Tito Ortiz will not fight on Bellator’s inaugural pay-per-view card after all.
According to MMA Fighting‘s Ariel Helwani, Ortiz suffered a neck injury in training and is unable to compete on the Nov. 2 fight card. Helwani writes:
Bellator is currently seeking a replacement for Ortiz, and it is unclear at this time whether Jackson will remain on the Nov. 2 card. There is a chance next weekend’s pay-per-view card turns into a free Spike TV card with Jackson being moved to another event.
It is unclear whether his opponent, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, will remain in the event at this time.
This news comes after an Instagram post from Ortiz Friday morning which bore a gloomy message.
The post reads, “I know everything happens for a reason, but sometimes I wish I knew what that reason was.”
This marks yet another instance of an injury forcing Ortiz out of a high-profile bout.
In March 2010, a neck injury forced Ortiz out of a bout with Chuck Liddell following their coaching stint on Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter.
One year after that, in March 2011, Ortiz pulled out of a matchup with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 24, citing a “serious concussion” as his injury of the day.
After this latest setback, it is unclear where Ortiz goes from here.
The news certainly puts a damper on Bellator’s biggest event to date, as Jackson and Ortiz are both serious stars in the sport, regardless of their recent success (or lack thereof).
Thankfully, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney and Co. loaded up with a stellar co-main event in Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler II, so all is not yet lost for fans of the Bellator brand.
Stay tuned for the next updates as they are uncovered.
Like MMA, heavy metal or life’s absurdities? Follow @HunterAHomistek
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com