Tag: Tito Ortiz

Heading into UFC 132, you have to at least think that this could be the last time we see “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy,” Tito Ortiz, competing inside of the Octagon. You might think to yourself, “Oh, how the mighty have fallen.”

Ortiz was once one of the most feared competitors in the UFC with his wrestling background, take-downs, and some serious ground-n-pound skill. He reigned atop the roster as king of the 205-pound division, successfully defending the light-heavyweight championship five times before losing to Randy Couture in 2003.

Fast-forward to 2011, and the career of Tito Ortiz has taken a complete U-Turn. The former “king” has openly admitted to The Telegraph that he had to beg UFC president Dana White just to keep his job after not being able to notch a single win in his last five fights.

Enter Ryan “Darth” Bader.

The 28-year-old Bader comes from a similar background as Ortiz with his high-caliber wrestling ability. Bader, who has only lost one time, to current champion Jon Jones, is a top-10 light heavyweight that takes great pleasure in having a chance to defeat a legend such as Tito Ortiz.

“I want to get to the top, and it starts with this fight right here, Bader said, according to ESPN. “I can’t wait until July 2nd when I can go out there and beat a legend.”

Bader is full of potential as he shows tremendous power in his hands and has shown off his wrestling ability. He did have trouble getting past the reach of Jon Jones, but he shouldn’t have that problem with Ortiz.

Ortiz himself insists that he will not be used as a stepping stone for Bader to get back at Jon Jones. Ortiz was furious at the thought and has been quoted as saying,

“He can go !#(* himself if he thinks that’s the way it’s going to be.” Ortiz also said, “If Bader thinks he’s in for an easy fight, he’s in for a long trip.”

Ortiz has also been very open about how he thinks Bader will undoubtedly become a champion—but it isn’t going to begin with a win over him. Ortiz stated in an ESPN blog post he wrote today:

“When I was 28 I felt indestructible too, and I was saying a lot of things about what I was going to do, too. But I’m not a stepping stone to anyone. No one has ever had an easy fight against me and he made a mistake in saying that I am a stepping stone. Maybe it was a figure of speech, but even if it was, it was a little disrespectful to a former world champion.”

Bader has said many times though that he is not going to take this fight lightly, pointing out that all of Ortiz’s opponents have been top-tier.

“[Ortiz] was a champion for a reason. He’s still a dangerous opponent and, if you look at his past fights, he’s been fighting top-tier competition. I’m not taking him lightly at all.”

Though supremely confident, Bader is positive that he will defeat the 36-year-old Ortiz and feels that he will be successful at any level against Ortiz.

“I’m gonna mix my take-downs with my stand-up, get him thinking one thing and then come over the top, or vice-versa, Bader said in a pre-fight interview with UFC. If I take him down, I’m gonna try to beat on him, and ground and pound him and TKO him. If the submission’s there…I’m gonna take that also. I want to get back to the top and it starts with this fight right here. I’ve got to go out there and beat Tito Ortiz and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Ortiz countered by saying this in his ESPN blog post today:

“[Bader’s] got heavy, heavy hands and could have finished a lot more people if he used his punches differently. He’s got some good kicks and his take-downs are very good. He’s very powerful too, but my strength is exactly where I want it to be and I will match him for strength, believe me.”

This should be an excellent fight as both fighters are extremely tough competitors with similar skill-sets. Will either fighter be able to use his wrestling ability, or will it remain a stand-up fight?

A win for Bader will most definitely be the end of the road for Tito Ortiz in the UFC. Ortiz is no stranger to this knowledge.

“This is what I do to support myself and my family. I have three sons who I love more than life itself. They are getting the father and all the opportunities that I never had, and my career is making that possible.”

So, on July 2nd, who will be the winner?

Ryan Bader, the hungry 28-year-old up-and-comer who is looking to climb to the very top of the light-heavyweight division, or the 36-year-old veteran, Tito Ortiz, who claims victory and maintains his roster spot in the company he helped to make so popular today?

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