Matt Hamill was a doppelganger of the Tito Ortiz of old as he took his former Ultimate Fighter coach down to school, time and time again literally in UFC 121 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Ortiz fired the opening salvo with a kick – punch – knee combo right at the bell launching the first round. Hamill answered with a left jab that opened a cut to the right side of the head of the former UFC light heavyweight champion.
Hamill slammed Ortiz to the canvass with a double-leg takedown but the latter quickly scrambled back to his feet and they were back to a standing exchange of strikes.
With 2:55 remaining in the first round, Ortiz was already sporting a mouse underneath his left eye along with blood oozing from the side of his head. After a more or less equal exhibition of kicks and punches - including a spinning back fist from Ortiz which was blocked by the younger fighter - the round ended with Ortiz’ face the more worn and torn.
Round two began with another exchange of stand-up strikes, the most significant of which was a left uppercut courtesy of Hamill which struck the chin of Ortiz and snapped his head back.
Midway into the round Hamill finally treated his former mentor with a dose of his own medicine: the ground and pound. Winding down to the last two minutes of the round, the erstwhile student secured a double-leg takedown and unleashed a Titoesque rainfall of elbows and punches from inside Ortiz’ guard.
Ortiz unsuccessfully attempted a submission from the guard which only gave Hamill the opportunity to transition to half-mount, where he resumed his punishment till the bell sounded.
The final round was all Hamill’s. The young contender aggressively stalked the elder warrior with left jabs, right straights, uppercut, inside leg kicks and the whole encyclopedia of strikes.
Ortiz dove for a double-leg takedown which Hamill sprawled off and answered with a right straight to the face back on their feet.
Hamill executed another successful double leg takedown with 90 seconds remaining, and spent the dying seconds elbowing and pounding out a unanimous decision victory from half-mount.
The winner, on a roll with his fifth consecutive win, emotionally expressed his gratitude to his former coach during the post-fight interview.
The torch was passed and lit brightly the Honda Center for the unquestioned conqueror, and there was also no question that Hamill heard the cheering crowd.
