On July 31, 2013, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz came out of retirement and signed with Bellator, ushering in a new era for his career. Unfortunately, it would take nearly a year before Ortiz actually made his Bellator debut. A series of injuries and personal problems set Ortiz back, but he never lost focus and finally returned to MMA this past May in one of the year’s biggest upsets when he defeated Bellator middleweight champion Alexander Shlemenko in a light heavyweight non-title fight. As he neared his showdown with fellow former UFC stalwart Stephan Bonnar in Bellator this coming Saturday, Ortiz spoke to MMAWeekly.com about his year of rebuilding, defeating Shlemenko and what he has his eye on for the coming year. MMAWeekly.com: Firstly, Tito, tell us about the time from when you first signed with Bellator last year to finally fighting this past May and everything you went through. Tito Ortiz: I took the fight against Rampage (Quinton Jackson) and ended up getting injured because I wasn’t in great shape.
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Tito Ortiz Had To Go Through Hell, but He’s in Heaven Now – MMA Weekly