UFC 140 Results: The UFC Should Grant Tito Ortiz 1 More Fight

Maybe it's the spirit of the season. Maybe it was just the egg nog. But something about Tito Ortiz last night at UFC 140 reminded me of Ebenezer Scrooge awakening a changed man on Christmas morning.

Here, in the gathering twilight of his career, Ortiz has undergone a personality overhaul—at least when the cameras and microphones are on. He is no longer the Huntington Beach Bad Boy. Before last night's fight with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Bruce Buffer introduced him as The People's Champ. The excuse making has become humility. The pettiness has mellowed into magnanimity. The smirk is now an easy smile.

Interesting that Tito seems bent on personal metamorphosis just as his body seems bent on driving him over a cliff. In August, the Tito who feuded with the UFC became the consummate company man when he stepped in to face Rashad Evans and salvage UFC 133. But, to the surprise of very few (including, in all likelihood, Ortiz himself) Evans dominated the fight on his way to a TKO victory. After all, it did come just a month after 36-year-old Ortiz shocked Ryan Bader at UFC 132. 

Ortiz continues to ride a wave of public goodwill from that win, but his in-cage momentum has all but dried up after again losing a second consecutive one-sided fight, this time to Lil Nog. 

Nevertheless, after the loss—even in a moment of intense disappointment and physical pain—Ortiz said he'd like to give it one more shot.  

"I have one more fight on my contract," Ortiz told Joe Rogan. "So hopefully Dana will let me honor that out...I'm going to get one more and give it my all and leave with a W, and then that'll be all for me."

Later that night, UFC President Dana White was noncommittal.

"I gotta talk to Tito," he said. "We'll see. I'm always looking out for guys' health. It's not like Tito got viciously knocked out tonight. He got punished to the ribs. We'll see."

Who knows why Ortiz really wants to fight once more. Maybe he wants to hear the roar of the crowd one last time. Maybe he simply wants to go out a winner. Maybe he wants the money. Maybe he loves to fight. Maybe it's all of those things, or maybe it's none of them.

It doesn't matter. This Tito Ortiz, with the new mentality and aging body, has earned one final fight. Whether it's a rubber match with Forrest Griffin or some other matchup. He earned it not only by carrying the UFC through its darker days, or by virtue of his championship track record. It's because, when the UFC needed help, Ortiz delivered. He's an ambassador for the UFC and the sport.

The UFC has a chance to return these favors. And they should. Because Tito Ortiz would do it for them.  

Be sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things UFC 140. B/R is your home for complete coverage of the December 10 fight card, including results and post-fight analysis.