Bellator 170’s main event marked the final fight of UFC hall-of-famer Tito Ortiz’s career, and he went out on a high note, submitting Chael Sonnen in the opening round. After enduring heavy-duty trash talk from Sonnen for the duration of the promotion, Ortiz turned in one more winning performance, as well as his trademark gravedigger celebration.
Ortiz took Chael down with a single leg straight away, but Sonnen used the guillotine to sweep Tito immediately. Sonnen appeared to be going for a d’arce choke, lost the position, but still controlled the head. He switched to a guillotine again, but it wasn’t tight, and Tito’s head popped free and fully mounted Sonnen. Ortiz took Sonnen’s back and went for the rear-naked choke. Chael’s face turned beet red and Sonnen tapped out. Ortiz held onto the choke even after John McCarthy moved in to stop the fight.
Official results: Tito Ortiz def. Chael Sonnen via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:03 of round 1
An emotional Ortiz thanked the Los Angeles crowd, and said he knew he would get the choke. He also shouted, “Ortiz rules!” with his son Jacob by his side inside the Bellator cage. Jacob also laid Tito’s gloves down on the cage, as a symbolic gesture to note his final fight. Ortiz finishes his career with a record of 19-12-1.
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