Author: Mike Hodges

Tito Ortiz Talks Bout with Forrest Griffin, Confirms It’s His Last UFC Fight

When Tito Ortiz makes his next appearance in the Octagon, it will be his last. The former UFC light heavyweight champion is set to meet Forrest Griffin at UFC 148 in July, where the two competitors are prepared to settle their trilogy.Ortiz sat do…

When Tito Ortiz makes his next appearance in the Octagon, it will be his last. 

The former UFC light heavyweight champion is set to meet Forrest Griffin at UFC 148 in July, where the two competitors are prepared to settle their trilogy.

Ortiz sat down with FightersOnly.com in an exclusive interview to discuss his final bout with Griffin, among some of the other relevant topics surrounding the sport today. The 37-year-old Ortiz confirmed he will retire following the bout.

“The last fight is Forrest Griffin, its on July 7 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand,” Ortiz said. “I just gotta do the work, I’ve took myself up to Big Bear – which is a camp I haven’t been up to in the last couple of years – because its important that I do the right things to prepare for this fight so that when I leave I get my hand raised.”

Seeing his hand raised is not something Ortiz has been familiar with for quite some time. His last victory came over Ryan Bader last year, but prior to that, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” had not won since 2006, compiling a 1-6-1 record in his last 10 bouts. 

It is no secret that Ortiz is no longer the fighter he once was, but yet he continues to defy the odds and put on a good performance for the fans. Once perceived with bad boy image, Ortiz is wiser and more grateful at this stage in his career and hopes he becomes more of an inspiration to fans as he nears the end of his career.

Regardless of the outcome against Griffin, Ortiz is content with the career he has had and the success he has made for the sport.

“I have had a long and illustrious career of fifteen years. I’m the longest-competing UFC fighter to date, most consecutive UFC appearances, most light-heavyweight title defences,” he said. “I am very thankful, when I look at my career, and I want to leave on my own terms. I am very happy with it.”

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CSAC Approves Amendment of Medical Exemption for Usage of Marijuana and TRT

According to SportsIlustrated.com, the California State Athletic Commission has approved the amendment of Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Marijuana for therapeutic use.This now allows fighters to have a medical exemption for either TRT or marijuan…

According to SportsIlustrated.com, the California State Athletic Commission has approved the amendment of Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Marijuana for therapeutic use.

This now allows fighters to have a medical exemption for either TRT or marijuana, which were at one time considered banned substances by the state.

The amendment was passed earlier this week and will go upon further review by the Director of Consumer Affairs before any official law is legalized. 

CSAC Executive Officer George Dodd said that a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) will only be given to fighters who can provide proper medical documentation of past usage of the drug. 

SI.com also reports the CSAC have loosely based their exemption process after the World-Anti Doping Agency and their Olympic drug-testing procedures to ensure fighters who apply are using “medication needed to maintain health and not obtain an unfair advantage over an opponent during a match.”

“California doesn’t have a therapeutic use exemption and in the absence of one, the executive officer cannot authorize someone to fight with any of the [prohibitive] substances in use,” CSAC counsel Anita Scurry said. 

Among those fighters who were medically exempted, was Dan Henderson, who applied for a TUE prior to his UFC 139 bout against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua last November. 

Dodd also said fighters, like Henderson, who apply for a TUE will have to provide extensive medical documents in order to be granted strictly for medical purposes. Dodd added that a fighter must submit a blood test prior to and after their bout to ensure their levels are consistent.

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Joe Rogan Says It’s an ‘Awesome Idea’ to Have Mark Hunt Headline UFC 146

UFC commentator Joe Rogan appears to add himself to the ever-growing list of support for UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt.Since the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed Alistair Overeem’s test results last week, the Dutchman’s title bout agains…

UFC commentator Joe Rogan appears to add himself to the ever-growing list of support for UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt.

Since the Nevada State Athletic Commission revealed Alistair Overeem’s test results last week, the Dutchman’s title bout against Junior dos Santos has been put in doubt and Hunt has been considered one of the possible contenders to replace him, due in large part to the online petition on Twitter.

Rogan recently wrote on The MMA Underground forum that he supports the idea of seeing Hunt challenge the Brazilian in the main event at UFC 146.

“Style wise that might be the most exciting match up,” Rogan said. “Either way, even if Hunt doesn’t replace the reem I would still love to see this matchup down the road, especially considering how good Hunt looked against (Cheick) Kongo.”

Hunt is currently on a three-fight winning streak, including victories over Cheick Kongo and Ben Rothwell, and traditionally it would put a fighter within title contention. 

Prior to Hunt, former UFC champions Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir were possible replacements to face dos Santos, but UFC President Dana White denied the rumors and confirmed via Twitter that both contenders are still expected to meet in the co-main event.

Hunt continues to receive overwhelming support from UFC fans, and it’s evident that even with Rogan’s input on the potential bout, fans are interested in witnessing an entertaining matchup between two of the heavyweight division’s most powerful strikers. 

Overeem is expected to apply for a license and meet the NSAC later this month, and although White has yet to announce a replacement at this time, Hunt is the only likely candidate to headline the event outside of Overeem, Mir and Velasquez. 

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Vitor Belfort Looking Forward to Renewing Rivalry in the Cage with Silva

Following their coaching stints on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva will fight at UFC 147, and in so doing renew a rivalry that first began more than a decade ago.Fans have anticipated this rematch since 1998, when B…

Following their coaching stints on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva will fight at UFC 147, and in so doing renew a rivalry that first began more than a decade ago.

Fans have anticipated this rematch since 1998, when Belfort knocked Wandy out at UFC Brazil. Fueling that fire is the fact that Silva and Belfort have been confrontational with each other in the past.

Belfort told FightersOnly.com recently that he holds no personal animosity toward “The Axe Murderer,” and that any ill will is strictly business-related.

“Wanderlei is a high-profile adversary, one of the great names of (Brazil),” Belfort said in the interview. “Yeah, I have got a rivalry with him, but it’s only sporting. I don’t feel angry at him or have anything against him.”

But at the same time, the rivalry appears to be at least somewhat genuine. Silva recently made remarks toward Belfort and his coaching methods on the show, but “The Phenom” said he won’t respond and prefers to wait until their matchup to do his talking.

“The thing with Wanderlei is that he wants to destabilize me mentally. He cannot judge me,” he said. “The important thing is to wait and see the result—when we fight, I will run over him and show what a true competitor is.”

The rivalry is only seeming to intensify between Belfort and Silva, and the months of trash talk and preparation will soon culminate in one of the anticipated bouts of the year. Their rematch is expected to co-headline UFC 147, which will feature a middleweight title bout between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. 

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Georges St-Pierre Says He Will Be Back ‘Better Than Ever’ Against Carlos Condit

Out of commission since last October, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre fully intends on making a full recovery and competing in 2012.The champion hopes to make a return by November, where the UFC will host UFC 154 in St-Pierre’s hometown of …

Out of commission since last October, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre fully intends on making a full recovery and competing in 2012.

The champion hopes to make a return by November, where the UFC will host UFC 154 in St-Pierre’s hometown of Montreal, Quebec.

St-Pierre spoke with Sherdog.com about his progress and gave an update on the status of his injury.

“I already feel better. More knowledge. I already know a lot of stuff and I will be back stronger,” St-Pierre said. “I’m going to come back better than I was.” 

The French-Canadian has been sidelined with an ACL injury that forced him out of his UFC 137 bout with Nick Diaz. Since then, St-Pierre has been working diligently in his rehab to return as quickly as he can.

Should he be able to make a full recovery, St-Pierre will be set to make his seventh title defense against Carlos Condit. Condit defeated Diaz at UFC 143 to win the UFC interim welterweight title and is unofficially slated to meet the champion later this year.

St-Pierre had his sights set on facing Diaz, but he said he wants to prove he is the best 170-pound fighter in the world by facing whoever is put in front of him.

“For me, it’s great honor to fight Carlos Condit. And what makes him so good is he is a very smart guy. He is very athletic, but he is a very smart, very skilled and that’s why he is so good,” he said. “I wanted to fight Nick Diaz in the first place, but the thing is I want to be the best in the world and right now the best is Carlos Condit.”

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Jon Jones Featured in UFC 145 Promo: ‘On Another Level’

Jon Jones’ ascension through the light heavyweight division has been unprecedented. Set to make his first appearance inside the Octagon this year, and his third title defense, there has been much debate regarding Jones’ placement among the pound-f…

Jon Jones‘ ascension through the light heavyweight division has been unprecedented. 

Set to make his first appearance inside the Octagon this year, and his third title defense, there has been much debate regarding Jones’ placement among the pound-for-pound rankings at this stage of his career. 

In anticipation for his upcoming title bout against Rashad Evans at UFC 145, the UFC has released a promo featuring some of Jones’ career highlights, including his recent win over Lyoto Machida at UFC 141.

The company appears to be building the event around Jones, but more importantly, attempting to promote the 24-year-old as a marketable fighter, in the absence of UFC champions Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre.

The trailer does a good job at hyping Jones as a dominant force in the UFC and convincing fans as to why he is on another level as a fighter entirely.

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