Controversial Ortiz fights Evans to draw

SACRAMENTO — Tito Ortiz, one of the most polarizing combatants in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, fought Rashad Evans to a draw Saturday.

Were it not for a penalty in the second round for holding the fence, Ortiz would have won the non-title light heavyweight division fight at Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Bleeding from a cut under his right eye, Ortiz, who's trying to get back to the top of the division after losses to Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, got Evans in a tough lock in the second round and kept him against the chain-link cage fence for much of the third.

But Evans ended the fight with a flourish, slamming Ortiz to the ground before landing several hard blows to his head.

All three judges scored the three-round mixed martial arts bout 28-28.

There were two title fights set for Saturday.

In the first title fight, Sean Sherk successfully defended his UFC world lightweight title, using all 25 minutes of a grueling five-round bout to beat challenger Hermes Franca.

Sherk consistently took hard knees to the chest and face from Franca, but stayed dominant once the fight hit the mat, winning by the judges' decision.