Tito Ortiz says without injuries he’d still be champion today
Former UFC light heavyweight champion, Tito Ortiz has been giving his thoughts on where he would have been in the division had he not picked up a number of serious injuries over the years, claiming he would be a very dangerous opponent for anyone and he would probably still be the title holder.
Speaking via Fighters Only Magazine, Ortiz said:
“An injury free Tito Ortiz is very, very dangerous, and Ryan Bader was the last guy who got a close up of that one. When I’m injury-free I’m very dangerous. Me around 2000, when I was fast a strong and I was strong and my confidence was through the roof, I could beat anyone. I could have beat anyone in the world, man. Now, 15 years later, look at me, I’m still competing against top guys in the world — like I always have done — but the injuries have taken their toll. If I was the same game but without the surgeries, then I’d still be the champion! When I look back at my loss to (Randy) Couture, that’s when I had my first back problem. I was suffering right through that fight camp, and I suffered for seven years with that back problem.”
Ortiz picked up a rare win over the summer months last year, defeating “Ultimate Fighter” season eight winner, Ryan Bader with a first round guillotine submission. He lost a short notice bout against Rashad Evans in his next fight putting him back at square one. This was further compounded by a first round TKO loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira month later.
By Michael Pepper. (Follow me on Twitter)
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