Friday, July 22, 2011

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.