exited the cage.
Ortiz was looking to get back into the win column after being submitted by former champion Liam McGeary in their title fight at Bellator 142 in September 2015.
For Sonnen this marked his first professional fight following a two-year suspension after failing multiple drug tests ahead of his scheduled fight against Vitor Belfort at UFC 175. In terms of competition, Sonnen was last seen suffering a first round TKO loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 167 in November 2013.
Leading up to their highly anticipated bout, much of the narrative revolved around Sonnen's previous victory over Ortiz in 1998 during their collegiate wrestling days. Following the match, Ortiz made a name for himself in the UFC, while Sonnen continued to chase his amateur wrestling dreams.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/823031395538837504" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
But when the cage door finally closed behind them, with the roar of the crowd at The Forum blasting around them, Ortiz looked like the fighter of old.
Tagging Sonnen with a quick one-two combo right out of the gate, Ortiz followed up with a takedown in the center of the cage. Instinctively, Sonnen looked to sink in a guillotine and secure the first-round submission win. While Ortiz squirmed beneath him, giving the referee the thumbs up, Sonnen continued to squeeze.
While the choke initially looked tight, Ortiz managed to break free and immediately secured full mount. Looking to avoid heavy damage from the bottom, Sonnen secured the body lock but Ortiz responded by transitioning to the back and securing the rear-naked choke.
With his oxygen supply rapidly running out, Sonnen was forced to tap, much to the delight of the Los Angeles crowd.
"I knew I'd get the choke," said Ortiz during his post-fight interview inside the cage. "I knew he didn't want to get pounded by me."
An emotional Ortiz then announced his victory over Sonnen would indeed be the last of his long and illustrious career.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/BellatorMMA/status/823035284149256193" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
"Tonight, Jan. 21, 2017, I'm going to let my son lay my gloves down in the cage, because this is the last time I'll be fighting," Ortiz said.
And with that, Ortiz bowed to the crowd and exited the cage.