White Says Ortiz Gets One More Chance

DETROIT – He’s lost five straight fights, but Tito Ortiz is getting another shot at staying in the UFC.

UFC President Dana White confirmed today that Ortiz will face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. White said he considered cutting Ortiz following his loss to Matt Hamill, but Ortiz convinced his boss to give him one more shot.

“I thought I was going to cut him,” White said. “I talked to Tito. He came up to me and we had a conversation. Tito said ‘I’m not done. I feel healthy and I feel good.’ And he asked for one last chance, so I’m going to do it.”

White did say that the Nogueira bout would be Ortiz’s last chance at remaining with the promotion.

“I’m not the evil bastard everyone thinks I am,” White said. “But it’s definitely his last chance. And he knows that, too.”

Ortiz has not won a fight since an October 2006 victory over Ken Shamrock. The Nogueira fight is expected to take place in March, likely in the promotion’s return to Abu Dhabi.