Listen to an Overview of this Article
From UFC Fame to Coaching
Tito Ortiz, a former UFC Hall of Famer and one of the organization's earliest stars, has shifted gears from the world of professional fighting to coaching high school wrestling. Ortiz played a significant role in catapulting the UFC into the mainstream, with his legendary rivalries and his fight against Chuck Liddell selling nearly 1 million pay-per-views.
A New Chapter
Ortiz retired from MMA in 2019 after 34 bouts, and his last fight in the UFC was in 2012. Now, he spends his time coaching his twin sons, Journey and Jesse, who have joined the Ida Baker wrestling team. Ortiz's sons' coach, Katarzyna Lapinska Jablonski, shared that when Ortiz offered his help, she initially thought they couldn't afford to have someone of his caliber. However, Ortiz insisted on volunteering his time for free.
Passing on Lessons
For Ortiz, coaching is about more than just teaching wrestling techniques. He sees it as an opportunity to shape young men and pass on the values that have shaped him. Ortiz shared, "It’s important to me to form these men, and that is what formed me as a man. So if I’m going to have the opportunity to show kids wrestling also, maybe I’ll save a kid’s life." His son Journey added that his father teaches dedication, respect, discipline, and the importance of not giving up.
A New Path
Ortiz's last fight was in a boxing bout against fellow UFC legend Anderson Silva, which he lost in the first round. It seems that his fighting days may be behind him as he focuses on nurturing the next generation of stars in the wrestling world.
Image Source: [Link to Image]
