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.
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“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.