Tito Ortiz may no longer by vying for a title shot, but that does not mean his upcoming fight against Forrest Griffin won't be one of the biggest of his career. The soon to be hall of famer wants to cement his spot as a UFC legend with a landmark victory at UFC 148.

"This opportunity that I have now on July 7 is to show what the last fifteen years were made of. I need to win. I'm going to win," said an emotional Ortiz. "Losing is not in my mind. All I care about is getting my hand raised and knowing that I'm one of the best light heavyweights to ever grace the Octagon."

At 1-6-1 in his most recent fights inside the Octagon, Ortiz is in desperate search for a victory to close out his storied run. The 37 year old known for his vicious ground and pound will face another game veteran in Griffin. The fight has all the makings of a classic.

"Forrest Griffin is a very tough opponent, a former world champion. I'm a former world champion but at the same time, this ain't about world championships. This ain't about names. This ain't about legacies. This is about a person who has been fighting for fifteen years. Fifteen years comes down to fifteen minutes of my life," remarked Ortiz.

The "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" is looking to avenge a loss to Griffin at UFC 106. Unlike many recent "retirements"--think BJ Penn--this will almost certainly be Ortiz's last bout of his career.

Related Content

• Days Before Fight With Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen Goes Off On Belfort, Wanderlei
• Nick Diaz Fined $79,500 From His UFC 143 Purse
• Dana White Confirms Silva-Sonnen II Almost Didn't Happen
• Miesha Tate Returning August 18 Against Julie Kedzie
• Video: UFC 148: Silva Vs. Sonnen II By The Numbers
• Tito Ortiz Is Leaving Fighting, Not MMA, After "UFC 148"
• Urijah Faber On Chael Sonnen: "This Sport Needs Guys Like Chael Sonnen"
• Charges Dropped Against UFC Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste
• Chael Sonnen Sounds Off On Radio Host, Hangs Up

Get more great MMA news and analysis over at Fightline.

undefined