UFC 5 - ORTIZ VS BELFORT

UFC 5 - ORTIZ VS BELFORT

Highly Anticipated Rematch

The UFC 51 main event featured a highly anticipated light heavyweight rematch between former champion Tito Ortiz and the dangerous striker Vitor Belfort. Their first scheduled meeting at UFC 33 in 2001 was scrapped due to an injury to Belfort, leaving fans eagerly awaiting this rescheduled clash.

Ortiz was coming off a controversial split decision loss to Randy Couture at UFC 49, where he lost the light heavyweight title. The "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" was determined to regain the belt he had held for over 3 years by taking out the explosive Belfort.

Belfort, meanwhile, was fresh off a quick 49-second TKO victory over Couture to capture the 205lb strap at UFC 46. However, he then lost the title back to Couture in their rubber match at UFC 49 via doctor stoppage. "The Phenom" looked to rebound against Ortiz and reclaim the title he had briefly held.

With both men having tasted championship glory and coming off high-profile bouts with Couture, the stakes were high for this long-awaited clash of elite light heavyweights at UFC 51 in Las Vegas.