• UFC 133

Rashad back from valley of despair to beat legend Ortiz

Rashad Evans has only been beaten once © Getty Images

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Rashad Evans stared down the Octagon-side camera lens at UFC 133, possibly hoping to unnerve any potential weakness in the soul of a watching Jon Jones, and declared "I want my title back" after becoming only the second person in the last decade to stop Tito Ortiz.

Evans returned from a 14-month absence in Philadelphia, promising to be quicker and faster to the punch than a revitalised Ortiz. When it came down to it, Suga Rashad was clearly better in all areas despite a valiant showing from Ortiz, who eventually succumbed via TKO with 12 seconds left in round two.

Ortiz, who has now been stopped by four different men in his illustrious career, was hoping to continue his renaissance. Victory over Ryan Bader snapped a five-fight streak without a win, and he was returning to the Octagon to fight Evans just 35 days later.

As the UFC's longest reigning former light-heavyweight champion, a win over Evans would have sparked huge calls for Ortiz to get another title crack.

Evans is the genuine No. 1 contender though, more so than Rampage Jackson, who fights Jon Jones at UFC 135 despite losing to Rashad last year. Only injury has prevented Rashad getting his chance, and he delivered one of the best performances of his career to remind the watching world that he is the main threat to Jones' title.

"I want that fight with Jon Jones and I want my belt back," said Evans, who has now won six of his last seven. "Whether he has it or Rampage has it, I'm getting my belt back."

This was the second collision of Evans and Ortiz after the first ended in a draw, and once again they both had their moments in the rematch. Ortiz was first to land with a meaty left hook that threatened to dislodge Evans' head from its usual axis, but by the end of the round it was the Huntington Beach Bad Boy who was turtled up on the mat.

After landing a takedown, Ortiz allowed Evans back to his feet, where the younger man landed a flurry of blows against the cage that left Tito swollen and cut over the left eye. Rashad picked his shots wisely, attacking the body whilst throwing in elbows to the head, and by the end of the round he had launched a huge dump takedown over the shoulder - something Ortiz used to do to his victims.

Rashad chased the finish in the second, but an initial takedown saw Ortiz lock on what seemed to be a fight-ending guillotine. Memories of how tightly he squeezed the life out of Bader must have flashed through Evans' head, but Rashad insisted the submission was never going to end the bout. "It wasn't that tight. I went over defence with Renzo Gracie, so he gave me the heads-up on that one," said Rashad.

Upon escape, Evans found himself on top of a shattered Ortiz, quickly amplifying the damage count from side control before securing, temporarily, mounted crucifix. It was enough to force Ortiz to struggle to his knees, where he wearily opted to defend by throwing pointless uppercuts to a now-standing Evans.

Back came Rashad's knee, fully aware he could not throw it at the head of a grounded opponent, so he slammed it directly into Ortiz's midriff, effectively ending the fight as Tito crumpled in a heap. The follow-up blows, as it turned out, were only for the referee's benefit.

"I feel great, I feel all the hard work has paid off," said Rashad. "When you're in the valley, that's when you're tested the most. Not when you're at your peak."

It remains to be seen if he is the man to send Jon Jones to the depths.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.