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Ortiz two fights away from retirement

Tito Ortiz admits he is considering retirement © Getty Images

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Tito Ortiz has confessed he intends to have two more fights before retiring from the sport.

Former light-heavyweight champion Ortiz takes on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140 on Saturday in what will be his 27th fight under the UFC banner.

But Ortiz, who has won just one of his last seven fights, has struggled with injuries in recent years and admits he has no intention of fighting beyond 2012.

"Maybe it's time. I don't know," Ortiz told MMA Heat. "I guess when I leave on my own terms - and I look at it as, when I don't have fun coming in the gym anymore, sparring and pushing myself and running every day, maybe it is time. I'm not overstaying my welcome.

"My goal in my whole career was to do 15 years in MMA. May 30 will be my 15th year of fighting in the UFC and in MMA, in general. This'll be fight No. 26 for me, I think. So I'll have 27 and walk away. I think I've done good."

Although Ortiz admits he could be convinced to stay on by UFC president Dana White or co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, he insists his health is more important than a big-money offer.

"I don't know," Ortiz said. "But you never know. You never know if Dana and Lorenzo come to me with some numbers that make sense to me. I'm healthy.

"I just don't want to have another surgery in my neck or my back anymore. My doctor says, 'Out of surgery, you'll get three years. And after that, you may have to have surgery again if you keep doing the banging.'

"Is it worth it not being able to run with my kids or wrestle with my kids or throw a football with my kids when they get older? A million dollars ain't worth it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.