Former UFC light-heavyweight champion is expected to sign with the upstart Affliction promotion, according to a story written by Steve Cofield of Yahoo! Sports.

According to Cofield, Ortiz will fight Renato "Babalu" Sobral in the co-main event of the next Affliction card, on Oct. 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Affliction is expected to hold a press conference to announce the show as early as next week, during which Ortiz's signing could be revealed.

Ortiz had his swan song in the UFC at May's UFC 84, during which he suffered a unanimous decision loss to unbeaten contender Lyoto Machida. Afterward, he and UFC President Dana White both proclaimed themselves done with each other.

Affliction seems like a likely landing spot for Ortiz, who has a friendship with organization co-promoter Donald Trump from his time on The Apprentice.

Ortiz was present at the recent Affliction: Banned card, held in Anaheim, Calif.

Ortiz, 33, is 15-6 during his career, but is known as much for his brash personality and outspoken nature as well as his ground-and-pound style in the ring.

Sobral, 30-7 career, is also a UFC veteran whose most high-profile match was a light-heavyweight title fight with Chuck Liddell at UFC 62, in which he was knocked out. He also gained a measure of infamy at UFC 74, when he choked out David Heath and held on to the hold even after being told to release it by the referee. He was fined by the Nevada State Athletic commission and released from the UFC following the transgression.

At the Afflictioned: Banned show, Sobral defeated Mike Whitehead by decision.

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