• UFC 132

Ortiz wants winner of Forrest v Shogun next

Tito Ortiz held on to the guillotine for longer than he should have done against Ryan Bader © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Miller steps in to fight Palhares at UFC 134
  
• News: Griffin admits 'I've got to cut some f***ing weight'
  
• News: Machida doesn't believe it's the end for Wanderlei
  
• News: Awesome Ortiz rescues career by choking Bader
  
• News: Bowles or Johnson to get next crack at Cruz
  
• News: Cruz edges Faber war in fight that hints at greatness
  
• News: Rocked Leben goes into auto-pilot to KO Wanderlei
  
• News: Sonnen wants Wanderlei retired and Dana White agrees
  

Tito Ortiz admits he held on to the guillotine that finished Ryan Bader for too long at UFC 132, but now he wants the winner of Forrest Griffin and Mauricio Shogun Rua.

Ortiz's UFC future was hanging by the thinnest of threads ahead of July 2, but he turned his career around with a superb submission victory that saw him get the better of Bader with his hands and then on the mat.

The Huntington Beach Bad Boy's only error on the night was the length of time that he held onto the guillotine, keeping it locked on even after Bader had tapped.

"I saw his legs buckle, and when I saw that, that was my chance," said Ortiz. "I hit him, one-two and then elbows. I locked in the guillotine. As soon as I went to pull guard, I sunk my elbow and I tightened my grip. I was stone dry, because I wasn't sweating yet. Right as he was trying to pull his head out, that's when I sunk it in.

"He tapped, and I thought he was still going to pull his head out. That's why I held onto it a little longer. I probably shouldn't have done that, but it was just the emotions of not wanting to lose."

Ortiz remains convinced that he did not lose his fight against Griffin at UFC 106, a loss that leaves them at 1-1 in their duel. Now he wants a decider, although he is more than happy to fight Shogun if the Brazilian beats Griffin at UFC 134 in Rio.

"I gave [UFC president] Dana White his opportunity to find someone to beat me, and it didn't work [with] Bader," said Ortiz. "So give me my shot at one of the guys I thought that I beat already in Forrest Griffin. The judges gave him a split decision, so give me another chance at him.

"This was the rebirth of Tito Ortiz. I'm injury free. I'm very healthy. I had a great training camp. I did it at home. This was the first time in 11 years that I didn't go up to Big Bear. I think being mentally focused really helped out a lot.

"You don't understand. This game of MMA, it's very mental. "I showed the true champion I am -- the fighter who laid the groundwork for these [younger] fighters in the UFC. I worked really hard, and tonight it showed."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.