Tito Ortiz defeated Stephan Bonnar via a split decision during Saturday night's Bellator 131 in San Diego. The fight was a slow, rough slog, with both competitors landing a couple gruesome punches. For his victory, Ortiz came away with a sizable $300,000 purse (while Bonnar's $100,000 should be enough to help ease his bruised ego, and actual bruises).
The question now on Bellator fans' minds is where does Tito Ortiz go next? With two back-to-back wins and a reputation for hubris, there should be no expectation that Ortiz is thinking retirement. The pull of the Octagon -- and those paydays -- will be too strong, he'll want back in.
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Bleacher Report started off the speculation about Tito Ortiz's next fight, arguing that the 39-year-old should look to Mo Lawal or Rampage Jackson for his next opponent. Bleacher Report speculated that Ortiz wouldn't have much value to Bellator producers in a title fight, as he would likely be smoked against either winner of the upcoming Emanuel Newton vs. Liam McGeary clash. A squaredown between Ortiz and either Jackson or Lawal, however, would be presumably evenly matched while also providing the necessary star wattage to allow Bellator to promote it as a big, "tentpole" event in 2015.
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On the immediate heels of Bellator 131, Lawal himself seemed ready and eager to test his own mettle against Ortiz. Lawal was quoted by the MMA Report as saying, "Now if you want some, you get some. I'm just saying. You fought Bonnar, no offense to Bonnar, but Bonnar has been gone for two years. That's fine. I'll Django your a**. Straight up, Django. I will bust your a**, straight up. I'm serious."
Time will tell if Lawal has the chance to back up that seriousness.
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