"I thought I won the fight. I thought I pulled it off two rounds to one. You know, that third round, I'm very thankful to Dr. William Smith here in Las Vegas for doing the surgery that he did, otherwise I would not have been able to step in against a guy who is ranked fifth in the world. I came in and thought I won the fight. [I didn't reveal my injuries prior because] You gotta sell the fight, right? I had disc C-7 or C-6 pressing on my spinal cord. I was in traction for awhile. Beyond that I came in and put up a fight. I put my heart and soul inside that cage every time I fight. I thought I won the fight. I thought I won. I thought I won.... I thought I won the first round and I thought I won the second round. You see the damage on his face? I got him good. In the third round I was gassed, but after taking 18 months off, I want to see another fighter come in here [and undergoing back surgery] and do what I just did. I gave my heart and soul, man. I entertained the fans. And for me not getting "Fight of the Night," I'm taken back by it, but it is what it is. I thought I won. The judge called it 30-27, I mean what the fuck, are you blind or something? But hey, it is what it is, I'll be back. I feel good. I'm sorry I let my fans down. I thought I won.... I'm pissed."
-- An emotional Tito Ortiz talks to the media after his split decision loss to Forrest Griffin in the UFC 106 main event from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" feels he did enough in the first two rounds to earn the nod from the judges, saying he was "robbed" of his first meaningful win inside the Octagon in more than three years. Griffin, in fact, was the last top fighter who he defeated, which was way back in 2006. The former light heavyweight champion showed flashes of what made him such a force in the division, putting Griffin on his back numerous times and smashing his face with elbows. But it apparently wasn't enough ... or was it? Ortiz admits that he "gave away" the third round because he was so tired, but did you think he had the win locked up before it even started? And did anyone see it 30-27 for Griffin? Sound off, Maniacs.
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