UFC 133 Fight Card: Does Tito Ortiz Have a Realistic Title Run Left in Him?

There is no other fighter who has gained as much attention as Tito Ortiz has right now.

From previously being seen as a irrelevant competitor to overcoming adversity and earning tremendous fan support, Ortiz's stock is at an all-time high. 

"The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" has seemingly embraced his current role in the UFC, and after stepping in on short notice to face Rashad Evans at UFC 133, Ortiz is looking to extend his 15 minutes of fame a little longer. A rematch that will surely intrigue fans, and potentially grant Ortiz the opportunity of competing for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship. 

However, Evans is a different fighter than before and currently stands as one of the top competitors in the light heavyweight division. And while a title shot hangs in the balance, both fighters are taking more risk than reward.

Perhaps what Ortiz has mostly going for him is his competitive drive and passion for the sport, as he has fought nearly all of the top fighters the UFC has to offer. Obviously, he is no longer in his prime and it has shown recently, but Ortiz always adds interest to his bouts.

While critics will point to Evans' longer layoff as a more likely chance of losing, it is actually Ortiz's short layoff that could hold more significance in the outcome of their fight.

At 36-years-old, Ortiz is not likely going to be physically prepared in that short amount of time. Evans is much younger than Ortiz and still has the tools to surpass him. While earning one of the most remarkable victories of his career over Ryan Bader at UFC 132, there was no real indication of how much Ortiz's wrestling skills have improved since he never had the opportunity to utilize them.

And after being dominated by fellow wrestler Matt Hamill at UFC 121, it is questionable as to how much Ortiz has evolved as a fighter overall. 

That is not to say Ortiz wouldn't beat Evans, but based on his age and his overall skills, it is hard to determine how he would fare against younger, athletic fighters. Anything can happen in mixed martial arts, but one must take a realistic approach on certain fighters when evaluating their overall skillset.

It would be a great achievement to see Ortiz recapture the UFC light heavyweight title, however, it would take a lot more than determination and passion to make it seem possible.