Introduction Jacob Christopher, born January 23, 1975, in Huntington Beach, California. The son of 2 drug-addicted moms and dads, he invested his youth in and out of adolescent hall after various run-ins with the law. "I was craving attention as a children," he admits. The good news is, he discovered a more favorable outlet for his energy when he began wrestling during his sophomore year in senior high school. "I was excellent at it," he says happily. "Wrestling offered me that attention. It conserved me." It also made him a celebrity, as he capped off his senior year with an impressive leading 10 surface at the State Finals. Tito Ortiz continued battling at Golden West Community College where he became a two-time champ in 1995 and 1996 in the ultra-competitive 190-pound weight class. His capability to manhandle his opponents convinced him he was ready for the big time, and Tito Ortiz decided to test his skills by signing up with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1997.