The impact Tito Ortiz had on the sport of mixed martial arts still reverberates today, long after he was considered a relevant competitor. A former Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight titleholder, he celebrates his 50th birthday on Jan. 23. Ortiz—who compiled a 21-12-1 record as a pro—was front and center in some of MMA’s most memorable and influential rivalries in his prime, first with Ken Shamrock and later with Chuck Liddell. Victories over ex-Pride Fighting Championships titlist Wanderlei Silva, former two-division Bellator MMA champion Ryan Bader and former UFC titleholders Evan Tanner, Vitor Belfort and Forrest Griffin anchor his resume.
This Month’s MMA Birthdays: Tito Ortiz Turns 50
