Tito Ortiz ended his MMA career by choking out amateur wrestling rival Chael Sonnen in the first round in the main event of Bellator 170 at The Forum in Inglewood, California Saturday night.
Sonnen had the early advantage, absorbing an early Ortiz strike to threaten a guillotine. But Ortiz reversed the position and secured a full mount, which forced Sonnen to give up his neck and set up a rear-naked choke for the former UFC light heavyweight champion.
The fight lasted 2:03.
https://twitter.com/titoortiz/status/823142627780345856
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Afterwards, Ortiz chalked up the win to his training and motivation. He admitted to holding the choke too long after Sonnen tapped, saying it was because of his “ill will” for the Sonnen preamble comments towards him and his family. He looked forward to spending more time with his family and perhaps doing something behind the scenes with MMA organizations.
Sonnen was forthright, admitting his three years of inactivity was a contributing factor to his loss. He has a six-fight contract with Bellator that he intends to honour.
In cased you missed the post-fight press conference:
BELLATOR 170 PRELIMS
HENRY CORRALES DEF CODY BOLLINGER VIA KO R3 4:28
COLLEEN SCHNEIDER DEF CHRISSIE DANIELS VIA SUBMISSION R1 1:30
CURTIS MILLENDER DEF JOHNNY CISNEROS VIA TKO R2 3:48
JAMES BARNES DEF ROB GOOCH VIA SUBMISSION R1 4:36
MIKE SEGURA DEF TOMMY AARON VIA TKO R1 1:02
JACOB ROSALES DEF IAN BUTLER VIA TKO R2 2:45
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ DEF CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ VIA TKO R2 3:55
JACK MAY DEF DAVE CRYER VIA TKO R1 0:41
JALIN TURNER DEF GABRIEL GREEN TKO R1 0:36
CHINZO MACHIDA DEF JAMAR OCAMPO VIA TKO R3 3:48
ALEX SOTO DEF DEMARCUS BROWN VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
GUILHERME VASCONCELOS DEF JOHN MERCURIO VIA KO R2 0:41
KEVIN CASEY VS Â KEITH BERRY MAJORITY DRAW (29-27, 28-28-28-28)
MAIN CARD
DEREK CAMPOS VS DEREK ANDERSON
GEORGI KARAKHANYAN VS EMMANUEL SANCHEZ
RALEK GRACIE VS HISAKI KATO
PAUL DALEY VS BRENN WARD
TITO ORTIZ VS CHAEL SONNEN
