(“If you will it, it will come.” Some sage career advice Tito got from Jenna.)
Tito Ortiz isn’t letting trivial details get in the way of his new nickname. The fighter formerly known as “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” has apparently anointed himself “The People’s Champion” even though he hasn’t been a title holder in over eight years and has only won one of his past seven fights.
“My whole legacy, my whole career depended on [the Bader] fight. I trained really hard and had some great guys around me training with me. It was almost like winning my world title. A lot of people didn’t believe in me. A lot of people couldn’t believe that I was still here. I had neck surgery, lower back surgery and a lot of athletes don’t compete after that,” Ortiz recently told ESPN. “I showed that I’m able to compete against the best guys in the world, and I think that will help show people that if they believe in themselves, if they believe in their dream, they can accomplish anything. That’s why I changed my name to ‘The People’s Champ.’ I want everyone to know that I’m here for the fans. I want them to know that they can bounce back from anything.”
(“If you will it, it will come.” Some sage career advice Tito got
Since making his organizational debut in 2004, Georges St-Pierre has collected eight decision victories inside the Octagon.In 18 fights, St-Pierre has fought 53 rounds with 29 of those coming in his past six fights.The four additional fighters that acc…
Since making his organizational debut in 2004, Georges St-Pierre has collected eight decision victories inside the Octagon.
In 18 fights, St-Pierre has fought 53 rounds with 29 of those coming in his past six fights.
The four additional fighters that accompany the welterweight title holder on the list are former lightweight, welterweight and light heavyweight champions.
After UFC 136 ended last weekend, it was almost as if Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo didn’t exist because MMA fans were all having the same conversation. How crazy is Chael Sonnen? Sonnen straight verbally assaulted Anderson Silva after his fight, c…
After UFC 136 ended last weekend, it was almost as if Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo didn’t exist because MMA fans were all having the same conversation.
How crazy is Chael Sonnen?
Sonnen straight verbally assaulted Anderson Silva after his fight, calling him out for Super Bowl weekend and basically creating a WWE style “Loser Leaves Town” fight, which means if Silva wins then Sonnen will leave the UFC.
But if Sonnen wins, his arch nemesis will have to leave the middleweight division forever, giving Uncle Chael full control over the division.
While it is doubtful that Dana White actually lets this happen, the whole “Loser Leaves Town” concept is a fun one, and it raises an obvious question.
What are the best “Loser Leaves Town” fights the UFC could create?
Toronto is primed and ready for the UFC to return on December 10th with light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones defending his title against the world-class and elusive Brazilian Lyoto Machida.It will be the 2011 encore for the UFC north of the border as i…
Toronto is primed and ready for the UFC to return on December 10th with light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones defending his title against the world-class and elusive Brazilian Lyoto Machida.
It will be the 2011 encore for the UFC north of the border as it debuted in April with an incredible show both inside the cage and out, as fighters were scattered all over the city making appearances for flocks of rabid fans.
The UFC announced today that Jones, Machida, UFC President Dana White and Director of Canadian Operations Tom Wright will be in Toronto tomorrow, Oct. 12, to discuss the event at a press conference at 1:00 P.M. EST at the Air Canada Centre. It will be open to the public and streamed live at UFC.com.
Additionally, the fighters will hold an autograph session from 5:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at Real Sports Apparel, located within Maple Leaf Square.
“After his performance against Rampage, there’s no doubt Jon Jones is one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport,” UFC President Dana White said.
“He’s already beaten Shogun and Rampage this year and now he gets Machida, a former champion. Machida is one of the most elusive and dangerous strikers in the UFC and he’s motivated to get the belt back. We’re giving the fans in Toronto a really great title fight.”
“I am thrilled to be fighting Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 in Toronto, which is just a few hours from my hometown, Endicott, N.Y.,” Jones said.
“He is an incredibly skilled fighter and one who poses numerous challenges inside the Octagon. He has only been defeated twice in his career and is coming off a big victory in April. For me, it will be important to just continue to focus on making myself better as a fighter, and keeping the fight at my intensity and aggression levels. It is my goal to become the first UFC fighter to defeat three former champions in one year.”
“I’m really excited to be fighting for the light-heavyweight title again,” Machida, owner of a 17-2 record, said. “Jon Jones is a great fighter and a great champion. It’s going to be my experience and technique against his youth and athleticism. It’s going to be a great fight.”
Aside from the mouth-watering title fight, the UFC rewarded Canadian fans with the Nogueira brothers, Tito Ortiz and Frank Mir all fighting on the card. They have also followed the usual blueprint of stacking the card with fighters from the host country, as we will see fan-favorites Mark “The Machine” Hominick. Rory MacDonald, Mark Bocek, Krzysztof Soszynski, John Makdessi and Mitch Clarke, all on the card.
Christmas is coming early for UFC fans in Canada.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and Correspondent for MMACanada.net. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained first-hand.
There are times in the world of mixed martial arts where two fighters engaged in a pivotal match that would otherwise warrant an immediate rematch.Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva and the recently concluded Gray Maynard vs. Frankie Edgar trilogy are bot…
There are times in the world of mixed martial arts where two fighters engaged in a pivotal match that would otherwise warrant an immediate rematch.
Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva and the recently concluded Gray Maynard vs. Frankie Edgar trilogy are both two examples of what a warranted do-over should look like.
Competitive and scintillating throughout, all parties involved have earned that respect of finding a conclusion to a match that has seen no clear winner the first go-around.
Then, there are other bouts where a decidedly decisive ending merits no speedy return for the two fighters to be joined together again inside the cage.
So which subsequent bouts have taken place that should have been left to the single-bout saga?
Seemingly perpetual number one UFC light heavyweight contender Rashad Evans took the diplomatic approach today when addressing the news that Lyoto Machida will be leapfrogging him to a shot at the promotion’s current 205-pound champion, Jon Jones at UFC 140 in December. In a statement released by his management group, Authentic Sports Management, Evans explained that that the injured thumb he incurred in his UFC 133 bout with Tito Ortiz back in August will likely require an additional three weeks of rehab before he can resume training, meaning his camp would only be six-and-a-half weeks, leaving him without sufficient time to prepare for such an important bout.
“After my last fight against Tito Ortiz, I dislocated my right thumb, which required it to be set back in place and held with pins. 24 hours ago, my physician removed the pins,” Evans explained. “At that time, I learned that it would require another three weeks of rehabilitation before engaging in any exercise or training that would require the use of my hand.”
(“It is what it is…or somethin’ like that.”)
Seemingly perpetual number one UFC light heavyweight contender Rashad Evans took the diplomatic approach today when addressing the news that Lyoto Machida will be leapfrogging him to a shot at the promotion’s current 205-pound champion, Jon Jones at UFC 140 in December. In a statement released by his management group, Authentic Sports Management, Evans explained that that the injured thumb he incurred in his UFC 133 bout with Tito Ortiz back in August will likely require an additional three weeks of rehab before he can resume training, meaning his camp would only be six-and-a-half weeks, leaving him without sufficient time to prepare for such an important bout.
“After my last fight against Tito Ortiz, I dislocated my right thumb, which required it to be set back in place and held with pins. 24 hours ago, my physician removed the pins,” Evans explained. “At that time, I learned that it would require another three weeks of rehabilitation before engaging in any exercise or training that would require the use of my hand.”
Evans also mentioned that Dana White called him to let him know what his plans were and that he gave the UFC president his blessing.
“Dana White and I spoke earlier today, and I fully understand his decision to put Machida against Jones for the title at UFC 140. Given the rehabilitation time I require for my dislocated thumb, I would not be 100 percent ready by December 10,” Evans said. “The UFC has to keep making fights that entertain the fans. I would have done the same thing as Dana in his position. I’m asking for the fans to support me as I rehabilitate my hand, and I promise I will be back fighting very quickly.”
Knowing Rashad’s luck, the winner of the bout will likely sustain an injury that will sideline him for most of 2012 and Rashad will take a fight with Phil Davis in the meantime and lose.
Toronto is primed and ready for the UFC to return on December 10th with light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones defending his title against the world-class and elusive Brazilian Lyoto Machida.