Archive for the ‘Tito Ortiz’ Category

Could we see Tito Ortiz in the WWE after he retires from the UFC later this year? Ortiz is scheduled to fight Forrest Griffin this summer in what is expected to be his last fight in the promotion. Ortiz hinted at a run in the WWE on Twitter yesterday

You never know. Maybe to see who the real peoples champ is? RT @GSpence83: @titoortiz wud u go to @WWE after u retire ?

Later on Ortiz even retweeted a fans response about a match with the Rock.

Ortiz was with TNA a few years ago and served as a special guest referee but never got involved as a wrestler. He is a pretty big pro wrestling fan and has a great mind for the business. If he were to go work for Vince McMahon I think Orti would make a great heel and would be a great villain.

To sun up the career of former UFC light heavyweight champion, the first thing that comes to mind is “roller coaster.” Over the span of a 14 year career—highlighting several high and low points—The Huntington Beach Bad Boy has enjoyed time atop the light heavyweight division while also experiencing an ill-favored losing streak that almost sent him into an early retirement.

Ortiz went nearly five years without experiencing a victory (0-4-1) before he finally got the ‘W” last month, defeating UFC rising star Ryan Bader via guillotine choke. With the win Ortiz proved to himself that he still had what it takes to win at the top level, but also showed the MMA world that he was back to his old self.

At 36, Ortiz can’t have too many strong years ahead of him. With the exception of Randy Couture—who is arguably considered one of the top MMA fighters of all time—not too many fighters have been successful in launching later-in-their-career title runs. Even putting his age aside, the UFC light heavyweight division is the most stacked it’s been in years, with champion Jon Jones sitting atop the weight class.

This Saturday Ortiz steps into the octagon once again to go to battle with light heavyweight contender and former champion Rashad Evans. Evans is walking into the cage with an impressive record of 15-1-1, his only loss being suffered at the hands of Lyoto Machida.

Evans and Ortiz battled once before in 2007, a fight which was declared a draw. But an interesting point about that fight is that Ortiz was deducted a point due for holding onto the fence, so if you take that point away, you may be looking at a different outcome.

Following the loss to Machida, Evans has won twice by decision, but hasn’t looked the same since being knocked out. In the past he used his speed and accurate striking to dictate the pace of the fight, but as of late he has fought defensively.

Against a fighter like Ortiz this could be dangerous. Ortiz has heavy hands and won’t be shy about standing in front of Evans and going to war.

With a win over Evans Ortiz would earn himself some discussion about a potential title fight against Jones.

At this point in his career Tito Ortiz has everything to gain and nothing to lose Saturday night, so expect him to leave it all in the octagon. He is going to battle like the warrior he is once that opening bell rings, and he won’t stop until the closing bell sounds or the referee stops the fight.

Fans are going to be in for a treat when the cage closes. Ortiz has the tools to set himself up for another championship fight; it’s just a question of whether or not he can execute.

Former interim UFC heavyweight champ Shane Carwin weighed in on Tito Ortiz’s place in the sport on The Underground yesterday after Ortiz’s loss to Rashad Evans in the main event at UFC 133. Carwin posts on the forums from time to time and yesterday gave his thoughts on the Huntington Beach Bad Boy himself.

Simply put his willingness to put on a show every time he fights. Some of you enjoy seeing him lose and he does it better than most and some of you enjoy seeing him win and he does that better than most. MMA is lucky to have him.

I give the man a ton of credit for facing a very tough Rashad on short notice. I think the UFC was hard pressed to find anyone to face Rashad on short notice. Rashad is at his best right now and is a tough fight for anyone even with a full camp.

Much respect to Tito for everything he has done and will continue to do for the sport.

Carwin is right. Ortiz is the guy you love to hate and does put on a show and help sell fights for the UFC. After his loss to Rashad it will be interesting to see where Tito goes from here. He likely will never compete for another UFC belt but he is still a draw and should be valued by the UFC.