Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz is in the middle of an improbable career renaissance and he celebrated it proudly on today's UFC 133 press call. Ortiz and his opponent Rashad Evans took questions from reporters about the August 6th event they'll be headlining in a non-title bout.
Ortiz, who accepted the bout on short notice when Evan's original opponent Phil Davis got hurt, rocketed back into relevance at UFC 132 when he submitted Ryan Bader. UFC President Dana White had planned to cut Ortiz, who hadn't had a win in 5 years, if he'd lost that fight.
But MMA is a "what have you done for me lately" game and the victory brought Ortiz the opportunity to rematch Evans in the headliner of UFC 133. The two fought to a draw in 2008.
Ortiz said he has always been a huge Rocky fan and that it's no coincidence his big opportunity is happening in Rocky's hometown of Philadelphia.
"I know I'm capable and I know I'm capable in Philly," he said.