It is no secret that Ryan Bader has been eager to square off against Tito Ortiz this weekend at UFC 132. The UFC light heavyweight prospect, who is coming off a loss to Jon Jones at UFC 126, will be looking to reenter contention and it wouldn’t be more…
It is no secret that Ryan Bader has been eager to square off against Tito Ortiz this weekend at UFC 132. The UFC light heavyweight prospect, who is coming off a loss to Jon Jones at UFC 126, will be looking to reenter contention and it wouldn’t be more fitting to earn the victory over a legend like Ortiz.
Bader spoke to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting,com following the UFC 132 pre-fight press conference, and spoke highly of his opponent. Although “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” has yet to win inside the Octagon since 2006, Bader expects Ortiz to put on a competitive fight against him and put on a good performance.
“I expect to face the best Tito Ortiz that’s ever came out and fought,” Bader said.
“A lot of people aren’t giving him the credit he deserves and I sure do, and I trained my butt off for this fight and I’m ready for the best Tito Ortiz that has ever come out.”
Bader is not only ready for Ortiz, but he is prepared for what Ortiz’s gameplan is. A gameplan that Bader seems to have figured out after reviewing some of his opponent’s past fights.
“In the first two minutes, he’s trying to bully you, trying to land punches, trying to maybe land a takedown, push you on the fence. I believe that’s gonna’ happen and I’m going to throw my hands at that point and he’s going to start tiring out a little bit,” he said of Ortiz.
UFC 132 is live this weekend, live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Well, we can add Tito Ortiz’s name to the growing list of UFC fighters who have accused MMA Fighting reporter Ariel Helwani of starting shit in recent months.
During today’s UFC 132 press conference, Helwani asked Tito’s upcoming opponent Ryan Bader what he thought about Ortiz saying he had weak wrestling and before he had a chance to answer, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” interrupted to inform Ariel that he said no such thing.
In the interview we posted earlier today on the site, Ariel asked Tito if he saw any holes in Bader’s game that he was looking to exploit Saturday night, to which he replied, “His takedowns and his takedown defense,” before describing how he saw some holes in both areas that could leave openings for him to capitalize. He didn’t actually use the term “weak wrestling,” but he did point out that certain aspects of Bader’s wrestling game were lacking in his opinion.
“I never said he had weak wrestling. What are you starting shit for, dude? I never said that. I never said he had weak wrestling. I said I seen holes in his game, but I never said he had weak wrestling. Don’t be putting words in my mouth, dog.”
(Video courtesy of YouTube/IronForgesIron)
Well, we can add Tito Ortiz’s name to the growing list of UFC fighters who have accused MMA Fighting reporter Ariel Helwani of starting shit in recent months.
During today’s UFC 132 press conference, Helwani asked Tito’s upcoming opponent Ryan Bader what he thought about Ortiz saying he had weak wrestling and before he had a chance to answer, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” interrupted to inform Ariel that he said no such thing.
In the interview we posted earlier today on the site, Ariel asked Tito if he saw any holes in Bader’s game that he was looking to exploit Saturday night, to which he replied, “His takedowns and his takedown defense,” before describing how he saw some holes in both areas that could leave openings for him to capitalize. He didn’t actually use the term “weak wrestling,” but he did point out that certain aspects of Bader’s wrestling game were lacking in his opinion.
“I never said he had weak wrestling. What are you starting shit for, dude? I never said that. I never said he had weak wrestling. I said I seen holes in his game, but I never said he had weak wrestling. Don’t be putting words in my mouth, dog.”
Besides maybe over-generalizing Tito’s statements, Helwani didn’t do anything wrong and I’m sure it wasn’t a malicious or sinister oversight on his part, but it’s interesting to note the latest trend of fighters calling Ariel (who many consider the best interviewer in the business) a shit disturber, including Nick Diaz and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Ryan Bader, despite that loss to Jon Jones at UFC 126, is still one of the fastest rising prospects in mixed martial arts. He has compiled a 12-1 record, but he doesn’t have that one signature win to put him over the top. His opponent at UFC 132 …
Ryan Bader, despite that loss to Jon Jones at UFC 126, is still one of the fastest rising prospects in mixed martial arts. He has compiled a 12-1 record, but he doesn’t have that one signature win to put him over the top.
His opponent at UFC 132 is Tito Ortiz, a fighter who is not what he once was but still an attention grabber whenever he steps in the octagon. He hasn’t won since 2006, a span that covers five fights.
The easiest way to become a household name in any sport is to knock off a big name opponent. Cain Velasquez did it when he beat Brock Lesnar, Jon Jones did it when he beat Shogun Rua, Randy Couture did it when he beat Chuck Liddell.
The difference here is that all those guys were fighting guys who were in their prime, but it doesn’t really matter because the casual fan knows the name Tito Ortiz.
The first fight following a loss is always the most important, because it gives you an idea of how the fighter will react to his first real adversity.
“It sucks,” was Bader’s reaction to the Jones loss. “The week after, I was really mad at myself. If I fought to my potential and went down swinging, it would be one thing. I had a great training camp but I didn’t fight to my potential.
“Something was missing. I don’t know what it was. I was thinking about it for a week, then two weeks after and I couldn’t get rid of what was bothering me. I’ve had to use it for motivation for this fight.”
Bader has a great future in this sport, but this fight will be a test of just how much of a star he will be. If he wins in dominating fashion, the sky is the limit. If it’s a boring, uninspired performance, his star will dim a little bit more.
This isn’t the most glamorous fight in the world thanks to Ortiz’s fall from grace, but this is the most important fight in the young career of Bader. He has the skills to be one of the two best 205-pound fighters in the world, along with Jones, in a few years.
But he has to prove that the adversity he faced in his last fight is not something that will linger with him for a long time.
Given Bader’s terrific wrestling background and always improving stand up game, I would be willing to bet that he puts on a great performance and has his hand raised in victory at UFC 132.
Ryan Bader saw his unblemished mixed martial arts career tarnished when his path crossed with another rising star Jon Jones. For the first time ever, Bader found himself on the wrong end of a dominating performance. He understands how it happened,…
Ryan Bader saw his unblemished mixed martial arts career tarnished when his path crossed with another rising star Jon Jones. For the first time ever, Bader found himself on the wrong end of a dominating performance.
He understands how it happened, and more importantly why, and now looks to the future when he will hopefully find the opportunity to chase redemption against the one man ever to beat him. The path back to a man many consider the future of the sport starts this weekend.
Ironically, Bader’s first steps towards avenging that loss lies in battle with a man considered one of the pioneers of the sport and the UFC light heavyweight division. To chase the future, Bader will have to defeat the past.
Tito Ortiz has long been one of the iconic figures throughout the entire sport of MMA. Many athletes are superstars in this sport, few actually transcend the sport and become the model for what people think of when they think MMA or UFC. Guys like Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz are those types of legends.
Like him or not, and everyone falls on one side or the other, Tito Ortiz is forever entrenched in the history of the sport as not only one of its greats but also a vital component to its very success.
So it comes as no surprise that Bader is very excited to have an opportunity to test himself against a legend. Perhaps Ortiz is not the same fighter he once was, but Bader has great respect for both the fighter Tito was and who he is today. He speaks highly of this chance the UFC has given him.
Leading up to his bout with Ortiz at UFC 132, Hurtsbad MMA was able to touch base with “Darth” Bader. He shared his perspective on how this match was made and his overall thoughts on fighting a legend.
Bader told Hurtsbad MMA, “I always wanted to fight one of those guys, like a Randy Couture, a Chuck Liddell, or a Tito Ortiz. Chuck is done and retired, Randy is at the tail end of his career, and Tito is still going. I grew up watching those guys. Those guys come from a similar background as I come from with wrestling.”
“So those are the guys I watched and I rooted for when I was in high school and when I was in college. So just to get the opportunity to fight one of them is an honor. As a fighter, it’s great for my career and resume. As a fan it’s awesome because I get to go in there and be a part of his legacy.”
Bader was sure to add, “And build my own.”
He went on to explain, “So when Joe Silva called and we got the name Tito Ortiz, we jumped all over it. It’s one of those fights that I definitely want for my career and before he is gone or retires, I want to fight a guy like that. Here the opportunity was, and I took it.”
If Bader can capitalize and defeat Tito it would prove a great starting point for him to get him back on track for a shot at the title, and/or Jones. Time will tell, but the first steps start when Bader and Ortiz take their walks to the Octagon at UFC 132.
Before Bader can look forward, he will have to face this man who has made a career out of grinding down opponents and sapping them of their will. Again, Tito is not the lion he once was, but his reputation wasn’t built on accident.
And it is no secret that type of talent Bader brings to the table. He has been one of the most successful light heavyweights not named Jon Jones since Chuck Liddell was on top.
He was on a five-fight win streak in under two years with names like Lil Nog and Jardine at the top of the list. That was before Jones. So there is no reason to expect anything less than a resilient and fresh Ryan Bader who is looking to turn the page to a new chapter in his career.
The bittersweet symphony for Bader may become his role in potentially retiring Ortiz. For a man Bader has seen as a fighter he respected and looked up to, it may add some weight to an already compelling match up between two fighters who represent different eras of the sport.
With Ortiz losing four of his last five, another misstep will most definitely signal the end of a historic run in the game. If that happens, look no further than Ryan Bader for a candidate to pick up that torch and continue on.
This fight could signify the end of an era, but it also could mean the beginning of another. This division was built with the blood, sweat, and tears of men like Ortiz, Liddell, and Couture. Now tomorrow’s legends, Bader, Evans, and Jones will take it further than it has ever been.
Win, lose, or draw Ortiz and Bader can both take pride in that.
It is no secret that Ryan Bader has been eager to square off against Tito Ortiz this weekend at UFC 132. The UFC light heavyweight prospect, who is coming off a loss to Jon Jones at UFC 126, will be looking to reenter contention and it wouldn’t be more fitting to earn the victory over a legend like Ortiz.