Tito Ortiz finally got his payback after 12 years on Saturday night. In a remarkable third match between two of the most famous rivals in MMA, Ortiz (20-12-1) defeated Chuck Liddell in just 4 minutes and 24 seconds in the opening round. This 205-pound battle was the inaugural MMA event hosted by Golden Boy Promotion.
At 48 years old, Liddell made his comeback since stepping away from UFC in 2011. The ring rust was evident as the once fearsome striker appeared hesitant and sluggish in the octagon. Ortiz’s victory came by way of a direct right hand to the head followed by a flurry of punches on the ground. Ortiz revealed that his strategy was not to take Liddell down but rather to stand and trade punches to test his skills. He also announced that he does not plan to return to the cage again.
This win has been a long time coming for the 43-year-old Ortiz. When UFC and Liddell made the decision to set aside their friendship and promote a showdown between them, Ortiz maintained they were once close friends. Having previously suffered defeats to Liddell by knockout in 2004 and 2006, Ortiz saw this fight as an opportunity to help grow the sport.
Moments after entering the ring with Liddell, Ortiz shed his reserved demeanor and went on the offensive. Moving toward his adversary, he baited Liddell to throw punches. It became evident that Ortiz no longer feared Liddell’s renowned power, which had always been his greatest asset. Ortiz symbolically buried the hatchet with Liddell right after the bout, and spectators observed Ortiz encouraging Liddell to compete again.
