• UFC 132

Awesome Ortiz rescues career by choking Bader

ESPN staff
July 3, 2011
Tito Ortiz finishes Ryan Bader © Getty Images
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Tito Ortiz's legendary UFC career still has another race to run after he submitted Ryan Bader, and then pulled out his trademark burial celebration in a job-saving win at UFC 132.

Ortiz had not won a fight since 2006, and he admitted in the build-up to July 2 that he had to beg the UFC for one last chance to end that run. The former light-heavyweight champion, one of the most dominant rulers the sport has ever seen, was not expected to beat the athletic Bader, but Ortiz snapped on one of the tightest guillotines you are ever likely to see to power back into the 205lb division's elite.

The Huntington Beach Bad Boy had been telling anybody who would listen that he did not deserve to lose to Forrest Griffin, that he almost submitted Lyoto Machida, and that he drew with Rashad Evans when he had a point deducted. Those are not the results of a washed up fighter, Ortiz pointed out.

However, his most recent loss against Matt Hamill could not be defended, and Ortiz knew anything less than victory would see his UFC career squashed. In reality, it was Bader's neck that became squeezed tight as Ortiz locked on a guillotine at 1.56 of the first round, having previously dropped his rival.

Bader was expected to have quicker hands and more powerful takedowns against his 36-year-old rival, but Ortiz levelled him with a short right, before leaping all over him. Crucially, thanks to years of experience, Ortiz knew not to bang himself out, exchanging punches for a guillotine, which he cranked on with all the weight of knowing his career depended on it, even holding on a little too long after Bader had tapped.

"Thanks to Dana White for pushing me to the limit, and Lorenzo Fertitta for giving me an awesome job and taking care of my family, and giving these fans what they want which is to see me kicking ass," roared Ortiz.

Carlos Condit is doing everything he can to earn a welterweight title shot, chalking up back-to-back Knockout of the Night cheques to defeat Dong Hyun Kim. The Natural Born Killer needed just two minutes and 58 seconds to launch into a flying knee that inflicted the first defeat of Kim's career.

Condit is a training partner of reigning champion Georges St-Pierre, so he knows he's going to have to do something extra special to convince president Dana White that he deserves a title shot. Sometimes in MMA the style of victory is more important than the volume of victories, and Condit's last two performances have been spectacular. Riding off the back of his knockout of Dan Hardy at the back end of 2010, he landed flush with a flying knee against Kim, before dropping a flurry of follow-up blows from mount for a magnificent win.

"I got sick a few weeks ago, I thought I may have to pull out, but here I am," said Condit. "How about it Joe Silva, am I ready for a title shot or what?"

Elsewhere, the lightweight division took new shape after Rafael dos Anjos stunned George Sotiropoulos with a 59-second TKO. A bloodied Dennis Siver remains in the title hunt after a controversial victory over Matt Wiman, taking home a unanimous 29-28 29-28 29-28 decision. And Melvin Guillard had far too much firepower for Shane Roller, stopping the fight by TKO midway through the first round.

England's Andre Winner suffered a tough night against Anthony Njokuani, surviving a brutal first round but losing a unanimous 30-26 30-26 30-27 decision.

UFC 132 results:
Dominick Cruz bt. Urijah Faber via unanimous decision (50-45 49-46 48-47)
Chris Leben bt. Wanderlei Silva via TKO (punches) Round 1 (0:27)
Tito Ortiz bt. Ryan Bader via submission (guillotine choke) Round 1 (1:56)
Carlos Condit bt. Dong Hyun Kim via TKO (flying knee and punches) Round 1 (2:58)
Dennis Siver bt. Matt Wiman via unanimous decision (29-28 29-28 29-28)
Melvin Guillard bt. Shane Roller via TKO (punches) Round 1 (2:21)
Aaron Simpson bt. Brad Tavares via unanimous decision (30-27 30-27 30-27)
Brian Bowles bt. Takeya Mizugaki via unanimous decision (30-27 30-27 29-28)
Rafael dos Anjos bt. George Sotiropoulos via TKO (punch) Round 1 (0:59)
Anthony Njokuani bt. Andre Winner via unanimous decision (30-26 30-26 30-27)
Jeff Hougland bt. Donny Walker via unanimous decision (29-28 29-28 30-27)

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