Tito wants one more fight, White says ‘we’ll see’

Last night Antonio Rogerio Nogueira hit a prone Tito Ortiz to the body until the ref ended the fight in the very first round.

Given that Ortiz has had a single win in five years, and has gone 1-6-1 in his past eight fights, many expect that this will be Tito’s final fight. Ortiz thinks otherwise.

“I take my hat off to him,” Said Tito. “That body shot hurt me. My game plan was to get on top and do a ground and pound. I gave it my all. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. I’m going to take some time off and enjoy the holidays with my family. I have one more fight in my contract. I’m going to give the fans one more fight that is my best.”

Ortiz has previously expressed interest in a May trilogy rubber match with Forrest Griffin.

For his part, UFC President Dana White was noncommittal, but did not seem firmly opposed to the idea.

“I gotta talk to Tito, I honestly don’t know, said White. “You know, I’m always looking for guys’ health. It’s not like Tito got viciously knocked out tonight. He got hurt to the body. We’ll see what happens.”

“He’s in the hospital … with something. He could have a fractured or broken rib. Those things take a long time to recover from. We’ll see.”

Given the Tito still retains star power, should be wish to fight, and remains medically sound to do so, it is unlikely that the UFC will release him to another organization, one with lesser fighters, where Ortiz could remain highly competitive.