Ortiz teases coming out of retirement to fight Fedor
Here we go again.
Former UFC and Bellator fighter Tito Ortiz hasn't been retired for a month and he's already getting ready to hop off the couch and back into the cage. This time, his desire to battle was re-lit because of Saturday's Bellator 172 card needing a new main event opponent for Fedor Emelianenko after Matt Mitrione was hospitalized due to kidney stones.
Ortiz took to Twitter when the news broke to announce that he was ready to step in on short notice, and he continued to campaign for the bout throughout the night:
#Bellator172 looks like I need to step up for the company! @BellatorMMA
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 19, 2017
Time to lace them up!!!!! #Bellator172
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 19, 2017
Don't call it a come back I've been here for years!!!!! #Bellator172
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 19, 2017
Unfortunately for Ortiz, the poetic words of LL Cool J were not enough to convince Bellator officials to throw him into a makeshift main event:
Ok I got the no go! #Bellator172 sorry fans. I'm willing to sacrifice for the company! One time only @BellatorMMA
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) February 19, 2017
Fans everywhere can take comfort in knowing that the 42-year-old Ortiz appears to be sticking to his latest retirement for now.