Tito Ortiz Eyes Light Heavyweight Title Fight With Ryan Bader In 2019

Tito Ortiz has always been one step ahead of the game when it comes to business. Even at 44 years old, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” knows the right moves. Ortiz didn’t waste much time. Shortly after Ryan Bader defeated Fedor Emelianenko last Saturday (Jan. 26, 2019) night to become the promotion’s first ever “double-champ”, […]

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Tito Ortiz has always been one step ahead of the game when it comes to business. Even at 44 years old, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” knows the right moves.

Ortiz didn’t waste much time. Shortly after Ryan Bader defeated Fedor Emelianenko last Saturday (Jan. 26, 2019) night to become the promotion’s first ever “double-champ”, Ortiz took to social media to lay out his plans for 2019.

So I tune up fight with “chale” @ChaelSonnen than take the title from the champ @RyanBader. @BellatorMMA #2019

Of course, Bader will have a say in who he fights next. And if his comments to reporters backstage after his victory at Bellator 214 are any indication, he is more than open to a fight with Ortiz. Provided Ortiz “proves himself” in the cage.

“Hell, yeah,” Bader told reporters after the Paramount and DAZN-streamed headliner. “After I won the title, I was bugging him. He was at the bar, we were both there, and I was like, ‘Hey, you coming back, you coming back?’ He’s like ‘I’m done, man. I’m done.’ So, yeah, that’d be fun. He has to come back and definitely prove himself. Obviously, that’s a fight I don’t dwell on. But a fight I want to get back, all my losses. It’d be a fun a fight.”

Ortiz might not be the most attractive opponent for Bader but it’s not surprising that the sports newest “double-champ” would like the chance to avenge a previous loss. That, after all, is an opportunity not too often received.

“I would love it,” Bader said then. “I’m not a (expletive)-talking guy. I respect everyone in this sport. If I have to hear that name, and, ‘You’re pretty good – but you lost to Tito Ortiz back in 1994.’ That one I would like to get. If there’s one fight I would like to get back, it would be that one, for sure. I would love to fight him for sure. I’d put the belt on the line and everything if he wants to come in. That fight intrigues me.”

All this talk could be for not, however, as Bellator President Scott Coker seemed lukewarm to the promotion resigning “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy.”

“We have not had those conversations,” Coker said. “George, his manager, has reached out and we said, ‘Yeah, let’s talk after this fight is over.’ But we’ll see – fighting Chael, he’s already done that. And to me, like, why would you want to rehash that?

“And retirement after retirement – but, you know, if he wanted to fight again would we fight him? I’m not sure. That’s something we would decide if the opportunity came our direction. But we’re not that far down the road.”

Let us know what you think. Should Bellator re-sign Ortiz with the hopes of him challenging for the light heavyweight title sometime in 2019? Or should Bellator look for more suitable challengers?

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Tito Ortiz Vows To ‘Smash’ Chael Sonnen In Teased Rematch

Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen have been teasing a rematch, and it’s sounding more and more like it just might happen. Ortiz was recently interviewed by TMZ Sports, and asked about the potential rematch with “The Bad Guy.” Ortiz said that he’s not going to submit Sonnen this time around. If they step into the […]

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Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen have been teasing a rematch, and it’s sounding more and more like it just might happen.

Ortiz was recently interviewed by TMZ Sports, and asked about the potential rematch with “The Bad Guy.” Ortiz said that he’s not going to submit Sonnen this time around. If they step into the cage against one another again, “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” vows to “smash” Sonnen (via MMA News):

“I’m gonna pummel him for 3 rounds, I’m gonna smash Chael,” Ortiz said. “I’m not gonna choke him, I’m not gonna submit him, I’m gonna smash him.”

Sonnen and Ortiz first fought back in January of 2017. It was a rivalry that had been brewing for the past several years, going back to the pair’s days on the amateur wrestling mat. Ortiz was able to score a first-round submission win over Sonnen. The bad blood between the pair shone through when Ortiz initially refused to let go of the choke after the tap.

The referee had to forcibly remove Ortiz from Sonnen’s back. Ortiz’s victory was the first of a two-fight win streak. He went on to defeat another longtime veteran, Chuck Liddell, the following year for Golden Boy Promotions. As for Sonnen, he racked up a two-fight win streak after his loss to Ortiz. That came to an end against Fedor Emelianenko this past October.

Now, with both men towards the back end of their respective fighting careers, a rematch could well be on the horizon.

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Tito Ortiz Thinks Bellator Would Book Rematch Against Chael Sonnen

It appears that it’s just a matter of time before Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen have a rematch. The bigger question is who will promote it – Bellator President Scott Coker or Golden Boy MMA promoter Oscar De La Hoya? Well, that may have been answer…

It appears that it’s just a matter of time before Tito Ortiz and Chael Sonnen have a rematch. The bigger question is who will promote it – Bellator President Scott Coker or Golden Boy MMA promoter Oscar De La Hoya? Well, that may have been answered thanks to the former UFC light heavyweight champion. Over […]

The post Tito Ortiz Thinks Bellator Would Book Rematch Against Chael Sonnen appeared first on MMA News.

Chuck Liddell & Tito Ortiz Rivalry Gets ESPN ’30 For 30′ Special

The legendary feud between former UFC light heavyweight champions Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz will receive an ESPN ’30 For 30′ special. ESPN’s ’30 For 30′ account made the news official on Twitter with a video advertisement that included Ortiz and Liddell. Check it out here: Liddell and Ortiz have put on some historic fights […]

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The legendary feud between former UFC light heavyweight champions Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz will receive an ESPN ’30 For 30′ special.

ESPN’s ’30 For 30′ account made the news official on Twitter with a video advertisement that included Ortiz and Liddell. Check it out here:

Liddell and Ortiz have put on some historic fights inside the cage. They first squared off at UFC 47 in 2004. Liddell finished “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” in the first round with a knockout. “The Iceman” went on to capture the 205-pound strap, and eventually defended it against Ortiz at UFC 66.

While he was able to put up a much better fight this time around, Ortiz was again finished by Liddell. This time in the third round via TKO. Over 10 years later, Liddell and Ortiz decided to fight one more time.

They headlined Oscar De La Hoya’s first-ever Golden Boy Promotions MMA event. Ortiz finally got his first win over Liddell in the contest. While the argument could be made Liddell never should have been licensed to fight, Ortiz still won with a first-round knockout.

Liddell’s days of fighting are likely done, but Ortiz still seems like he has some fight in him. With that being said, it will be interesting to see how ESPN presents one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the UFC.

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Tito Ortiz & Chuck Liddell Feud To Receive ESPN ’30 For 30′ Special

One of the greatest rivalries in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA) will receive an ESPN ’30 For 30.’ Former UFC light heavyweight champions Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell have had some memorable battles inside the cage. They first met a…

One of the greatest rivalries in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA) will receive an ESPN ’30 For 30.’ Former UFC light heavyweight champions Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell have had some memorable battles inside the cage. They first met at UFC 47 back in 2004. “The Iceman” emerged victorious with a second-round knockout. Two-years later, […]

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