“Tito has lost four n a row now and I think we all know what happens when you lose four in a row in the UFC.”

Those were the words of UFC President Dana White following Tito Ortiz‘s unanimous decision loss to Matt Hamill at UFC 121 last month.

For all intents and purposes “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” had seen the inside of the Octagon for the last time.

But once in awhile 2 + 2 does not = 4. Sometimes things happen that just absolutely go against the grain of reason and common sense. Apparently, sometimes tenure does mean something.

White has granted Ortiz one final hurrah, a light heavyweight match-up with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-4), likely to take place in March in Abu Dhabi.

White, like everyone else, thought he was going to release Ortiz after UFC 121, but according to reports, Ortiz pleaded his case and White had mercy,

“Tito said, ‘I’m not done. And he asked me for one more chance, so I’m gonna do it. This is definitely his last chance. And he knows that, too.”

According to his official MMA fight record, Ortiz’s professional career began with a fight against a young fellow by the name of Wes Albritton on May 30, 1997, at “UFC 13: The Ultimate Force” in Augusta, Ga.

Now 23 fights and 13 years later, all but one of Ortiz’s bouts have been fought inside the UFC Octagon. Few employees have given so much to their employer. Few fighters have sweat and bled so much for one organization.

Ortiz, along with guys like Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes, are part of the core group of fighters whose careers are practically synonymous with the UFC. The UFC brand was literally built and carried on the shoulders of these men.

And although it has not always been a perfect relationship, these men under the banner of the UFC, have literally changed the world.

And although Ortiz has not won a fight in over four years, although he is 0-4-1 in his last five fights, when one of the main pillars of the UFC fortress asks you for one more chance, you give it to him. You just do. It is the right thing to do and White should be applauded.

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