Ripped from ESPN.com:

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will make his final Octagon appearance on July 7 against Forrest Griffin at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, it was announced Tuesday on the UFC website.

"It's on!" Ortiz said on Twitter.

While on ESPN's "MMA Live" in February, Ortiz said his next fight would be his last. Ortiz also revealed who he would most like to face in his final bout.

"Forrest Griffin! There's another trilogy," Ortiz said. "I won the first one. He barely skimmed away with the second."

Ortiz defeated Griffin by split decision in April 2006 at UFC 59. The bout received Fight of the Year honors.

Griffin returned the favor during their rematch, earning a split decision, on Nov. 21, 2009, at UFC 106.

The 37-year-old Ortiz made his mixed martial arts debut at UFC 13 on May 30, 1997. He defeated Wes Albritton by first-round TKO.

Ortiz, who has lost two fights in a row, is 16-10-1.

Griffin, also a former UFC light heavyweight titleholder, will look to rebound from a first-round knockout loss to Mauricio Rua on Aug. 27.

Since defeating Quinton Jackson in July 2008 to claim the title, Griffin (18-7) has struggled -- dropping three of five fights.

UFC 148 also features a middleweight bout between contender Michael Bisping and hard-hittingTim Boetsch.

Hines Ward believes he can still play football. The longtime Pittsburgh wide receiver known for his high-wattage smile and his bone-crunching blocks just couldn't stomach the thought of doing it in some strange uniform on some strange field with nary a Terrible Towel in sight. "I just wouldn't feel right," Ward said. So rather than play for a 15th season - and his first outside the Steel City - a tearful Ward opted to retire on Tuesday and secure a legacy unmatched in the franchise's long history. "I can say I'm a Steeler for life and that's the bottom line, that's all I've really ever wanted," Ward said. Ward holds every significant franchise receiving record, including receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. His 1,000 career catches rank eighth all time and he is one of two players with at least 1,000 receptions and two Super Bowl rings. The decision comes three weeks after the 36-year-old was released by the Steelers in a salary cap maneuver. Ward says he was contacted by several clubs but never had any formal discussions. He insists there are no hard feelings for his release, understanding that football is a business. As if to prove the point, Ward embraced Steelers owner Art Rooney II after stepping away from the podium following the announcement. "Thank you (Mr. Rooney) for giving a small town boy from Forest Park, Ga., a chance," Ward said. The former third-round pick out of Georgia was due to make $4 million next season, an expensive option for a player whose role diminished significantly in 2011 when he finished with 46 receptions, the fewest since his rookie season in 1998. He embraced his role as mentor to Pro Bowlers Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown even though he knew they were chewing into his playing time. "I know the wideouts are going to be in great hands," he said. "They're full of talent." And they're part of an offense that didn't exist when Ward made his debut 14 years ago. He spent most of his first three seasons blocking for running back Jerome Bettis, something he did better than any receiver in the league. Over time, the Steelers evolved from the grind-it-out attack that has been the club's identity for decades. Ward's breakout season came in 2001 when he set a franchise record with 94 receptions then obliterated that mark in 2002 when he finished with 112 catches. He made four straight Pro Bowls from 2001-2004 and seemed to get better as he aged. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 Super Bowl after catching five passes for 123 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's 21-10 victory over Seattle, the franchise's first championship in 26 years. The Steelers added a second title in 2009 to give them six, more than any other team in the league. Ward hoped to get the Steelers their seventh Lombardi Trophy but didn't catch a pass in a 29-23 overtime loss to Denver in the wild card round of last year's playoffs. Only one pass came his way, a dart down the sideline by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger during Pittsburgh's final drive in regulation. Denver cornerback Champ Bailey swatted the ball to the ground and Ward walked off the field and into the unknown. The former "Dancing With the Stars" champion could have a lucrative postseason career in front of a camera - he worked the red carpet during the Oscars - but he maintained after his release he could still contribute. He still does. "I feel like I have a few more good years in me left, Ward said. "I would love nothing more to get back to the Super Bowl." He wasn't willing to do it, however, outside Pittsburgh. "I want to go down as one of the greats to wear the black-and-gold and that's how it should end," Ward said. Ward laughed when asked if he could go into coaching one day, taking a jab at coach Mike Tomlin, who isn't sure how Ward's passion would play in the locker room. One of the most respected players in the league because of his contributions on and off the field, Ward leaves a void that will be difficult to fill. "On behalf of the NFL players, I want congratulate Hines on an extraordinary career," NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said. "I know he will continue to be a leader and example to our men." Ward's already started by urging Wallace to do what he can to remain with the Steelers. "I told Mike you may get a chance to go other places but there's not another place like Pittsburgh," Ward said. Certainly not for Ward. His No. 86 jersey has long been one of the team's top sellers, and his blue-collar attitude rang true to a fan base where hard work is a way of life. Ward understands the unique relationship the Steelers have with the city and to tarnish it by making a last-gasp attempt to pad his career stats didn't interest him. "I want my legacy here to say, you know what he was one hell of a football player who gave it his all," Ward said. "I'm truly blessed. I played in three Super Bowls, won two Super Bowls, was Super Bowl MVP ... what more could a player want out of his entire football career?"

Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 28 KOs) defended his WBC Diamond Belt against a tough opponent in Matthew Macklin (28-4, 19 KOs). In a crowd that was mainly backing Macklin—due to his Irish background—it was as if Martinez was fighting in his opponent's backyard. It was a fight that started off slow-paced, where there wasn't that much action from either fighter in the opening rounds. Martinez would throw a couple of jabs at Macklin, back out and circle around to try and find the best position to attack. Macklin's strategy was to start the fight cautiously and slowly put the pressure on Martinez. Martinez didn't look like the highly touted pound-for-pound fighter that sportscasters have praised him to be. Just like in his last fight against Barker, he didn't offer a lot of action early on in the fight and was more focused on counter-punching Macklin. While he did land some good shots, it wasn't as effective in stopping the challenger, who was eight years his junior. From the third round on, Macklin seemed to take control of the fight. He started to land some hard shots on the inside while Sergio tried to dodge and counter them. It also helped that the crowd erupted in a cheer every time Macklin hit Martinez. Sergio would go on to land some pretty hard shots too, he would occasionally rattle Macklin and back him up with a left straight. During the eighth round, Macklin was able to knock down Martinez by having him touch his glove to the canvas after being hit. It was an arguable knockdown that looked like it was a push. The ref counted it, though, because Macklin was able to hit Martinez before he touched the canvas. This fired Martinez up and he went on the offensive to try and make it a 9-9 round by charging Macklin. Before the bell rang to end the round, it looked like it was going to be an all-out brawl. Macklin came into the ninth round confident, but from there on out, everything was Sergio Martinez. He became more offensive-minded: he started attacking more and launching more combinations at Macklin. His left straight was beginning to land at-will and Macklin was beginning to wear down. This continued on until the 11th round, the same round where he KO'd his last opponent Darren Barker. Martinez was beating Macklin down and was looked physically spent as the round went on. In the final minute of the round, Martinez landed a straight left onto Macklin's chin that send him to the canvas. With a few seconds left in the round, Martinez chased Macklin and threw everything he had to go for the KO. He landed another left straight right before the bell rang to knock Macklin down again. He was able to get up again, but his face was bloodied and he was exhausted. His trainer knew better than to have his fighter carry on with this beating and called it off, giving Martinez another KO in 4 straight fights. With another win under his belt, Martinez is now faced with the difficult decision of what to do with his next fight. Will he stay and continue to fight at middleweight, despite not being able to fight the other titleholders? Or, will he go down to the junior middleweight division where there are plenty of big money fights? Whatever his choice may be, Martinez will come to fight and will not let his age slow him down one bit.