Following Neck Fracture Bellator Takes Extra Measures To Ensure Safety Of Tito Ortiz

By Evan Stoumbelis

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has gone “above and beyond” to ensure the safety of Tito Ortiz leading up to his Bellator 120 bout with Alexander Schlemenko.

Bjorn Rebney spoke back in January on Ortiz’ injury saying:

It’s an unsettling conversation to have a specialist in the field of neck injuries to tell you that with the right kind of drop on the head, or the right kind of impact on the spine, paralysis could be a result. That’s never a good conversation: A) for a world class athlete, but B) it’s never a good conversation for the person in my position charged with putting that person inside of a cage to fight against top tier competition

Fast forward to the present, Tito Ortiz has been cleared to fight and has been training for his bout with Alexander Schlemenko. Spike TV President Kevin Kay spoke to mmafighting.com about the state of Ortiz’ physical health saying:

“He is 100-percent fit to fight is my understanding. I think nobody wanted him in there, him, us, Bellator, unless we were absolutely certain that he’s in good shape, and he is. The rest is up to Tito. He’s got to train. He’s got to get in there.”

I think Bjorn Rebney went above and beyond. He got whomever the doctor was that Tito got approved by. And then Bjorn got an independent specialist to come in and take a look and make sure that.”