It seems that the controversy behind Bellator 170 is never going to die, at least not any time soon.
January’s Bellator 170 featured former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz’s final fight as a professional. Upon defeating Chael Sonnen in the first round of the main event via rear-naked choke, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” retired from the sport.
Unfortunately the fight did not entirely end then and there. The Bellator 170 main event has been plagued with controversy over the following weeks.
Ortiz was largely criticized for holding his fight winning rear-naked choke for far too long, creating the first rift of controversy. The second mishap was over Social Media.
Following UFC analyst Dan Hardy’s accusation of the main event being allegedly fixed via Twitter, Bellator president Scott Coker threatened to take legal action against “The Outlaw.” The outcome of Coker’s threats has not been revealed, but Hardy recently clarified his point with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour and through social media.
Chael Sonnen would go on to accuse Tito Ortiz of verbally tapping during the bout, without notice from referee “Big” John McCarthy.
McCarthy’s response via Twitter, “Chael must have been listening to a different frequency then the rest of the world that night. Tito didn’t say anything.”
Chael must have been listening to a different frequency then the rest of the world that night. Tito didn't say anything #AskBJM https://t.co/mlIf7nbOpO
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) February 24, 2017
New to the mass of upset over the event, Chael Sonnen has responded to John McCarthy’s recent Tweet on the Phone Booth Fighting podcast.
In an interview with the Phone Booth Fighting podcast, Sonnen admitted “I love John, and I respect John, but I don’t know what that would help.” Sonnen said. “One, I don’t know if he felt he needed to defend himself. And, two, if there’s a major fire burning for a rematch with me and Tito, why somebody who has nothing to do with the business would come in and put any kind of water on that, or who that is to help, is beyond me.”
Chael Sonnen is coming off of a two fight losing streak. Before losing to Ortiz via submission, Sonnen was defeated by Rashad Evans at UFC 167 back in 2013.
