UFC 132 – Tito Ortiz wants another shot at Forrest Griffin after dodging a bullet inside the octagon

Former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz has revealed he wants a third crack at “Ultimate Fighter” season one winner, Forrest Griffin inside the octagon after walking away from UFC 132 with a surprise win last night over Ryan Bader, adding this is the rebirth of “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy”.
Speaking during last nights post-fight press conference, Ortiz said:

“I gave [UFC President] Dana [White] his opportunity to find someone to beat me, and it didn’t work [with] Bader. So give me my shot at one of the guys I thought that I beat already in Forrest Griffin. [The judges] gave him a split decision, so give me another chance at him.”

“[This was] the rebirth of Tito Ortiz. I’m injury free. I’m very healthy. I had a great training camp. I did it at home. This was the first time in 11 years that I didn’t go up to Big Bear. I think being mentally focused really helped out a lot. I had a lot of personal problems with my family, and I really focused on the positive and surrounded myself with people who uplifted me and showed me the true champion I really am.”

On the remarkable few seconds last night inside the octagon which saw him go from being on his last legs into a legitimate threat once again at 205 pounds, Ortiz said:

“I saw his legs buckle, and when I saw that, [I knew] that was my chance. I hit him, one-two and [then landed two] elbows. I locked in the guillotine. As soon as I went to pull guard, I sunk my elbow and I tightened my grip. I was stone dry, because I wasn’t sweating yet. Right as he was trying to pull his head out, that’s when I sunk it in.

“He tapped, and I thought he was still going to pull his head out. That’s why I held onto it a little longer. I probably shouldn’t have done that, but it was just the emotions of not wanting to lose.”

Ortiz has faced Griffin twice in the past with both men walking away with narrow decision wins over the other. With Ortiz now looking like he’s got his act together and is relatively injury free could now be the time for “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” to make an unlikely run at the title once more? Tell us what you think…
By Michael Pepper.

Photo by Donald Miralle/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images