One Last Fight For Tito Ortiz

The trilogy has been set for UFC 148.
By Rob Nevola, Writer

Tito Ortiz will compete for the final time inside the Octagon on July 7 against Forest Griffin at UFC 148 in Las Vegas. It will be the 3rd meeting between Ortiz and Griffin making this the rubber match.

The first time these fighters met was all the way back at UFC 59 in Anaheim, California. Ortiz won the bout via split decision and the fight would eventually be awarded Fight of the Year for 2006. That bout was a true war and some would say the fight could have gone either way, leaving some in the mma community to speculate on an eventual rematch.

The second meeting between Ortiz and Griffin was at UFC 106 in Las Vegas. This fight would also end in some controversy. Griffin won the bout via split decision in another three round epic. Ortiz would carry some animosity toward Griffin after this bout, thinking he was the better fighter that night yet still using the injury excuse.

Since the 2nd meeting between Ortiz and Griffin, Ortiz holds a record of 1-3. He lost a unanimous decision to Matt Hamill, where he did not look like the fighter he once was. However Ortiz would make a statement in his next fight against Ryan Bader, finishing Bader by Submission (guillotine choke) in the 1st round. Ortiz is currently riding a 2 fight losing streak both by TKO against Rashad Evans and Antônio Rogério Nogueira. Ortiz will be looking to go out on top against an opponent that has caused him much grief in the past. He believes he is the better fighter and will be looking to showcase that at UFC 148.

Forrest Griffin a former light heavyweight champion himself will be looking to rebound after his last fight against Maurício Rua. Rua ended the fight via KO in the very first round. Griffin needs to prove to himself and to the division he is not walking away without trying to make another run for the tittle. Griffin was the first fighter from the Ultimate Fighter reality television series to obtain championship gold. With a win over Ortiz he can put himself back into a much congested 205 pound division. Griffin is not even ranked in the top 10 for the 205lb weight class, with that being said if he sees championship gold in his future he has a tough road in front of him.

Ortiz is a legend in the UFC and is a sure lock for the UFC hall of fame. The 37 year old known as “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” made the move to “The People's Champ” to let fans know he is no longer the bad guy and wants to be known as a great fighter in this sport. Regardless of his nick name Tito Ortiz was and still is one of the best ground and pound fighters the UFC has ever encountered.

The 3rd and final bout between Ortiz and Griffin should not disappoint. This fight for Ortiz is a chance to go out on top with a win over a rival, and for Forrest this is a chance to revamp his career with win. Both fighters have some true motivation which will make for a great match up.

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