UFC 140 Fight Card: Tito Ortiz and 5 Fighters Who Are Hanging on by a Thread

On Saturday night, Tito Ortiz will step back in the Octagon, a luxury he would not have had if he hadn't defeated Ryan Bader at UFC 132.

At UFC 133, he stepped back into the Octagon on short notice against Rashad Evans, a fight he lost via second round TKO.

At UFC 140, he may have his job on the line once again, so let's look at Ortiz and four other fighters who are hanging on by a thread.

Tito Ortiz

We'll start it off with the man who inspired the slideshow.

Ortiz has gone 1-5-1 in his last seven fights, and another loss could be the end for him. He has said he intends to retire after two more fights—one more after Saturday—but if he loses, he may not have a say in the matter.

Here's hoping Ortiz pulls out the win so we can see him fight one more time.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

The man who Tito Ortiz is fighting is up next, as Antonio Rogerio Nogueira could easily be cut with a loss.

Nogueira has gone 2-2 in his UFC career, on a two-fight losing streak, although he could arguably be 1-3, and on a three-fight losing streak.

Another loss could be the end of the UFC road for Lil' Nog.

Norifumi Yamamoto

For years, Kid Yamamoto was heralded as one of the best little guys in all of MMA.

Unfortunately, in his last five fights, he has gone 1-4, and so far in the UFC, he is 0-2, with two unanimous decision losses.

First he lost to Demetrious Johnson, and then Darren Uyenoyama, and simply hasn't looked like the fighter he once was.

He will likely have his last chance at UFC 144 against Vaughan Lee.

Cole Escovedo

Cole Escovedo is hanging on by such a little thread, that he may not even get another fight in the UFC.

Escovedo has gone 1-5 in his past six, with losses to Michael McDonald, Michihiro Omigawa, Renan Barao, Takeya Mizugaki and Alex Caceres, and he has gone 0-3 in the UFC.

Escovedo could be cut any day now.

Dan Hardy

As the only man to lose four UFC fights in a row and keep his job, Dan Hardy is holding on by the thinnest of threads.

He came into the UFC at 19-6, and rattled off four straight wins to earn a shot at Georges St-Pierre.

GSP beat him by unanimous decision. Then Carlos Condit knocked him out. Then Anthony Johnson out-wrestled him, and Chris Lytle submitted him.

Hardy needs a win in his next fight, or Dana White can't justify keeping him around anymore.

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on twitter @tmt2393.