UFC uploaded another classic fight during the early days of the light heavyweight division, this time it was at UFC 40 between “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” Ken Shamrock and Tito Ortiz.
Going in, The “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” was on a hot streak as Ortiz was in the midst of a five-fight winning streak, besting Wanderlei Silva (via unanimous decision for the UFC Light Heavyweight title at UFC 25), Yuki Kondo (via submission at UFC 29), Evan Tanner (via KO at UFC 30), Elvis Sinosic (via TKO at UFC 32), and Vladimir Matyushenko (via unanimous decision at UFC 33).
Shamrock on the other hand was looking to bounce back following his loss to Don Frye at Pride 19 in Japan. The fighter was making his re-debut with the UFC after a brief hiatus following his fight against Dave Severn at UFC 9. The California native was making his light heavyweight debut here, and what other way to make an impact in your return by capturing the 205-pound belt from a dominant Tito Ortiz.
For Ortiz, this was more than just about adding another name to his list of fighters he’s defeated thus far, as Ortiz wanted to prove that he’s become “The World’s Most Dangerous Man”. For Shamrock, it was about redemption after losing the UFC Superfight Championship a couple years earlier.
Of course, the two MMA legends would go on to have an action packed championship match that’s still talked about today. Check out the light heavyweight title fight between Tito Ortiz and Ken Shamrock: