Looks like “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-8-1) will be getting another shot in the UFC after all. Ortiz made his next and perhaps final bout in the promotion official by signing a contract to face “Little Nog” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-4) as the main event at UFC Fight Night 24 on March 26 in Seattle, Washington.
Having gone 0-4-1 in the UFC since his third defeat over UFC Hall of Famer “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock (28-14-2) in October 2006, talks of “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” possibly being dropped from the promotion have run rampant. After his most recent loss to his TUF Season 3 protege “The Hammer” Matt Hamill (9-2) at UFC 121 in October, UFC President Dana White was unsure as to whether Ortiz would be brought back for another fight with the organization, but several weeks later decided to give the light heavyweight another shot. It may be assumed that his upcoming match against “Little Nog” is the former champion’s final chance to establish himself in the UFC’s ever deepening 205lbs. talent pool.
Since his last victory Ortiz has suffered defeat at the hands of “The Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-8), “The Dragon” Lyoto Machida (16-2), and Forrest Griffin (17-6) as well as Matt Hamill, and his bout with “Sugar” Rashad Evans (15-1-1) was ruled a Draw.
Nogueira’s six fight win streak was snapped in September when he lost via Unanimous Decision to undefeated Ultimate Fighter Season 8 alum “Darth” Ryan Bader (12-0) at UFC 119. The PRIDE veteran and Team Black House stand-0ut “Little Nog” is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and former boxing champion. He holds wins over current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion “Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem (30-12), PRIDE and UFC veteran “Hendo” Dan Henderson (26-8), and “The Janitor” Vladimir Matyushenko (25-5).
UFC Fight Night 24 airs live on Spike TV, March 26.
