It was inevitable that Tito Ortiz would go out with controversy. In fact, there were several. Some questioned whether Tito tapped first to a guillotine. Some questioned whether Sonnen’s tap was a work. And no one questioned that the submission was held for too long.
Sonnen got to Ortiz first, and attempted a guillotine variation. Ortiz escaped and ended in top mount. Sonnen tried to roll free, but Ortiz partially applied a rear naked choke and squeezed. Sonnen turned red, and tapped.
https://twitter.com/FancyCombat/status/823032681596329984
It is perhaps notable that Sonnen had not fought since November of 2013. He was finished not in a puddle a blood, but in perhaps a puddle of rust. Never the less, the reaction on Twitter by many was dubious.
https://twitter.com/danhardymma/status/823137974326099968
If Chael were calling that fight instead of participating, I think he would call that a work. Odd performance from Sonnen.
— King Typo (@BoxingBusch) January 22, 2017
“>January 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/RothwellFighter/status/823050934834102272
Look, I ain't trying to be that guy, but Tito wasn't under the chin and he was off to the side.
— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) January 22, 2017
“>January 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/TeamRocBiggie/status/823032606044409856
“>January 22, 2017
I call bullshit on that fight. #Bellator170 #ChaelvsTito
— The Thugjitsu Master (@thugjitsumaster) January 22, 2017
“>January 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/Mickmaynard2/status/823033105913147394
And the oscar goes to #Bellator170
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) January 22, 2017
“>January 22, 2017
The simple fact is that Sonnen appeared to get redder in the choke, something you can’t will yourself to do, before tapping. Ortiz took bronze at the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, 17 years ago, and got a lot better since. He has phenomenal submissions and is phenomenally strong, and has phenomenal Old Man Strength, something Sonnen will and did attest to.
Adding to the peculiarity, others argued that Tito had tapped earlier in the fight.
It is incontestible that Ortiz held the choke too long.
“It was just something in my mind that, if I let go and they stop and restart it again, I ain’t going to let this happen,” said Ortiz afterward, as transcribed by Adam Guillen Jr. for MMA Mania. “But, I apologize to that athletic commission for holding on to it it longer, but I did hold on to it longer. I had ill will and I felt like an animal, like a lion and this lion roared how I said I was going to. This was my fight no matter what. This is what I was going to do.”
For his part, Sonnen took it in stride.
“Well, yeah I tapped and he didn’t let go,” said Sonnen. “I’m not upset about it and I don’t have any ill feelings toward him. But yes, did he hold the choke after I tapped? Sure.”
Whether the California State Athletic Commission is as understanding remains to be seen.
