by King Hazard
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz previously announced plans to retire twice, but it never came to fruition because of his passion and dedication to combat sport.
Following numerous surgeries over the years, Ortiz believes retirement is now due more than ever. However, if surgery didn’t take its toll on his body we would definitely see Ortiz compete at Bellator events in 2017.
During a Bellator 170 conference call, Ortiz confirmed that he will retire no matter the outcome against Chael Sonnen in two weeks from now.
This retirement is well due, twenty years of competition has pretty much, I’d still be fighting if it wasn’t for my surgeries.
Ortiz noted that his “biggest enemy” has been his body due to all his serious injuries.
My biggest enemy has been my surgeries, I’ve had an ACL replaced in my left knee, ACL replaced in my right knee, 50 percent of my meniscus taken out of my right knee, lower back fusion, C-6, C-7 fused in my neck, C-5, C-4 disk replacement, C-4, C-3 fused. I have 26, 27 concussions, hundreds of stitches, I’ve been through the grinder. My biggest enemy has been my body.
Bellator 170: Sonnen vs. Ortiz takes place on January 21, 2017 at the Forum in Los Angeles, California. The MMA event will air live on Spike TV.
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