Under the Microscope: Analyzing Light Heavyweight Greats

Eric StintonAug 13, 2015

Tito Ortiz put together an extended run of dominance in the UFC. | Photo: D. Mandel/Sherdog.com

Tito Ortiz

* Light Heavyweight Record: 17-11-1
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .719
* Longest Winning Streak: 6
* Record in Major Light Heavyweight Title Fights: 6-4
* Finish Percentage: 64.7
* Finished Percentage: 54.6
* Notable Victories: Guy Mezger, Wanderlei Silva, Evan Tanner, Ken Shamrock (thrice), Vladimir Matyushenko, Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin, Ryan Bader, Alexander Shlemenko
* Career Accomplishments: 2012 UFC Hall of Fame inductee; UFC light heavyweight champion, with five successful title defenses; UFC 13 light heavyweight tournament finalist; six-time UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus winner; most fights in UFC history; most championship fights in light heavyweight history

CASE FOR: “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” was the original UFC poster boy, and his star power stemmed as much from his attitude and persona as it did from his in-cage dominance. While he was not the originator of ground-and-pound, he basically perfected it, stifling opponents with a smothering top game, pristine submission defense and vicious elbows. He was so effective in his prime that he rarely had to advance position, opting instead to posture up in his opponents’ guards and rain down powerful blows. Even now, in the twilight of his prestigious career, Ortiz has shown that he still has the goods to compete with -- and defeat -- some of the best fighters in the modern MMA landscape. With five successful UFC title defenses, Ortiz set a record that would last more than a decade, cementing his candidacy as the G.O.A.T. for years to come.

CASE AGAINST: Ortiz’s mass appeal was undeniable during the UFC’s rise to prominence, but his popularity became a platform to build names of other fighters. Meaning: The rest of the field quickly caught up to him and then proceeded to lap him. His rivalry with Chuck Liddell was big business for the UFC, but it was never remotely competitive, leaving no doubt as to the identity of the best light heavyweight of the day. In fact, the biggest knock on his career is that his famed title reign was against a laughably bad lot; it is hard to imagine the likes of Ken Shamrock or Elvis Sinosic lasting longer than a three-fight contract nowadays, let alone vying for a title. Yet, those are the opponents off of whom Ortiz made his name. The original rude boy of MMA is an important part of the sport’s history, but it is hard to call him the greatest of all-time when he was not even the greatest of his time.

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