Don’t expect to see Ortiz fight this December and then retire, as the former light heavyweight champion is back to being a full time fighter.
“I’m here – I’m back,” Ortiz said to MMA Fighting. “I’m not going anywhere any time soon. The last fight against Chuck Liddell has reinvigorated my career completely. It made me want to compete. It made me want to get in the gym. It made me do what I love, and that’s compete. I love to compete. Just the reaction that I have from my body is amazing. I feel young. I’m 44 years old, but I feel 44 years young. This is just a stepping stone for something in the future. I would like to get a bigger fight, but this is a big fight for me.”
Ortiz has won four of his last five bouts, but has only competed a total of five times in the last five years.
The fighter also has his sights set on MMA gold, as Ortiz would like a rematch against two division Bellator MMA champion Ryan Bader.
“I would like to chase after a world title after this.” Ortiz said. “I know Ryan Bader is the heavyweight world champion and the light heavyweight world champion of Bellator. I would like to go after that light heavyweight belt and give him a chance at redemption when I beat him back in 2011.”
Combate Americas: Ortiz vs. Del Rio takes place on Saturday, December 7 from the Payne Arena in Hidalgo, Texas with Tito Ortiz and Alberto Del Rio headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which airs live on pay-per-view.
