Tito Ortiz: 10 Signature Fights

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Beloved by some, reviled by others, Tito Ortiz has stood as one of the most polarizing figures in mixed martial arts for more than a decade.

“The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” will return to the cage under the Bellator MMA banner on Saturday, as he confronts fellow Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame inductee Stephan Bonnar in the Bellator 131 main event at the Valley View Casino in San Diego. Their three-round encounter will bring a close to Bellator’s 11th season.

Ortiz was for years a cornerstone of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. When Zuffa purchased the UFC and began to put together the almost-ubiquitous brand we know today, he was the centerpiece. A controversial and charismatic presence, Ortiz knew how to build interest in his fights, and his rivalries with Ken Shamrock and Chuck Liddell remain two of the most important in the history of the sport. Ortiz relished being cast as the villain, and he played the part like few others before or since. Over time, his skills have eroded and his health has failed him, but he remains one of the most recognizable names in mixed martial arts. In his prime, Ortiz was a frightening ground-and-pound force who intimidated opponents, thrilled fans and helped shepherd the sport through some of its darkest days.

Ahead of Ortiz’s pending battle with Bonnar, we take a look back at 10 of his signature fights:

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