Florida- Sure, fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship tuned in — in record numbers — to watch Tito Ortiz defeat Ken Shamrock in their third and final battle Tuesday night.

But, what happened when the cameras stopped rolling, when the combatants from the night’s event left the Octagon and ventured out to celebrate the night.

Most fans will never get to experience a fighter’s after party, the time when the man kicks back, relaxes and soaks up the spoils.

Are you a fan of Tito Ortiz?

Want to know how The Huntington Beach Bad Boy parties and unwinds?

Here’s your chance to get close to the other side of Tito Ortiz, the one the cameras do not see and the one that truly defines the man.

The glare from the sparkler, attached to a bottle of champagne, illuminated the posh interior of Pangaea Tuesday night.

The faux safari-themed hut, reminiscent of the inside of a bungalow on Gilligan’s Island, came alive.

For a few brief moments, the hundreds of fans packed inside the club caught a well-lit glimpse of the man they packed inside to see — UFC light heavyweight star Tito Ortiz.

Flash bulbs went off repeatedly. Fans reached out, just wanting to touch Ortiz. Others thrust memorabilia at him, desperate to take home a signed memory of their meeting.

Through it all, Ortiz smiled and showed off his perfect smile.

”I’ve always enjoyed interacting with the fans,” Ortiz said. “I’ve always been like that. You can look as far as when I first started until now. I’ve always took time with my fans, no matter what. There’s a time to have my privacy, of course. But at the time, I know what was 20 minutes, 30 minutes out of my time to take pictures with some of the fans who watched the fight. It was nothing. I’ll do it again later on.

“It’s just one of those things. You have to give back to the guys for giving so much for me to be here.”

Life as a fighter can be pleasant sometimes.

Sure, there are the grueling eight-hour workdays, seven days a week, to get ready for a fight. Diets must be meticulously followed, routines and regiments to go through on a constant basis.

There are the interview requests — some for a live taping on ESPN, others for local newspapers and media outlets.

The stress and worry over an upcoming bout can be difficult. The lead up to the fight is tough. Then there is the war, which can last up to 25 minutes inside the Octagon.

But, nights like Tuesday night make it all worth it.Ortiz received the rock star treatment Tuesday night.

He and his fellow Team Punishment mates and their selected friends whisked right past the lines waiting to get into Pangaea and straight to their own cordoned off area.

Friends, some just as popular, packed the area around Ortiz.

As the champagne arrived, NWA-TNA wrestler Samoa Joe lifted a small table into an alcove to gain more room. Two more bottles arrived, this time without sparklers.

Hip-hop beats blared in the background, making it hard for those in attendance to communicate without raising their voices.

Team Punishment fighter Matt Hamill, who is under Ortiz’s tutelage, ordered a handful of water bottles. Adult film actresses Jenna Jameson, who is dating Ortiz, and Mary Carey sat nearby.

Yes, sometimes, it is great to be a fighter.

”It’s kind of one of those things that I’ve earned,” Ortiz said. “I’ve been fighting for the last almost 10 years now. I have friends who are in the rock business, Korn, Limp Bizkit, I know Snoop Dogg. I know how those rock stars live their lives. The fast way is not the good way sometimes.

“I usually take a week out of my time and recover, relax. I may have a couple of cocktails at the after party and so forth before going back and getting to work again. I have to fight Dana on the 20th, so I can’t really party too much. It’s rock star/fighter, same thing. People like to watch. It’s entertainment. That’s what I give when I fight.”

Ortiz planned to fly down to the Bahamas on Wednesday.

”I’m going to Atlantis with my beautiful girlfriend Jenna,” Ortiz said. “We’re going to have a relaxing time by ourselves. It should be nice.”

Ortiz laughed when asked if Jameson would be more popular in Atlantis than he would be.

”I don’t know about that,” he said, “but maybe.”

The agenda is simple. Soak up some sun, put the fight behind him, spend time with a loved one and unwind.

”It’s just nice to get some R&R and just relax, go fishing, catch some big fish,” Ortiz said. “I’ll be stoked.”

Ortiz was not the only fighter to party at Pangaea. The ropes out front were a virtual turn style for UFC fighters, their trainers, friends and companions.

Ultimate Fighter Rashad Evans dropped by.

Chris Leben danced. Kendall Grove, who wore a cast from his right hand nearly to his elbow, stopped by several times to converse with Leben. Both took several swigs from a mid-sized bottle of Crown Royal.

Ortiz’s VIP section continued to grow as the night went on. What initially started as a just the safari hut soon became an extra six feet wide, as ropes cordoned off the area.

More champagne was delivered, and waitresses could have worn track shoes for their repeated trips to the party.

”It’s nice,” Ortiz said. “The after party is great. Now I don’t have to worry about fighting any more. I don’t have to worry about training. I can take a couple of days off. I get to relax, and not think about anything. Those are my best times when I don’t have to worry about much. It’s great.”