Tag: Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz III

Tito Ortiz believes that there should’ve been something done in order to protect Chuck Liddell from himself. In fact, the former UFC light heavyweight champion thinks that Liddell’s manager should’ve told him not to do this fight.

As seen on Saturday night inside The Forum in Inglewood, California on pay-per-view, Tito Ortiz was able to score a first round knockout victory over arch-rival. Before this bout, Liddell and Ortiz had fought twice throughout their legendary careers, with “The Iceman” knocking out Ortiz at UFC 47 in 2004 and UFC 66 in 2006. Now, the standings see Liddell 2-1 against Ortiz.

In the fight, Ortiz evaded almost every attack with ease before he stopped Liddell with a violent right hand. Since Liddell retired from the sport of MMA seven years ago, Ortiz fought nine times. After the fight, Ortiz made it known that he doesn’t think Liddell should have even accepted this fight.

“If I was his manager, then no,” said Ortiz when asked he would have let Liddell sign on for the fight. “I would have told Chuck, ‘No, let’s get you an ambassador job. Let’s promote your name and get you to signings and do other means of making money.’”

Despite the bad blood between these two fighters, it appears that beef is over with. To the point that Ortiz doesn’t want to tell Liddell that he should go back into retirement.

“You can’t hold someone back,” said Ortiz (H/T to MMAFighting). “If they feel something they want to do and they want to fight and continue to fight, then you’ve go to let them walk out on their own. So, If he still wants to fight, then let’s find him an opponent. Let’s find him someone that isn’t a Tito Ortiz.”

“I don’t want to take anything away from Chuck. If wants to compete, then let him compete. Maybe not as a main event, of course. But let’s find him someone that’s a tune-up for him, because I’m not a tune-up fight.”

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Tito Ortiz opens up on finally being able to bury the hatchet with his arch-rival Chuck Liddell after fighting for the third time.

It appeared that Ortiz finished up his successful career when submitted Chael Sonnen at Bellator 170 last year. Prior to that, he had won two of his three previous fights. However, his retirement came into question when his fellow former UFC light heavyweight champion posted a picture to Instagram. Obviously, this led to the third fight being made.

As seen on Saturday night inside The Forum in Inglewood, California on pay-per-view, Ortiz was able to score a first round knockout victory over “The Iceman.” Following the fight, Ortiz hugged Liddell and called him “a real champ.” A classy moment between the two stars. Once speaking with the media after the fight, he decided to reflect on their friendship that turned into a rivalry.

“Yeah, I’ve buried the hatchet with Chuck 100 percent,” Ortiz said to MMAJunkie. “You guys got to understand: I’m a loyal person. I love my friends. I’m an aquarius to the tee. If you guys read horoscopes or so forth, read what an aquarius is.”

What’s Next For Tito Ortiz?

Although Ortiz wouldn’t confirm if he planned to fight again, he did confirm some plans that he has in mind. Those plans are to turn his attention Golden Boy’s Oscar De La Hoya to help create new fighters.

“You get that feeling of, ‘Is this the last one?’ I want it to be,” Ortiz said. “It’s a lot of pressure to impose your will on someone like that every single fight is really, really hard. There’s so much pressure to do that. And I’ve been doing it for 21 years. Now, if I just step out of that game.”

“Do it the right way of being a promoter and helping fighters, help them growing. And grow the next Tito Ortiz, grow the next Chuck Liddells, grow the next ‘Rampage’ Jacksons, Royce Gracies, Ken Shamrocks, Conor McGregors. And give them an opportunity to make the real money to make.”

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