Editing Tito Ortiz (section)

=== Return to the UFC ===
As part of his comeback to the UFC, Ortiz began training with his original [[Brazilian jiu-jitsu]] and [[Judo]] instructor Cleber Luciano (a student of [[Royler Gracie]]). Ortiz originally briefly trained with Luciano back in 1997, when he was still a student at [[Golden West College]].<ref>[http://www.cleberjiujitsu.com/ Cleber Luciano Jiu-Jitsu]. URL accessed on October 23, 2009.</ref>

On July 17, 2009, both Ortiz and Dana White stated that the pair had made amends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmamania.com/2009/07/17/ufc-quick-quote-tito-ortiz-came-to-amends-with-dana-white-possible-return-in-fall-2009/|title=UFC Quick Quote: Tito Ortiz 'came to amends' with Dana White (Update)|first=Jesse|last=Holland|work=MMAmania.com|date=July 17, 2009|access-date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> One week later, White announced that he re-signed Tito.<ref>{{cite web|author=November 10, 9 |url=https://twitter.com/danawhiteufc |title=D White (@danawhiteufc) op Twitter |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> Ortiz stated he is returning for a six-fight deal he and White have worked out. White officially announced Ortiz's return in a conference call on July 31, 2009. White mentioned that "everyone wants to see Tito fight" and "Tito will retire in the UFC." [[Mark Coleman]] was named as Ortiz's opponent for his return to the octagon at [[UFC 106]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/ufc-post-fight-press-conference-notes-19004|title=UFC 101 Post-Fight Press Conference Notes|website=Sherdog}}</ref>
However, Coleman pulled out of this bout due to a second-degree tear of his [[Medial collateral ligament|MCL]], and was replaced by [[Forrest Griffin]].

Due to an illness to [[UFC Heavyweight Championship|UFC Heavyweight Champion]] [[Brock Lesnar]], Ortiz's fight with Griffin was promoted to the headliner of [[UFC 106]]. Griffin won the fight via split decision, showing superior striking ability.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=23331|title=The Official Website of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC)|access-date=July 12, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029104204/http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=23331|archive-date=October 29, 2009}}</ref> Whilst Ortiz was able to secure takedowns in the first and second rounds, Griffin showed considerable improvement since their first fight and kept the fight standing throughout the third, leading to the split decision victory.

On December 5, it was announced Ortiz would coach the [[The Ultimate Fighter: Team Liddell vs. Team Ortiz|11th season]] of ''[[The Ultimate Fighter]]'', with the opposing coach being Chuck Liddell. He was scheduled to fight Liddell again for the third time at the end of the season and later pulled out of the bout.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=4113 |title=Fighters Only Magazine - the World's Greatest MMA Magazine - News - Article Title |access-date=November 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420034648/http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=4113 |archive-date=April 20, 2010 }} FightersOnlyMagazine.com</ref> On April 7, 2010, UFC president Dana White said Liddell vs. Ortiz 3 was scheduled to be the main event for [[UFC 115]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/04/07/dana-white-tito-ortiz-chuck-liddell-definitely-main-event-for/|title=Dana White: Tito Ortiz-Chuck Liddell 'Definitely' Main Event for UFC 115 |publisher=mmafighting.com |access-date=April 7, 2010}}</ref> However, on April 12, 2010, the UFC confirmed the main event for the card was Liddell vs. [[Rich Franklin]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://115.ufc.com|title=UFC 115|publisher=[[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]]|access-date=April 12, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816143856/http://115.ufc.com/|archive-date=August 16, 2013}}</ref>

Ortiz fought [[Matt Hamill]] on October 23, 2010, at [[UFC 121]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/07/22/tito-ortiz-to-face-matt-hamill-at-ufc-121|title=Tito Ortiz to Face Matt Hamill at UFC 121|author=Mike Chiappetta|date=July 22, 2010|publisher=MMA Fighting}}</ref> Hamill was Ortiz's first overall pick during Season 3 of the Ultimate Fighter. Ortiz lost the fight via unanimous decision.

UFC President Dana White hinted at Tito Ortiz's possible release from the UFC in a post-fight interview after UFC 121<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.askmen.com/specials/2010_top_49/32-dana-white.html |title=Dana White – Top 49 Men – AskMen |publisher=Uk.askmen.com |access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> stating that 'We all know what happens when guys lose four fights in the UFC'. There had been no official statement to confirm this, however. On November 7, in a response to a fan via his Twitter, Ortiz stated that he would again fight in the UFC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/titoortiz |title=Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) op Twitter |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>

Ortiz was expected to face [[Antônio Rogério Nogueira]] on March 26, 2011, at [[UFC Fight Night 24]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/21822/antonio-rogerio-nogueira-vs-tito-ortiz-headlines-ufc-fight-night-24-in-seattle.mma |title=Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Tito Ortiz headlines UFC Fight Night 24 in Seattle |publisher=mmajunkie.com|date=December 21, 2010}}</ref> UFC president Dana White said that he had expected to cut Ortiz loose from the UFC after his loss to Hamill, but decided to give him one last chance against Nogueira.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmaweekly.com/ufc-president-dana-white-this-is-tito-ortizs-last-stand |title=UFC President Dana White: This Is Tito Ortiz's Last Stand |publisher=MMAWeekly.com|date=November 17, 2010}}</ref> Ortiz received a cut above his eye and a [[concussion]] while training for his fight with Nogueira and was forced to withdraw. He was replaced by [[Phil Davis (fighter)|Phil Davis]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/22541/tito-ortiz-out-phil-davis-faces-antonio-rogerio-nogueira-at-ufc-fight-night-24.mma |title=Tito Ortiz out, Phil Davis faces Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 24 |access-date=February 20, 2011 |publisher=mmajunkie.com |date=February 19, 2011}}</ref>

Ortiz took on [[Ryan Bader]] on July 2, 2011, at [[UFC 132]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmaweekly.com/tito-ortiz-takes-on-ryan-bader-at-ufc-132-on-july-2|title=Tito Ortiz Takes on Ryan Bader at UFC 132 on July 2 &#124; MMAWeekly.com|date=March 21, 2011}}</ref> Coming in as a heavy underdog, with his UFC career on the line (despite stating that in his previous 5 fights, he'd been plagued by injury), Ortiz dropped Bader with strikes and submitted him using a [[guillotine choke]] at 1:56 of the first round, thus securing his first victory since 2006 and saving his UFC career. The victory earned him a $75,000 [[List of UFC bonus award recipients|"Submission of the Night"]] bonus award.<ref name="UFC132">{{Cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jul/03/tito-ortiz-revives-career/|title=Submission victory helps to revive veteran Tito Ortiz's career|publisher=lasvegassun.com|author=Ray Brewer|date=2011-07-03|access-date=2025-01-18}}</ref>

[[File:TitoOrtiz2.png|thumb|Ortiz in June 2008]]

In a rematch against [[Rashad Evans]] on August 6, 2011, at [[UFC 133]], in which he replaced an injured [[Phil Davis (fighter)|Phil Davis]] on two weeks' notice, Ortiz lost in the second round by TKO via strikes, despite nearly finishing Evans in round one with a guillotine. Despite the loss, this fight earned him a $70,000 ''[[List of UFC bonus award recipients|Fight of the Night]]'' award.<ref name="UFC133">{{Cite web|url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/evans-gets-tough-test-ortiz-ufc-133-sets-031405752.html|title=Evans gets by tough test in Ortiz at UFC 133, sets up a title shot|publisher=sports.yahoo.com|author=Steve Cofield|date=2011-08-11|access-date=2025-01-18}}</ref>

Ortiz faced [[Antônio Rogério Nogueira]] on December 10, 2011, at [[UFC 140]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Mrosko |first=Geno |url=http://www.mmamania.com/2011/9/9/2415770/ufc-140-tito-ortiz-vs-antonio-rogerio-nogueira-booked-for-dec-10-in |title=UFC 140: Tito Ortiz vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira booked for Dec. 10 in Toronto |publisher=MMAmania.com |date=September 9, 2011 |access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref> He lost the fight via TKO in the first round. He would state after the fight that he had suffered a neck injury before the fight, but decided to fight anyway in the hope of bringing the fans a victory.

Ortiz then stated he would retire after his next fight, the last of his contract, against [[Forrest Griffin]] at [[UFC 148]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Guillen |first=Adam |url=http://www.mmamania.com/2012/1/2/2677933/tito-ortiz-wants-to-fight-chuck-liddell-or-forrest-griffin-on-fourth |title=UFCs Tito Ortiz wants to retire on July 4 weekend, targets Chuck Liddell or Forrest Griffin |date=January 2, 2012 |publisher=MMAmania.com |access-date=November 7, 2012}}</ref>

Ortiz faced [[Forrest Griffin]] for a third time on July 7, 2012, at [[UFC 148]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/3/20/2886598/forrest-griffin-vs-tito-ortiz-3-ufc-148-july|title=Tito Ortiz Vs. Forrest Griffin III Set For July's UFC 148, and will appear on the main card along with Vitor Belfort vs Wanderlei Silva |work=bloodyelbow.com |date=March 20, 2012}}</ref> Ortiz was inducted into the [[UFC Hall of Fame]] prior to his final bout.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/29570/tito-ortiz-inducted-into-ufc-hall-of-fame-on-afternoon-of-final-fight-at-ufc-148.mma|title=Tito Ortiz inducted into UFC Hall of Fame on afternoon of final fight at UFC 148|work=mmajunkie.com|date=July 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710115635/http://mmajunkie.com/news/29570/tito-ortiz-inducted-into-ufc-hall-of-fame-on-afternoon-of-final-fight-at-ufc-148.mma|archive-date=July 10, 2012}}</ref> He lost in a $75,000 ''Fight of the Night'' winning performance (despite landing 2 knockdowns and 2 takedowns to Griffin's zero).<ref name="UFC148">{{Cite web|url=https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2012/7/8/3144409/ufc-148-bonuses-fight-of-the-night-submission-knockout|title=UFC 148 Bonuses: Tito Ortiz Vs. Forrest Griffin Wins Fight Of The Night|publisher=sbnation.com|author=Bill Hanstock|date=2012-07-08|access-date=2025-01-18}}</ref>