Once ‘King’ Muhammed Lawal wiped up a short notice Joe Vedepo at Bellator 131 he didn’t waste much time getting right after Tito Ortiz.
Ortiz, who had just finished re-retiring UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar in the night’s main event, humored Lawal just enough at the post-fight press conference to stoke the fires of a matchup.
What appeared to be an easy booking for Bellator president Scott Coker has a major snag, though, as Ortiz wants no part of it.
“I mean, right now it’s all about my career,” Ortiz told Submission Radio. “I have two more fights left on my contract and I think King Mo is just stepping down in my career of fighting somebody, I want to fight somebody with opportunity to fight for a world title. Why would I fight somebody like King Mo. I mean there’s no reason to it. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Ortiz would ideally look for a matchup against fellow former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, but ‘Rampage’ could be on the outs with the promotion.
Bellator is working on the Jackson fight, according to Ortiz, but he could also be in play for a title shot against the winner of 205 pound champion Emmanuel Newton vs. Liam McGeary Bellator 133 in February.
“I have an opportunity to fight someone like Rampage Jackson who beat King Mo,” said Ortiz. “Why would I waste my two fights on somebody who doesn’t make any sense. It’s a lose/lose situation. If I beat him, I’m supposed to beat him. I lose to him, look I lost to King Mo. It’s a dumb fight. The guy is a nonsense fighter, he’s a journeyman. It doesn’t really matter.”
Responding to Ortiz Monday, Lawal hasn’t given up hope.
@titoortiz u are the people’s champ. Let them pick ur next opponent for u.
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) December 1, 2014
@scottcoker @BellatorMMA @spiketv @mikekogan yall tell @titoortiz to get his mind right. This aint what he wants. Lol
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) December 1, 2014
Hurry everyone its calling out @titoortiz year! Alexander did it bonner did it both got 2fight me.Now The Gimp&Moe take a # wait 2b called!
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) December 1, 2014
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘The pot calling the kettle black.’ Anthony Pettis and his coach Duke Roufus respond to ‘Ultimate Fighter’ competitor Rose Namajunas for labeling their gym as a toxic environment. ‘Her gloves came off and she was hitting the guy, cut his face.’
‘A big needle mover.’ Scott Coker says former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is just the sort of athlete he’d like to see on Spike TV. ‘We haven’t had a conversation yet, but we’d like to at some point.’
‘I think I’m done.’ Yves Edwards explains how he came to the difficult decision to call it a career. ‘I still love this game, but I willingly decide not to play anymore.’
Rampage’s future. Scott Coker is confident that a disgruntled Quinton Jackson will fight again for Bellator.
Another rough night. Bellator fighter Joe Vedepo has been arrested after allegedly assaulting and hospitalizing a police officer.
Watch The MMA Hour with Robbie Lawler, Alexander Gustafsson, Scott Coker, Yves Edwards, Roxanne Modafferi, Marc Laimon, Edmond Tarverdyan and Claudia Gadelha.
MEDIA STEW
Countdown to UFC 181: Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler.
Dan Hardy breaks down UFC 181.
Anthony Pettis’ signature moves.
Robin Black breaks down Pettis’ biggest wins.
Free Fight: Stipe Miocic vs. Fabio Maldonado.
This gentleman failed the Showtime Kick.
Long watches.
Knuckle Up #389: the morning line on UFC 181 (MMA Nation)
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Fusion Fighting Championship: Access all Areas
TWEETS
Cool.
In NYC with the team workin on some cool shit!!!! @rondarousey therealswizzz @lorenzofertitta #ufc http://t.co/DbK1Z5mvtJ
— Dana White (@danawhite) December 2, 2014
Never comin’ back.
Last training session before heading down to New Orleans to begin filming my part in the movie remake… http://t.co/ZLPUyRYZVP
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) December 1, 2014
Thanks again.
Thank you so much for the kind words & support, it truly means a lot to me, some have even made me cry, literally. Thanks for all the love.
— Yves Edwards (@thugjitsumaster) December 2, 2014
Welp.
Heard uniform announcement coming tomorrow. We were never about all looking the same. We’ll stay that way, thanks. #goodluckreebok
— Dethrone Royalty (@dethrone) December 2, 2014
Don’t forget.
All the work is done, now it’s time to cut weight and let the magic unfold. Thank you everybody who… http://t.co/tO04OEMQQ1
— Michelle Waterson (@karatehottiemma) December 1, 2014
Excite.
December our month!! Gilbert Melendez fighting on dec 6th. I’m fighting on the 12th and Na… http://t.co/B4Z83zywO0 pic.twitter.com/5uLH9Ppzum
— Yancy Medeiros (@ymedeiros) December 2, 2014
Congrats to the Pitbull clan.
Hoje nasceu a Laura filha da @ingridrperrota e do @PatrickyPitbull parabéns!Deus abençoe vcs e as meninas. pic.twitter.com/vyk9GOuJSH
— Eliane Olicheski (@ElianeOlicheski) December 2, 2014
Oh, Pat.
“WHOS COMPLAINING”??? – ME! THE SHHHWEATY GUY!!! @rosenamajunas http://t.co/Z0jIENRn3v pic.twitter.com/kOn0Dp8ZEW
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) December 2, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Dec. 1 2014)
Bubba Jenkins vs. Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 132
Curtis Millender vs. Michael Page at Bellator 133
cancelled Irene Aldana vs. Marion Reneau at Invicta FC 10
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Oliveira Bros.
It’s not about cross-training, it’s about bad strategy!
As Kron Gracie gets ready to make his debut in MMA there is still a great discussion about the best way to prepare for a fight. Rickson Gracie stated on an interview to MMAFighting.com that Kron won’t do cross-training, he’ll only practice jiu jitsu.
Rickson also said that it would take a lifetime to perfect other martial arts and that’s why he doesn’t want Kron learning how to knock someone out with a punch.
This discussion is an ongoing battle throughout the world. But we think the main problem does not lie in the practice of different styles. It lies in fighters trying to be someone they are not. They start practicing Muay Thay and all of a sudden they don’t want to wrestle anymore, or they put jiu jitsu aside even though it’s their specialty.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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