Author: Patrick Drottar

Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin Call Each Other Out

Before his TKO loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz revealed that he has plans of retiring after his fight contract is up. The month of May will mark the 15-year anniversary of Ortiz’s first fight in the UF…

Before his TKO loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz revealed that he has plans of retiring after his fight contract is up.

The month of May will mark the 15-year anniversary of Ortiz’s first fight in the UFC and the “People’s Champ” feels that the time has come to call it a career.

With one fight left on his contract, Ortiz wants his final fight to be a memorable one and called out both Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin, two fighters Ortiz has fought twice before.

Liddell has been retired since 2010 and the chances of UFC President Dana White allowing him to step back into the octagon are slim to none, which makes Griffin the more likely opponent.

Griffin and Ortiz split their first two fights, with Ortiz winning the first at UFC 59 by split decision, and Griffin taking the split decision at UFC 106 in November 2009.

Both fights have been close and a third fight could create a lot of hype for Ortiz’s last fight.

This week, Ortiz took to the press, according to Bloody Elbow, and decided to issue a challenge to the 32-year-old.

“Forrest, you know I deserve it, man. Step up. Let’s do this. It’s an awesome fight for you. I lost my last one. You lost your last one. Let’s do this — unless you’re scared!”

Griffin’s last fight was a brutal knockout loss to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 134, in Brazil.

The Ultimate Fighter winner has undoubtedly taken a lot of punishment over the years and it is unknown how much longer fans will see him in the octagon as well.

 

But a third fight with Ortiz doesn’t seem to be such a bad idea for Griffin,

“He knows better than that. You know what’s funny about me and Tito? The truth is we each consider the other an easy fight. For me, that’s the perfect ‘get right’ fight. Coming back from a bad loss and beating Tito Ortiz up? No problem. For Tito, he’s thinking, ‘Forrest ain’t that good. He’s getting old, prematurely. This is a great way to go out, with a win over Forrest!’ So, I think it’s a beautiful matchup because we both think of the other as an easy fight.”

Although a second win over Ortiz would not catapult Griffin back into the title picture, a third and final fight between these two would help keep Griffin’s name in the spotlight as the “People’s Champ’s” last opponent.

With both fighters likely calling it quits soon, putting on one final, great fight could be a perfect ending to Ortiz’s career, and a perfect start to the end of Griffin’s.

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UFC on Fox 2: Michael Bisping Says Chael Sonnen’s Going to the Hospital

This weekend in Chicago, Illinois, two of the UFC’s biggest trash talkers will finally go to war. Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen will battle to see who is the next challenger for middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s crown. The two contenders were i…

This weekend in Chicago, Illinois, two of the UFC’s biggest trash talkers will finally go to war. Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen will battle to see who is the next challenger for middleweight champion Anderson Silva‘s crown.

The two contenders were initially set to face off against different opponents, with Sonnen scheduled to face Mark Munoz and Bisping supposed to face jiu-jitsu master Demian Maia.

However, with an elbow injury to Munoz, Bisping stepped in on short notice to take on the former No. 1 contender.

Many thought that as soon as the Brit agreed to the fight, the insults and trash talking would begin.

To the surprise of many, however, the two have been very complimentary of one other as they share a mutual respect.

The two also haven’t had much time to trash talk as they only had a short time to prepare for their new opponent, according to Bisping, in an interview with ESPN.com.

“I know some fans are disappointed that there hasn’t been eight weeks of zingers between us and, to be honest, I think we would have got into it if this fight had been made two months ago,” Bisping said. “But right now, both of us had to focus on getting ready for a new opponent – and in his case a more dangerous opponent in me – on a week’s notice.

 

“I never talk trash unless someone has disrespected me and, to be honest, Chael has been very complimentary of me,” said the Ultimate Fighter winner and two-time coach.

What the two have talked about in prefight interviews is like any fighter; how they will be victorious in the end and how their opponent will suffer.

In his interview, Bisping would go on to predict that the fight with Sonnen will be a “nasty, nasty war,” after which Sonnen will end up in the hospital,

“I am under no illusions – I am getting kicked, punched, elbowed and taken down by Chael but he’s getting punched, kicked, kneed, elbowed and knocked out in return. It will be a nasty, nasty war, but I’m beating him up and winning this fight. I am sure I will be taken down, but he’s going to have to worry about being submitted each time he does that. He won’t be able to hold me down and I know I can pick him apart standing.

“Chael and I have thrown a few little jokes here and there but that’s because we’ve both got a sense of humour. And he’ll need that sense of humour after he goes to the hospital on Saturday night just like seven of my last eight opponents have.”

If Bisping can deliver on his words, he will receive the first title shot in his six-year career in the UFC.

Regardless of who wins this fight, both fighters will, according to Bisping, “look like car-crash victims on Sunday AM,” and could very well deliver the evening’s Fight of the Night.

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UFC’s Demian Maia: Chael Sonnen Would Be Stupid to Overlook Bisping

In less than nine days, middleweight contenders Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will go to war to decide who will be the next person to challenge Anderson Silva for the title. At the beginning of the week, both Sonnen and Bisping had different opponen…

In less than nine days, middleweight contenders Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will go to war to decide who will be the next person to challenge Anderson Silva for the title.

At the beginning of the week, both Sonnen and Bisping had different opponents for the event as Sonnen was set to face Mark Munoz and Bisping was matched up with jiu-jitsu master Demain Maia.

However, an injury to Munoz forced the UFC to rearrange the card, pitting the two trash talkers against each other for the first time.

The change is not doing either fighter any favors as they will have to prepare for a brand new opponent in less than two weeks.

One person who has had plenty of time to study the ways of Michael Bisping was Maia himself and he told ESPN.com that Sonnen should not underestimate the Briton as he is a force to be reckoned with:

“They underestimate Bisping, but who defeated him so far?” Maia asked.

“Rashad, from a different division, Wanderlei [Silva] and Dan Henderson…only Henderson knocked him out. The others won by points. And by points is hard because he’s very strategic. He always finds a way for the win…The guys say he’s easy, that he has no punch, but you don’t need a punch, he only needs to win the fight.”

While in the UFC, “The Count” has never won a fight by way of knockout, but what he offers instead is precise and accurate striking that gives him the necessary points to win the fight.

One example of this was Bisping’s latest victory over Jason “Mayhem” Miller.

For close to two-and-a-half rounds Bisping picked Miller apart to the point where the opposing Ultimate Fighter coach had no energy left to defend himself.

Sonnen will most likely look to take the fight to the ground with his wrestling skills, but he should not underestimate Bisping’s other weapon: his takedown and ground defense.

The Briton has shown throughout his career that he can sprawl with some of the best wrestlers in the division and can be very effective on his back.

Sonnen will have to be cautious of Bisping’s submission game as he has lost two fights by way of arm triangle, one against Maia himself and again when he lost to Anderson Silva with just seconds remaining in the final round.

Sonnen has his work cut out for him as Bisping is no easy test and Sonnen will have to be prepared on all levels come January 28th.

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Georges St-Pierre Hopes to Defend Title in 2012, Predicts November Return

After defeating Jake Shields at UFC 129, it was unknown who the next fighter would be to challenge for Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title. The 30-year-old has six straight successful title defenses and the division was running out of potential chal…

After defeating Jake Shields at UFC 129, it was unknown who the next fighter would be to challenge for Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title.

The 30-year-old has six straight successful title defenses and the division was running out of potential challengers.

The UFC decided to bring over Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz to create a matchup many fight fans had been begging for.

After an October bout fell through due to Diaz being a no-show at a mandatory press conference and St-Pierre later suffering a knee injury, the two were set up for the main event on the promotion’s Super Bowl weekend card.

However, once again St-Pierre suffered yet another injury as he tore his ACL during training and required surgery that would keep him out of the Octagon for six to 10 months.

St-Pierre has no plans of waiting the full 10 months, as he revealed to ESPN.com that he has plans for a July return,

“Hard training will be in July, and fighting again for the timing to get back I would say in November, I can come back in November,” St-Pierre stated.

The Canadian is determined to defend his belt at least once in 2012, pleading with the UFC to make a November return happen,

“I hope so. Please give it to me,” St-Pierre said.

“Rush” will have to be careful in his rehabilitation after the surgery so that he doesn’t suffer a recurrence.

If St-Pierre gets back to training too early, a setback could push his return back into 2013 if he does not take it slow.

With his extended absence, an interim welterweight title fight between Diaz and fellow contender Carlos Condit will take place during Super Bowl weekend to see who will be next in line when St-Pierre is ready to go.

The winner of the fight will have to wait for St-Pierre to return to 100 percent and if the champ does not do the same, both parties could be waiting longer than anticipated.

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Tito Ortiz Expects July Return; Wants Liddell or Griffin as Final Opponent

Back in December, “The People’s Champion” Tito Ortiz suffered a TKO loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Before the fight, Ortiz revealed that he would finish the final two fights on his current contract with the UFC and would then retire, ending an impre…

Back in December, “The People’s Champion” Tito Ortiz suffered a TKO loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Before the fight, Ortiz revealed that he would finish the final two fights on his current contract with the UFC and would then retire, ending an impressive 15-year career.

Although Ortiz stated that he was finally healthy for the first time in years, he wanted to end his career on his own terms.

After the loss to Nogueira, it was unknown whether or not Ortiz would stick to his promise or if he would end his career early.

Well, according to ESPN.com, Ortiz revealed that he has plans of returning to the Octagon for the what will be the final time this summer.

“Hopefully the July 4 weekend I’ll be fighting my last fight and I’ll be done, that’s it – time to walk away,” Ortiz said.

The next question to be answered is who Ortiz’s opponent will be for his final fight in the UFC. If it was up to the “People’s Champ,” it would be a foe he has faced before.

“Forrest [is possible], I know everybody would love to see me against Chuck – we’ll see what [UFC president] Dana [White] has to offer. Let’s make my last fight a memorable one,” Ortiz said.

Griffin and Ortiz split their first two matchups, while Liddell has had the better of Ortiz in their first two fights.

Ortiz was supposed to meet Liddell after the two coached opposite each other on the Ultimate Fighter. However, as we all know, Ortiz was forced out of the fight because he needed surgery.

Liddell went on to lose to Rich Franklin and has been retired since. It would take a lot for White to allow the “Iceman” to make a comeback.

Another possible fight for Ortiz could be a dream matchup from the past that never came together: a fight with Franklin himself.

Ortiz held the light heavyweight title three years before Franklin captured the middleweight championship. Some have wondered who would win if the two were to meet.

Now that Franklin is in the same division as Ortiz, that question could be answered.

Regardless of who his opponent will be, all three of the above fighters are opponents that Ortiz could end his career on a high note with.

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Strikeforce Heavyweight Division to Be Absorbed by the UFC in 2012

In 2011, it seemed that heavyweight contenders in the UFC were slim pickings. Former champion Brock Lesnar was on the mend with another fight with diverticulitis, Shane Carwin had to undergo yet another surgery and Frank Mir was slowly becoming a gatek…

In 2011, it seemed that heavyweight contenders in the UFC were slim pickings.

Former champion Brock Lesnar was on the mend with another fight with diverticulitis, Shane Carwin had to undergo yet another surgery and Frank Mir was slowly becoming a gatekeeper for the division.

Up-and-coming fighters like Brendan Shaub and Matt Mitrione were emerging as possible title contenders even though each still had a long ways to go before being able to challenge the top fighters.

However, in 2012, fight fans will see a revival to the division, as Lesnar and Carwin will soon return and Mir has shown he is still a dangerous fighter.

The heavyweight division will also see some new faces, as former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Allstair Overeem was added to their roster and is set to take on Lesnar next Friday to see who will be Junior dos Santos’ first title challenger.

Fabricio Werdum, the first man to beat Fedor Emlianenko in 10 years, has also been added and will begin his second stint in the UFC when he takes on Ultimate Fighter winner Roy Nelson at UFC 143.

Slowly, what was seen as inevitable when the Zuffa purchased Strikeforce is becoming reality, as the promotion’s top fighters are being brought over to the UFC.

Now, according to ESPN.com, it has been made official. 

It was reported that Strikeforce’s heavyweight division, currently in the middle of a Grand Prix tournament, will collapse in 2012, and the roster will be absorbed by the UFC.

Along with Overeem and Werdum, UFC fight fans will also see fighters like Anotnio “Bigfoot” Silva, Daniel Cormier and Chad Griggs make their octagon debuts.

Cormier and fellow Grand Prix finalist Josh Barnett will finish the tournament in March, and then one or both of them will make their way over to the UFC.

Barnett has not been in the UFC since he was stripped of the heavyweight title after testing positive for banned substances in 2002. It will be interesting to see if he is part of the new additions to the UFC.

Barnett is part of a group that is uncertain whether or not they will be included in the transition. These fighters include former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski, Brett Rodgers and Emlianenko himself.

“The Last Emperor’s” management and UFC President Dana White have never seen eye-to-eye, and it is unknown if he will ever fight in the UFC.

Regardless if these fighters make the move or not, the UFC’s heavyweight division will be receiving a major upgrade in 2012.

The depth of the division has been slim for the past few years, but finally, the heavyweights are up to par with the other divisions in the promotion.

All of the questions of how Strikeforce heavyweights would match up with the likes of Lesnar, Mir, dos Santos and Velasquez will be answered, as 2012 could be one of the most exciting years for the heavyweight division.

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