Tito Ortiz: 10 Signature Fights
Bellator 120
Alexander Shlemenko went to sleep in the first round at Bellator
120. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
May 17, 2014 | Southaven, Miss.
Having divorced from the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Tito Ortiz set his sights on the uncharted territory in Bellator MMA. Few saw him as much more than an afterthought at Bellator 120.
Ortiz laughed last, as he rendered then-Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko unconscious with a first-round arm-triangle choke in a non-title bout at 205 pounds. Shlemenko, who entered the matchup on a 13-fight winning streak, went to sleep 2:27 into round one. Ortiz weathered the Russian’s initial advances, absorbing several kicks and punches to the body. He secured a takedown roughly two minutes into the first frame, slid into position for the arm-triangle choke and waited for Shlemenko to black out. Ortiz, 39, had won just one of his previous nine fights.
“Guess who’s back? I worked hard as hell for this,” he said. “I’m just inspired to inspire others and show you guys what hard work and dedication can achieve. I went over this over and over. I’ve gone through so many surgeries and had my back pressed against the wall, and people counted me out.”
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