One last Run for a UFC Pioneer

Every sport I've began watching and having a vested interest in has always begun with a singular athelete. In hockey, it was the great Wayne Gretzky, Basketball was Michael Jordan, Football was Troy Aikman and in the UFC it was Tito Ortiz.

It was a night nearly 6-8 years ago when I was flipping through the channels and came across a bleached blonde MMA fighter on one side of the octagon facing off a recognizable face for myself Ken Shamrock a former WWE competitor. Immediately, I was enthralled with the sportsmanship, and the majesty of a big fight feel. I didn't know who Tito Ortiz was but I did know Ken Shamrock. After about the first few minutes I began to see this MMA fighter known as TITO ORTIZ. He was demolishing and outclassing Ken Shamrock at every facet of this sport I knew very little about. All I knew at the time was someone could win via KO, or submission but other than that I had very little knowledge.

Over the next few years of inactivity and contractual discussions Tito had gone on a long 5 years and a 0-4-1 record during this span. At the age of 36 some thought "The Huntington Beach BadBoy" maybe too old and too slow for the UFC fighters of today. However, my undying loyalty to the man that got me hooked onto this sport was never questioned.

When July 2, 2011 came around it was a day I had anticipated it was either going to be a re-birth of a career for Tito or it was going to be his final hour. Regardless, he was fighting and fighting a tough fight like Ryan Bader who's only defeat came at the hands of the NOW UFC Light Heavy Weight Champ Jon "Bones" Jones. Sitting at my local bar that I always watch UFC at my friends were jabbing me and egging me on and I even doubted if Tito would win. But what I didn't doubt was no matter what I will be cheering him. Then for a single minute it was a dream sequence. Right Uppercut, ground and pound, and then guilliotine choke. 5 years of being made fun of and 5 years of not winning came to an end. It just didn't seem to matter. I felt what Tito felt. Justification, relief and enormous joy.

Which not takes us to Aug.6.2011 a rematch against Rashad Evans with 3 weeks of preparation time. I don't know how Tito will win but this is definitely a feel good story. I hope Tito wins in such a dramatic fashion that Dana White has no choice but to give him a shot at the UFC title. Just one more time. People like a feel good story and I definitely do. Tito if you read this just know I will be at the bar supporting Team Ortiz.

UFC: 129 ST.PIERRE VS SHIELDS

Tonight is going to be a good good night.... - Black Eyed Peas

This is a historic event of epic proportions. How fast and how far the UFC has come in terms of mainstream attention and solid business is well pretty damn impressive. Now you will always have the naysayers and haters that this is a brutal sport. Which is true at times it can be but what it does financially it dominates. Who could have ever imagined the UFC being able to sell out the Rogers Centre of over 55,000 ticket customers for one of their events. That's truly amazing. Events that have done that at the Rogers Centre (being sporting events that is.. ) have been the Blue Jays during their World Series years, and let's be honest Wrestlemania 6 (Hulk Hogan vs Ultimate Warrior) and Wrestlemania X8 (Hogan vs The Rock).

So who could have sold out the Rogers Centre? Canada's own Georges St.Pierre who is arguably the best Welterweight of all time. He faces perhaps the best Welterweight in Jake Shields he hasn't lost since the Bush administration lol. - My take is GSP should win from what I can judge but Jake Shields is well Jake Shields..

I am most excited for Randy Couture vs Lyoto Machida as this is a stylistic match up where I think a 47yr old Couture will upset based on what he does best. Some dirty boxing. It's going to be a long night if Lyoto can't get his game up and running asap.

Aldo vs Hominick well watch Aldo vs Swanson or even Aldo vs Faber. This guy is a beast and he will show why in the co-main event.

Now you have lots of blogs being more technical but for me it's just time to enjoy the show!

Thanks you are now

Colinized!