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Tito Ortiz suffered serious injuries in a recent boating accident. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz is still on the mend after being involved in what he calls “the worst accident of my life.”
The former UFC champion shared some of the details behind a boating accident that occurred 11 weeks ago in a post on social media on Monday.
“I was thrown from a boat traveling approximately 55 [miles per hour] and launched nearly 10 feet into the air. I was knocked unconscious and woke up 10 feet underwater. I remember opening my eyes beneath the surface and realizing I had to get to the top. It took about six hard strokes before I finally broke through the water,” Ortiz wrote on Instagram.
“When I surfaced, the boat was over 100 yards away. As I floated there, trying to understand what had happened, I realized how close I had come to losing my life. Thankfully, the boat came back around and picked me up. I sat down on a beanbag, confused, in pain, and not fully understanding the severity of my injuries.”
It hasn’t been an easy recovery for “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy,” who says who is still dealing with some of the effects of the accident. However, Ortiz also feels fortunate to still be alive.
“The headaches, face pain, body pain, and memory loss that followed have been unlike anything I’ve ever experienced,” he continued. “For nearly two months after the accident, much of my memory was gone. Even now, pieces are slowly starting to come back. This injury has affected every part of my life. My health has suffered. My personal life has suffered. My business has suffered. I’ve missed opportunities, lost time, and faced challenges I never expected.
“But through it all, one thing remains clear: God was watching over me. I truly believe I was given a second chance. Every day since that accident has been a reminder of how precious life is and how quickly everything can change.”
Seeking Further Relief
The 51-year-old Ortiz further revealed that he will undergo surgery next week.
“On Monday, June 8, I will undergo C3-C4 disc replacement surgery,” he wrote. “My hope is that this procedure will finally relieve the pain and help me continue the road to recovery. Thank you to everyone who has supported me, prayed for me, checked in on me, and stood by my side during this difficult journey. Your encouragement has meant more than words can express. I’m not done fighting. This is just another challenge to overcome.”
A member of the UFC Hall of Fame’s Pioneer Wing, Ortiz was one of the promotion’s first true superstars during its formative years thanks to rivalries with the likes of Chuck Liddell and Ken Shamrock. He reigned as UFC light heavyweight champion from 2000 to 2003 while authoring five successful title defenses. Ortiz’s last combat sports appearances came in September 2021, when he suffered a first-round knockout loss to Anderson Silva in a boxing match.
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