Tito Ortiz will become the ninth member of the UFC Hall of Fame ahead of his fight with Forrest Griffin at the UFC 148 Fight Card, as reported Tuesday in MMA Weekly. The plan calls for Ortiz to be inducted at the UFC Fan Expo that weekend in Las Vegas, then take the Octagon for the last time against Griffin, in the rubber match of what has become a trilogy of fights.
This is absolutely the right move for the UFC. The UFC Hall of Fame hasn't had a new induction since Matt Hughes was inducted at UFC 114, and Ortiz's forthcoming retirement provides an excellent opportunity to add a new name. Together with rivals Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, Ortiz was part of a light heavyweight triumvirate that helped carry the UFC into its current era of success. Both Couture and Liddell are already in the Hall of Fame - Couture was inducted in 2006, while Liddell was inducted alongside TapouT co-founder Charles "Mask" Lewis in 2009 - so it's only natural that Ortiz would join them to complete the set.
Ortiz is also the most successful UFC Light Heavyweight Champion in the promotion's history, with five title defenses to his credit (although current champ Jon "Bones" Jones is likely to surpass him within the next year). There's no doubt that Ortiz belongs in the Hall of Fame.
The reality, of course, is that Ortiz also belongs in retirement. After losing to Antônio Rogério Nogueira at UFC 140, Ortiz is 1-6-1 in his last eight fights, with the only win coming nearly a year ago against Ryan Bader at UFC 132. Hounded by injuries and a testy relationship with White, Ortiz hasn't exactly added to his legacy by continuing his career.
Oddly enough, however, he hasn't harmed his legacy either. His previous accomplishments stand on their own, and Ortiz remains one of the sport's most recognizable personalities. With the win over Bader and a Fight of the Night performance against Rashad Evans just a month later at UFC 133, Ortiz got back some of the mojo that he had lost since beating Ken Shamock in 2006. Now, Ortiz is going to have the chance to go out with his head held high, walking right from the Octagon into the Hall of Fame.
