The Ultimate Fighting Championship cage fighter known as Tito Ortiz claims that he is the original "Hunting Beach Bad Boy"; however, there exists a small minority of UFC fans who do not particularly subscribe to his theory, and I am one of them.
We will be quick to tell you—even if you don't ask—that the moniker belongs to none other than David "Tank" Abbott, a bar brawler and pit fighter who debuted in 1995 at UFC 6 and had a popular stand-up, knockout-type style.
Ortiz, as the facts will tell us, got a lucky break just over 12 years ago, when at UFC 13 he stepped in for an injured Enson Inoue and subsequently lost by guillotine choke submission to Guy Metzger in the very first round.
It's true, however, that being from the same area, Ortiz was a good friend and sparring partner of Abbott's; it's also quite possible that Ortiz first learned of the UFC from witnessing Tank's early fights.
Speculation rears its ugly head here, but I see Abbott being a primary factor in the Mexican-American Ortiz—who incidentally was junior collegiate state wrestling champion at the time—entering into a cage-fighting career in the first place.
Call me crazy, but I think Ortiz liked the handle of "Huntington Beach Bad Boy," and stole it from Abbott; although "Tank" was certainly a much more fitting nickname for the pressure fighting Abbott than the moniker Ortiz 'borrowed', being as it more aptly described his appearance and fighting style.
At any rate, after losing by knockout to Kimbo Slice at EliteXC last February, and winning his next match at Ken Shamrocks MMA event this past February, it's not known what fate may have in store for Abbott, if anything.
For Ortiz, however, life couldn't be better. He has a new family, consisting of a beautiful wife and great-looking twin boys, and if nothing else, his name can still draw a crowd.
On top of all that good fortune, the self-proclaimed "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" and former UFC light heavyweight champion Ortiz has a new UFC contract, and he is embarking on a big cage-fighting comeback of sorts.
Ortiz is scheduled to return to the Octagon in November at UFC 106, where he will face Hall of Fame UFC fighter and pioneer of the sport, Mark "The Hammer" Coleman.
In this writer's opinion, Coleman is just about all "Tito"can handle at this stage of the game; and no matter what he or his die-hard fans may attempt to sell you, don't buy it—Ortiz is simply not—in any way, the fighter he once was.
For one thing, even though 2006 wasn't that Long ago, the UFC has grown by leaps and bounds since the days when Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, and Ken Shamrock were top contenders.
Some new Brazilian young guns such as Thiago Silva have arrived, stocked with bricks for throwing at one-dimensional wrestlers such as Ortiz, who have starved and stagnated by becoming slaves to only one technique.
Wrestling, and then ground-and-pound, no longer is the winning recipe. Fighters of 12 years ago used those techniques as a basis for everything else; fighters today need more in their arsenal.
With all due respect to Ortiz, he is approaching his 35th year of life; that factoid along with undergoing extensive back surgery—which required long layoffs—undoubtedly would spell disaster should he enter the Octagon against any of the top contenders at 205 pounds.
Also, the division appears locked up tight, heavily guarded by a fire-breathing "Dragon"—an undefeated fighter whom Ortiz has already lost to, Lyoto Machida.
Furthermore, there are fighters at 185, such as Dan Henderson, who would have no problem moving up to 205 just for the sole purpose of kicking sand in the face of the Huntington Beach has-been.
Not that I need any more ammo to throw at Ortiz, but it's worth mentioning that Anderson Silva is the 'Sugar' Ray Robinson of MMA; he can beat you at either 205 or 185, so pick your poison.
Tito once used his win, and near-win, over Rashad Evans and Forrest Griffin, respectively, as reasoning behind his claim he can still compete at the highest level; those two dogs, however, no longer hunt.
The expiration date on the relevancy which buoyed that proclamation has come and gone, and a win over Coleman, no matter how thrilling, will not be enough to catapult him back into the mix.
The reason Ortiz is back escapes me, but I have a hunch it may have something to do with Vitor Belfort, whom Ortiz has a decision win against in 2005 at UFC 51.
Or maybe UFC president Dana White needs a former highly touted big-name fighter with a Mexican heritage in order to lure Latino fans after the big Staples Center event.
Who knows?
White, of late, has proven to have many ulterior motives up his sleeve. However, as a fight promoter and businessman, should we expect any less from him?
Bottom line here (let's be honest) is that some retired fighters should stay retired. Because, no matter how much you may think you have left in the tank, there are younger and better fighters out there nowadays who will try to make a name off yours, and—if you hang around long enough—they will prove to you that your fuel gauge is on empty.
Ortiz, whether you are the original "Huntington Beach Bad Boy," or the flag-waving bottle-blond MMA version of a Rick Flair wannabe, you will no doubt have to learn the hard way, as your former friend "Iceman" Liddell had to.
I'm sure if you and him were on speaking terms, he would be the first to tell you that it's much better to dance with the stars and remain conscious than to be knocked out cold with those stars dancing around your head.
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