LOS ANGELES — All Chael Sonnen wanted was a chance. That, he believes, was the difference between a long run for Tito Ortiz as the UFC light heavyweight champion and Sonnen holding the belt.
Ortiz, now a UFC Hall of Famer, held the UFC’s 205-pound title for more than three years, from 2000 to 2003. At the time, it was the longest title stretch for anyone in the UFC’s premiere division, eclipsed only now by Jon Jones.
During that time, Sonnen was just out of college (where he was an All-American in wrestling at the University of Oregon) and getting his feet wet in MMA.