Former UFC champion Tito Ortiz will look to turn back the clock on Saturday night when he takes on Liam McGeary for the Bellator MMA light heavyweight championship. Ortiz (18-11-1) has won back-to-back fights since joining the Bellator promotion, the first time he has done that since 2006. Ironically, that was the last time he fought for a MMA title, losing to arch nemesis Chuck Liddell at UFC 66 via TKO for the second time.
Ortiz went (1-6-1) after that loss to Liddell, and retired in 2012 after a razor thin split decision loss against Forrest Griffin. He was inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame after retiring, but got another opportunity after signing with Bellator amid continued animosity with UFC President Dana White.
It’s probably the last opportunity Ortiz will have to fight for championship gold on Saturday night. He seems to feel no pressure as he’s the underdog fighting a much younger and larger opponent in Liam McGeary.
The video below is “In Focus with Tito Ortiz” as he talks about his journey to another shot at becoming champion again: