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20th Jan 2017

MMA legend discusses staggering number of concussions and support for Trump

Makes sense to us

Patrick McCarry

“I’m able to take my gloves off, set them down in the middle of the cage and walk away.”

Tito Ortiz was everything a fighting champion was supposed to be. He won the UFC Light Heavyweight title in 2000 and defended it five times before losing it to Randy Couture three years later. He has defeated UFC legends such as Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort and Ken Shamrock [thrice].

This weekend, Ortiz faces Chael Sonnen on the occasion of his 42nd birthday. It will also be his final fight.

Ortiz takes on Sonnen at Bellator 170 and the tension is already high.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPegOAYj4RS/

Ortiz is in full disclosure mood ahead of his fighting farewell and he made some pretty shocking admissions about the punishment his body has taken. He said:

“20 years is enough for me. Eight surgeries over Twenty… five concussions. I’m able to walk away and be happy.

“I’ve got plenty of money in the bank. I’ve got everything I needed. I got my house on the water. I’ve got my fish-boat behind my house and my Rolls Royce Phantom.”

Ortiz then moved on to gush about US President Donald Trump and what he would do to transform the country’s fortunes. He declared:

“President Trump is going to make America great again and I’m excited…

“So many people are not backing Trump and it makes me sad about our country. There are so many people that won’t back him but there’s other people who just voted him and sit there and shake their head. It’s sad; it’s almost confusing.”

He added, “Trump made the most sense and that is why he won. People need to accept that.”

Trump Inauguration on Friday, victory over Sonnen on Saturday. For Ortiz, that would not be a bad way to bow out.

Catch up with this week’s episode of Football Friday Live: