Author Topic: Tito Ortiz Agrees To Lyoto Machida Fight For UFC 85 (Read 2081 times)

Bluto · « **on:** January 22, 2008, 04:29:27 AM »

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has agreed to face undefeated Lyoto Machida on the UFC's May 24 card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Talk of a potential Ortiz-Machida bout began earlier this month. Ortiz (15-5-1) confirmed Monday on Fight Network Radio that he would fulfill his current contract with Zuffa against the 29-year-old Brazilian.

Bluto · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2008, 04:31:54 AM »

“I was expecting a bigger fight. I think the fans were expecting a bigger fight. I got pressed into it, and all of a sudden, it’s all over the Internet that Tito Ortiz won’t fight Machida. I’m just looking to get my final fight over with the UFC…. They said I wasn’t worth the money. I was worth no more than what I’m getting paid now, and I’m not a commodity to them anymore. I’m not as viable to them anymore. That was a sign of disrespect…. With [UFC President Dana White] in charge, I don’t think that fight will ever happen for me,” said Ortiz. “Dana has bad blood for me and nothing but bad blood…. UFC is caring so much about the brand itself. They could care less about the fighters. Fighters are a dime a dozen. They’ll keep coming. Dana is really out for himself and the company. He doesn’t give a shit about the fighters. They’re going to try and ruin me.”

Archer77 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2008, 09:59:31 AM »

Quote from: Bluto on January 22, 2008, 04:31:54 AM

“I was expecting a bigger fight. I think the fans were expecting a bigger fight. I got pressed into it, and all of a sudden, it’s all over the Internet that Tito Ortiz won’t fight Machida. I’m just looking to get my final fight over with the UFC…. They said I wasn’t worth the money. I was worth no more than what I’m getting paid now, and I’m not a commodity to them anymore. I’m not as viable to them anymore. That was a sign of disrespect…. With [UFC President Dana White] in charge, I don’t think that fight will ever happen for me,” said Ortiz. “Dana has bad blood for me and nothing but bad blood…. UFC is caring so much about the brand itself. They could care less about the fighters. Fighters are a dime a dozen. They’ll keep coming. Dana is really out for himself and the company. He doesn’t give a shit about the fighters. They’re going to try and ruin me.”

Even though I realize Tito is a blow hard I do believe there is some truth in what he is saying. You can say a lot of things good and bad about Pride but what thing they did have going for them was a commitment to their fighters. UFC is more concerned with promoting their own organization and to a certain degree you cant fault them for it because ultimately that is what they are in the business for.

Ruffneck · « **Reply #3 on:** January 22, 2008, 09:59:51 AM »

He might be a draw elsewhere but with the current situation in UFC is he worth more money than what he presently is .....hmmm i think not.

LittleRob · « **Reply #4 on:** January 22, 2008, 10:29:01 AM »

He sells ppv's people like him and watch him people dislike him and still watch him. Good for the company it thinks soo. Just like Randy leaving was bad for the ufc but good for him. When Randy fights Fedor that'll be a big huge ppv and the ufc won't have a thing to do with it.

Ruffneck · « **Reply #5 on:** January 22, 2008, 10:41:28 AM »

U see I dont think Tito is a big draw in UFC anymore, his sub par performances have meant that people really dont care a great deal about him in UFC and hes just another fighter at the moment.

Personally I think after this fight and he goes elsewhere his stock will rise again and wherever he goes he will be there poster boy as he was for UFC back in the day. As it stands right now I still do think hes just another fighter.

cht868 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 22, 2008, 11:27:25 AM »

Tito ortiz was great 10 years ago, then people learned to stuff his takedown, and he couldn't knock out an infant with his weak ass punching power...his best move would be to drop back to 185, there are just so many great 205 guys he looks just like a middle of the pack fighter at best

bigbalddaddy · « **Reply #7 on:** January 22, 2008, 11:36:10 AM »

Tito is slowly becoming his most hated enemy at a much earlier age...Ken Shamrock! Hate to say it but that sums it up 100%...

americanbulldog · « **Reply #8 on:** January 22, 2008, 12:08:28 PM »

Quote from: cht868 on January 22, 2008, 11:27:25 AM

Tito ortiz was great 10 years ago, then people learned to stuff his takedown, and he couldn't knock out an infant with his weak ass punching power...his best move would be to drop back to 185, there are just so many great 205 guys he looks just like a middle of the pack fighter at best

Tito became less explosive after all the injuries he sustained. No way he can make 185. He walks at 225+, and he aint fat. He cuts to 205, he is HUGE. Biggest head, hands I've seen proportionally other than Snack O'Neal. I am sure HDNet fights may have some interest in a former UFC coverboy.

MindSpin · « **Reply #9 on:** January 22, 2008, 01:05:54 PM »

That's a bummer. I like Tito. I hope he is able to fully recover from all of his injuries and be 100% for the Machida fight.

*ChuteBoxe* · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2008, 05:33:02 PM »

If he comes in close to a 100% I think he can lay n pray a decision. Machida is a naturally smaller guy and is elusive (when he's fighting strikers). Tito has good sub defense and better wrestling than anybody Machida has ever faced. Tito's base is good enough to hold somebody like Machida down, I'm going with Tito in this one. I think he can strike enough to distract Lyoto and take him down and hold him there, which is where Tito's size and wrestling ability will come in to play.

20inch calves · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2008, 05:52:40 PM »

Quote from: Archer77 on January 22, 2008, 09:59:31 AM

Even though I realize Tito is a blow hard I do believe there is some truth in what he is saying. You can say a lot of things good and bad about Pride but what thing they did have going for them was a commitment to their fighters. UFC is more concerned with promoting their own organization and to a certain degree you cant fault them for it because ultimately that is what they are in the business for.

100% truth

Ruffneck · « **Reply #12 on:** January 22, 2008, 06:32:16 PM »

Commitment to THEIR fighter ie Japanse fighters. Cmon guys when Pride was owned by Dreamstage anyone out of Japan had their backs to the wall and thats a fact. When I interviews Rampage and Dean Lister who were under Pride contracts they got treated like shit when they were over there, hell they were even playing games to fuck them up mentally before fights to prime them for them for the fights.

I do agree though that UFC is more concerned with the brandname than its fighters but business is business. Its a smart way to do things because it makes fighters replacable if your brandname is stronger than the fighters. Fighters unforunately will are and will continue to become more expendable as the years progress.

davinci · « **Reply #13 on:** January 22, 2008, 07:29:22 PM »

Quote from: americanbulldog on January 22, 2008, 12:08:28 PM

Tito became less explosive after all the injuries he sustained. No way he can make 185. He walks at 225+, and he aint fat. He cuts to 205, he is HUGE. Biggest head, hands I've seen proportionally other than Snack O'Neal. I am sure HDNet fights may have some interest in a former UFC coverboy.

lmao that boy does have a huge head

LatsMcGee · « **Reply #14 on:** January 23, 2008, 12:11:41 AM »

Translation: "I want to get paid an assload of money to lose to Frank Shamrock again."

Petrucci · « **Reply #15 on:** January 23, 2008, 11:48:17 AM »

i hate tito, his style and persona, but i think there may be some truth to this...Dana has a lot of 'groupies' that think the guy is great...well..

Im brazilian but i have to say Lyoto is BORING AS F*CK!!! buttttt, he already proved himself a lot...so i think he will beat Tito without much problems...he already fought more difficult oponents...

*ChuteBoxe* · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2008, 02:57:45 PM »

Quote from: Petrucci on January 23, 2008, 11:48:17 AM

Im brazilian but i have to say Lyoto is BORING AS F*CK!!! buttttt, he already proved himself a lot...so i think he will beat Tito without much problems...he already fought more difficult oponents...

Lyoto has fought a bunch of good fighters, none of them had decent wrestling skills, Lyoto fights people that are either content with standing and banging with him, or that aren't capable of holding him down. Tito is, his skillset is pretty much the blueprint for beating somebody like Lyoto. I called Werdum over Gonzaga, T.Silva over Alexander, and im callin Ortiz over Machida.

Petrucci · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2008, 02:45:49 AM »

Quote from: *ChuteBoxe* on January 23, 2008, 02:57:45 PM

Lyoto has fought a bunch of good fighters, none of them had decent wrestling skills, Lyoto fights people that are either content with standing and banging with him, or that aren't capable of holding him down. Tito is, his skillset is pretty much the blueprint for beating somebody like Lyoto. I called Werdum over Gonzaga, T.Silva over Alexander, and im callin Ortiz over Machida.

man, seeing the fight , i thought Napao had Werdum on his hands all the time...He could win the damn thing just with the low kicks...for me the 2 biggest problems were the fact that every time Werdum falled down, he didnt went after him...i thought he could do a lot of damage on werdum on the ground and pound...Other thing was that he got tired too much on the final rounds...that was his end

Archer77 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 24, 2008, 11:27:49 AM »

Quote from: *ChuteBoxe* on January 23, 2008, 02:57:45 PM

Lyoto has fought a bunch of good fighters, none of them had decent wrestling skills, Lyoto fights people that are either content with standing and banging with him, or that aren't capable of holding him down. Tito is, his skillset is pretty much the blueprint for beating somebody like Lyoto. I called Werdum over Gonzaga, T.Silva over Alexander, and im callin Ortiz over Machida.

If he has a minimal take down defense and can stay outside like liddell and counter punch Lyoto has an excellent chance of winning. I do see your point that he is completely untested on the ground. We also have to consider how well Machida can take a punch.

*ChuteBoxe* · « **Reply #19 on:** January 24, 2008, 06:48:43 PM »

I did read an interview with where Tito said he would lose the fight on purpose just to prove a point, what that point is I don't know. I do know he hates Dana and wants out of the UFC already, maybe he thinks that if he beats Lyoto he would be stuck in the UFC longer. He might end up in M-1 before the year is up.