CSAC says Tito Ortiz will not be punished for choking Chael Sonnen after tap
CSAC says Tito Ortiz will not be punished for choking Chael Sonnen after tap
This past Saturday night in the main event at Bellator 170, Tito Ortiz submitted Chael Sonnen via rear-naked choke in the first round. After the tap referee Big John McCarthy signaled that the fight was over, however Ortiz did not let go of the hold.
McCarthy had to force Ortiz off by applying pressure to his throat area.
Ortiz later admitted that he knew he held on to the choke after the fight was to be stopped. The question then remained, ‘Would Ortiz be punished?’
On Monday, Andy Foster, Executive Director of the California State Athletic Commission, said that the CSAC won’t be looking to reprimand Ortiz for his actions at Bellator 170.
“We are not looking to,” Foster told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani. “Referee John McCarthy fixed that situation quickly. John got him to to release the choke. If a referee wants a fighter punished for conduct, they will come and we will discuss it. That did not happen.”
