We all know it by now; Tito Ortiz will be fighting for his job at UFC 132.Tito has not won a fight since 2006 and has admitted that he had to beg UFC President Dana White for one last chance to prove that he has what it takes to compete in MMA’s most p…
We all know it by now; Tito Ortiz will be fighting for his job at UFC 132.
Tito has not won a fight since 2006 and has admitted that he had to beg UFC President Dana White for one last chance to prove that he has what it takes to compete in MMA‘s most prominent organization.
Everybody has been talking about how badly Ortiz needs this win, and he does need it, but why Ryan Bader?
If you ignore the fact Tito is fighting for his job, there is a lot more pressure on Bader in this fight than there is Ortiz.
People think Tito is way passed his prime and are expecting him to lose. This is partially true, but people forget that while Tito has not been winning, his fights have still been competitive.
Let’s look at his last three fights.
Tito lost a unanimous decision to Lyoto Machida. In his next two fights, Machida would go on to knock out Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva. Both of those fighters are still relevant today, and Tito did better against Lyoto than they did.
Next, Ortiz lost a split decision to Forrest Griffin. After that Griffin beat Rich Franklin by unanimous decision, but no one was calling for Rich to retire.
After that, Tito lost another unanimous decision to Matt Hamill. This loss was uglier for Ortiz and did show that his skills are declining.
Tito may be nearing the end but he can still put up a good fight, and not many people are acknowledging that.
This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Bader; nobody wants to be the guy who loses to the guy hasn’t won in five years.
Ryan is already coming off a very decisive loss to Jon Jones, and so a loss to Ortiz would be nothing short of devastating.
Bader certain has the tools to defeat Tito, that much is certain. As a fighter, Ryan could be called a more dangerous Matt Hamill.
If Bader trains hard and does not underestimate Ortiz, then he can win the fight. That said, he better make sure he is doing those things because a loss for him would knock him out of the division’s top 10 and put him miles away from a title shot.
According to Tito Ortiz, he is the last person any fighter should take lightly. However, due to his recent string of bouts, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” is far from the competitor he used to be.At UFC 132, Ortiz will face Ryan Bader, in what will lik…
According to Tito Ortiz, he is the last person any fighter should take lightly. However, due to his recent string of bouts, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” is far from the competitor he used to be.
At UFC 132, Ortiz will face Ryan Bader, in what will likely be his last appearance in the Octagon if he does not walk away with a win. It’s a fight he is obviously taking serious, as Ortiz recently admitted to begging for one more match, and luckily, it will be against one the light heavyweight division’s top wrestlers.
Once a dominant champion, Ortiz will be looking for his first win since 2006. And he plans to deliver a vintage performance.
The 35-year-old Ortiz has gone 0-6-1, loosing to credible opponents along the way in Chuck Liddell, Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Forrest Griffin and Matt Hamill. The list of opponents might look appealing but it does nothing for Ortiz’s legacy, in regards to scoring a victory.
Bader, who also has tasted defeat, recently stated he intends to beat Ortiz this weekend, believing a victory over the former light heavyweight champion will earn him one step closer to a title shot.
Ortiz, offended by his opponent’s remarks, responded in typical fashion.
“He can go f*** himself if he thinks that’s the way it’s going to be,” he said.
UFC 132 is scheduled for July 2, live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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…
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.”
“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.”
“[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?
UFC 132 Fight Card: Early Odds for UFC 132 Main Card UFC 132 will take place on Saturday, July 2 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The main event will feature the first UFC bantamweight title fight ever as Dominick Cruz defends hi…
UFC 132 Fight Card: Early Odds for UFC 132 Main Card
UFC 132 will take place on Saturday, July 2 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The main event will feature the first UFC bantamweight title fight ever as Dominick Cruz defends his title against the only feature to ever defeat him, Urijah Faber. The co-main event will feature the long awaited return of Wanderlei Silva, who is set to face Chris Leben. Also appearing on the main card will be Tito Ortiz who will be fighting for his UFC career when he faces Ryan Bader.
Odds for the UFC 132 main card:
Dominick Cruz (-140) favorite over Urijah Faber (+110)
Wanderlei Silva (-185) favorite over Chris Leben (+155)
Ryan Bader (-550) favorite over Tito Ortiz (+400)
Dong Hyun Kim (-120) favorite over Carlos Condit (-110)
Dennis Siver (-130) favorite over Matt Wiman (Even)
UFC 132 Fight Card: Early Betting Odds and Picks: Dominick Cruz vs Urijah FaberBleacher Report’s Scott HarrisFaber: +105Cruz: -147You know the history. You know the stakes. And in a nutshell, this fight has all the makings of a classic. Both men …
UFC 132 Fight Card: Early Betting Odds and Picks: Dominick Cruz vs Urijah Faber
Bleacher Report’s Scott Harris
Faber: +105 Cruz: -147
You know the history. You know the stakes. And in a nutshell, this fight has all the makings of a classic.
Both men are multi-faceted fighters, though Cruz definitely prefers to box and Faber likes to grapple.
In their first meeting, for Faber’s then-featherweight title, The California Kid handed Cruz his only MMA loss by slapping on a rear naked choke.
This time, though, it’s Cruz with the strap.
What makes this exciting is that either man can hold his own in the other man’s world. Both of these men are extremely tough, with only three stoppage losses combined in 47 pro fights. You know that means: 25 minutes of MMA sumptuousness.
This will be the rare fight for which the word “war” will not feel like painful hyperbole. I think it will just be a matter of who can impose will.
I think the younger Cruz will have the energy to outpoint (if not finish) Faber, avenge the only loss on his record and earn the star status he deserves in the UFC.
UFC 132: Early Betting Odds and Picks: Carlos Condit vs Dong Hyun KimBleacher Report’s Scott Harris:This one has all the trappings of a welterweight title eliminator.Condit is always, always going for blood, and that always means he’s a threat. But…
UFC 132: Early Betting Odds and Picks: Carlos Condit vs Dong Hyun Kim
Bleacher Report’s Scott Harris:
This one has all the trappings of a welterweight title eliminator.
Condit is always, always going for blood, and that always means he’s a threat. But Kim and his patient, well-rounded game may succeed in smothering Condit’s fire.
We all know it by now; Tito Ortiz will be fighting for his job at UFC 132.