Tag: UFC hall of fame

Tito Ortiz to Be Inducted Into the UFC Hall of Fame Any Day Now


(Compromise: The key to any successful relationship.) 

In what is more than likely the UFC’s way of attempting to get anyone more of us interested in the upcoming trilogy match between Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz, a fight that will be Ortiz’s last inside the octagon, it has been announced that none other than “The People’s Champ” will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame (as previously reported) prior to their scheduled bout at UFC 148, which goes down on July 7th.

Dana White spilled the beans to MMAWeekly, most likely because we were totally busy at the time. White stated that, despite the pair’s rough history, Ortiz had more than earned his place amongst the legends of the sport, due in part to his ability to generate interest in MMA during the UFC’s dark days:

 He pound for pound was doing some of the most damage at a time when we were hurting. But it’s part of our history the way the storylines played out between me, Chuck and Tito. He’s definitely a part of the history of the sport. 

As you can see by the header photo, the beef between White and Ortiz has long since been squashed. The beef between Ortiz and Griffin, on the other hand, has been elevated to levels we previously deemed impossible, as the TUF 1 winner recently went all Jason Miller in a recent interview and claimed that if he were to lose to Ortiz at UFC 148, he would more or less kill himself. At least that’s what we took away from it.


(Compromise: The key to any successful relationship.) 

In what is more than likely the UFC’s way of attempting to get anyone more of us interested in the upcoming trilogy match between Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz, a fight that will be Ortiz’s last inside the octagon, it has been announced that none other than “The People’s Champ” will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame (as previously reported) prior to their scheduled bout at UFC 148, which goes down on July 7th.

Dana White spilled the beans to MMAWeekly, most likely because we were totally busy at the time. White stated that, despite the pair’s rough history, Ortiz had more than earned his place amongst the legends of the sport, due in part to his ability to generate interest in MMA during the UFC’s dark days:

 He pound for pound was doing some of the most damage at a time when we were hurting. But it’s part of our history the way the storylines played out between me, Chuck and Tito. He’s definitely a part of the history of the sport. 

As you can see by the header photo, the beef between White and Ortiz has long since been squashed. The beef between Ortiz and Griffin, on the other hand, has been elevated to levels we previously deemed impossible, as the TUF 1 winner recently went all Jason Miller in a recent interview and claimed that if he were to lose to Ortiz at UFC 148, he would more or less kill himself. At least that’s what we took away from it.

Here’s what FoGriff told UFC.com:

I’ve got people asking me, they say, ‘Forrest, it’s Tito’s retirement fight. If you lose to Tito, are you going to retire?’ If I lose to Tito, I’m going to retire from life….seriously.

Although Griffin has hinted that his retirement from MMA is no too far off, retiring from life?! Who then will we have to entertain us after the inevitable apocalypse comes for us all? Please Forrest, we beg you to reconsider. Just in case, you know, this statement comes back to bite you in the ass.

And speaking of asses, former UFC Middleweight champion Frank Shamrock recently made an appearance on Rebellion MMA Radio to take a nostalgic look back at his career. Go figure, the man with the balls to nickname himself “The Legend” made the claim that the UFC Hall of Fame would not be “legit” until he was inducted into it. Modesty, folks, it’s how you succeed in life.

Here’s the whole interview, in which Shamrock discusses everything from the Pacquaio/Bradley travesty to his arm-breaking loss to Cung Le back in 2008, brought to you in astoundingly mediocre quality. The discussion begins around the 2:15 mark.

–J. Jones

[VIDEO] Randy Couture Says Brock Lesnar Should Be Inducted Into the UFC HOF…Wait, What?!


(All he needed was a little convincing.) 

It takes one to know one, we guess, because according to UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, former UFC Heavyweight Champion and current WWE superstar Brock Lesnar should be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Yes, on last night’s episode of UFC Tonight, Couture sat down alongside Kenny Florian and Todd Harris to answer questions from all around the Twittersphere, because apparently that’s something which happens now. Among the questions asked were, “Do you have any up and comers in [Team Couture] that have a chance to make an impact in the next two years?” Couture was quick to point out Martin Kampmann, but also commended welterweight contender Mike Pyle, who he stated was “one of the most talented guys I’ve had the privilege of training with the last seven years.”

But Couture’s most interesting comment came after he was asked whether or not Lesnar deserved a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. Considering Lesnar’s brief run in the sport, which totaled just over four years in its entirety, combined with his mediocre 5-3 record, one would not expect that Couture would be quick to jump on the “yes” bandwagon. Then again, Lesnar was able to capture the Heavyweight title by pummeling Couture into masturbatory hammerfist oblivion at UFC 91, so perhaps it made sense for Couture to declare that Lesnar did in fact deserve a spot alongside such names as Chuck Liddell, Royce Gracie, and Matt Hughes. Oh, and let’s not forget Tito Ortiz and B.J. Penn.

Anyway, check out the video after the jump, and let us know what you think of Couture’s assessment in the comments section. Not that we need to remind you, but be sure to be as scathing with your criticisms as humanly possible.


(All he needed was a little convincing.) 

It takes one to know one, we guess, because according to UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, former UFC Heavyweight Champion and current WWE superstar Brock Lesnar should be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Yes, on last night’s episode of UFC Tonight, Couture sat down alongside Kenny Florian and Todd Harris to answer questions from all around the Twittersphere, because apparently that’s something which happens now. Among the questions asked were, “Do you have any up and comers in [Team Couture] that have a chance to make an impact in the next two years?” Couture was quick to point out Martin Kampmann, but also commended welterweight contender Mike Pyle, who he stated was “one of the most talented guys I’ve had the privilege of training with the last seven years.”

But Couture’s most interesting comment came after he was asked whether or not Lesnar deserved a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. Considering Lesnar’s brief run in the sport, which totaled just over four years in its entirety, combined with his mediocre 5-3 record, one would not expect that Couture would be quick to jump on the “yes” bandwagon. Then again, Lesnar was able to capture the Heavyweight title by pummeling Couture into masturbatory hammerfist oblivion at UFC 91, so perhaps it made sense for Couture to declare that Lesnar did in fact deserve a spot alongside such names as Chuck Liddell, Royce Gracie, and Matt Hughes. Oh, and let’s not forget Tito Ortiz and B.J. Penn.

Anyway, check out the video below, and let us know what you think of Couture’s assessment in the comments section. Not that we need to remind you, but be sure to be as scathing with your criticisms as humanly possible.

Couture’s main argument was that one should look at more than just the numbers when determining Lesnar’s place in MMA history. Regardless of his brief time in the sport, Lesnar was able to make a huge impact, and managed to convert entirely new legions of fans to the sport, so he has earned a consideration at the minimum according to “The Natural.” Florian agrees with this notion, stating that, “No one probably will ever have that kind of an impact in that short amount of time.”

Agree or disagree, Potato Nation?

–J. Jones

According to Dana White, BJ Penn and Tito Ortiz are “Definitely” Headed to the UFC Hall of Fame


(My qualifications? HERE’S my stinking qualifications!)

It looks like we’ll have to start drafting up new t-shirts to falsely promise you guys, because according to a recent interview with MMAFighting, UFC President Dana White was rather frank about his desire for both former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and former lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn to be placed in the UFC Hall of Fame in the near future. Though the jury is still out on whether or not Penn will return to the octagon following his hasty retirement in the aftermath of UFC 137, DW had nothing but positives to say about “The Prodigy” when asked on the possibility of his placement in the HOF:

Definitely. The thing about B.J. Penn is that what he brought to the lightweight division, there was a point in time when we first bought this company when people thought guys in the lighter weight divisions couldn’t be stars and couldn’t see pay-per-views and couldn’t cross over. B.J. Penn was definitely that first crossover guy for us. He’ll be back. It’s tough, when there are 16,000 people in the arena chanting your name, it’s tough to walk away from that. B.J. Penn is a fighter. You hear some of these guys, and Tito was one of these guys, he said he wanted to be famous. B.J. Penn is a fighter.

So there you have it, Penn will join long-time rival Matt Hughes, as well as Randy Couture, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Mark Coleman, Royce Gracie, Chuck Liddell, and Tapout co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis in that deluxe octagon in the sky. After a pair of unsuccessful title bids at 155, Penn won the welterweight title in his welterweight debut by defeating the then untouchable Hughes by first round rear-naked choke at UFC 46. Penn would vacate the UFC shortly thereafter, citing a lack of challenging fights, and would not taste UFC gold again until beating the ever-loving shit out of Joe Stevenson at UFC 80 to claim the vacant lightweight strap. He would defend the belt three times until being upended by Frankie Edgar at UFC 112.

When addressing the possibility of Tito Ortiz joining those illustrious ranks, White did not shy away from the pair’s well-documented rocky history, and in fact stated that, in retrospect, it helped make the UFC what it is today.

Hear more from The Baldfather after the jump. 


(My qualifications? HERE’S my stinking qualifications!)

It looks like we’ll have to start drafting up new t-shirts to falsely promise you guys, because according to a recent interview with MMAFighting, UFC President Dana White was rather frank about his desire for both former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and former lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn to be placed in the UFC Hall of Fame in the near future. Though the jury is still out on whether or not Penn will return to the octagon following his hasty retirement in the aftermath of UFC 137, DW had nothing but positives to say about “The Prodigy” when asked on the possibility of his placement in the HOF:

Definitely. The thing about B.J. Penn is that what he brought to the lightweight division, there was a point in time when we first bought this company when people thought guys in the lighter weight divisions couldn’t be stars and couldn’t see pay-per-views and couldn’t cross over. B.J. Penn was definitely that first crossover guy for us. He’ll be back. It’s tough, when there are 16,000 people in the arena chanting your name, it’s tough to walk away from that. B.J. Penn is a fighter. You hear some of these guys, and Tito was one of these guys, he said he wanted to be famous. B.J. Penn is a fighter.

So there you have it, Penn will join long-time rival Matt Hughes, as well as Randy Couture, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Mark Coleman, Royce Gracie, Chuck Liddell, and Tapout co-founder Charles “Mask” Lewis in that deluxe octagon in the sky. After a pair of unsuccessful title bids at 155, Penn won the welterweight title in his welterweight debut by defeating the then untouchable Hughes by first round rear-naked choke at UFC 46. Penn would vacate the UFC shortly thereafter, citing a lack of challenging fights, and would not taste UFC gold again until beating the ever-loving shit out of Joe Stevenson at UFC 80 to claim the vacant lightweight strap. He would defend the belt three times until being upended by Frankie Edgar at UFC 112.

When addressing the possibility of Tito Ortiz joining those illustrious ranks, White did not shy away from the pair’s well-documented rocky history, and in fact stated that, in retrospect, it helped make the UFC what it is today:

Despite my personal problems with Tito, he belongs in. He was the champion when we first bought this thing. The fact that Tito is still here, Tito and I have had our moments, but it doesn’t change what he did for the company. The beef between me and Tito, Chuck and Tito, the fact is, that played a huge role in helping making this thing as big as it is.

In case you’ve all forgotten, there was a time when Tito Ortiz was more than just a punching bag for future and former world champions and the butt of endless commentary based jokes. After decisioning Wanderlei Silva and winning the light heavyweight championship at UFC 25, Ortiz defended the strap more times than any fighter in the division’s history (5), scoring victories over the likes of Evan Tanner, Yuki Kondo, and Vladimir Matyushenko. Recently, Ortiz announced that his trilogy-completion bout against Forrest Griffin at UFC 148 would be his last bout as a professional.

And even Donald Trump will tell you that Ortiz is a hell of a businessman. Aside from being one of the most consistent pay-per-view draws in the promotion’s history, Ortiz’s trilogy with Ken Shamrock as well as his epic pair of bouts with “The Iceman” have been responsible for more UFC merchandising profits than any other fighter can lay claim to.

So what do you think of these additions to the HOF, Potato Nation? And secondly, who do you think deserves a place in the Hall of Fame beside these two gents in the near future? Be advised, the first person to say Jon Jones is going to get their ass whipped.

-J. Jones 

On This Day in MMA History: A Future MMA Legend and UFC Hall of Famer Named ‘Lil’ Evil’ Was Born


(Pulver for UFC HOF 2011)

On this day 37 years ago, a boy named Jens Johnnie Pulver was born into a tumultuous household in Sunnyside, Washington.

Jens escaped from the violence and psychological abuse he, his sister, two brothers and mother endured daily from his namesake father who was a hard-drinking horse jockey, by dominating on the wrestling mats on weekends. It was there that his family would pretend they didn’t have a monster waiting for them back at their house and where they would escape from the sad reality that was their home life.

11 years ago this winter Pulver picked up and made the trek from California, where he had lived since moving out in his teens, to Davenport, Iowa with only a suitcase and a bag of change. He was put up by his soon-to-be manager Monte Cox when he showed up on his doorstep to ask the powerful agent to represent him. The Cox family took him in and treated him as one of their own children, while he set up shop training out of the fabled Miletich gym alongside some of Cox’s other marquee stable fighters like Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia and the team’s leader, Pat Miletich.


(Pulver for UFC HOF 2011)

On this day 37 years ago, a boy named Jens Johnnie Pulver was born into a tumultuous household in Sunnyside, Washington.

Jens escaped from the violence and psychological abuse he, his sister, two brothers and mother endured daily from his namesake father who was a hard-drinking horse jockey, by dominating on the wrestling mats on weekends. It was there that his family would pretend they didn’t have a monster waiting for them back at their house and where they would escape from the sad reality that was their home life.

11 years ago this winter Pulver picked up and made the trek from California, where he had lived since moving out in his teens, to Davenport, Iowa with only a suitcase and a bag of change. He was put up by his soon-to-be manager Monte Cox when he showed up on his doorstep to ask the powerful agent to represent him. The Cox family took him in and treated him as one of their own children, while he set up shop training out of the fabled Miletich gym alongside some of Cox’s other marquee stable fighters like Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia and the team’s leader, Pat Miletich.

The move paid off in spades.

Jens won his next six fights and picked up the UFC lightweight strap two fights after joining Team Miletich. He would only defend the title twice after deciding to walk away from the promotion to pursue more fights since he was only competing twice a year under the then SEG-owned promotion.

His go-for-broke style of fighting was his biggest asset, but also his biggest flaw as a fighter as it sometimes left “Lil’ Evil” susceptible to knockouts and submissions.


(Video courtesy of YouTube/Hel13torm)

During an interview I did with him back in 2008 prior to his WEC title fight against Urijah Faber, Jens had a moment of retrospective reflection about how far the sport had come from when he first made a name for himself.

“I’ve had big fights in my career, and I’ve had a lot of monumental moments and pioneered a lot of things, but this really just plays out to time. It’s crazy,” Pulver said. “You’ve got to remember, I was in the UFC when it was the same five people asking the questions and that was it. I remember when the weigh-ins gradually went from 50 people to 100 people. It’s such a huge difference from the way things used to be. I’m like a proud father. When I started and I made a commitment to this sport, I was making $750 in the UFC, and it was banned in all but three states. There was no future and to see [media attention and interest] like this – it’s perfect.”

Unfortunately, Pulver is one of the legends of the sport who never really cashed in on the spoils that came about as a result of the TUF explosion, even though he was one of the coaches on a subsequent season of the show.

Although his recent career hasn’t been as successful as it once was, Pulver has achieved more in his 12 years in the cage than many ever will. Hopefully a UFC Hall of Fame induction is in his future. Even if it isn’t, as Jens told me three years ago, he’s already achieved what he set out to do when he began in the sport.

“When I first started fighting I wrote down two goals on a piece of paper,” Pulver explained. “I found [that piece of paper] and read it, and it says, ‘Own a house,’ and ‘Win a world championship.’ I’m buying my house and I’ve already won the world title.”

On This Day in MMA History…June 24


(PRIDE never die…)

PRIDE 3 went down 13 years ago.

Why it matters:

• Mark Kerr was still in his prime, which was how we want to remember “The Smashing Machine.” He easily handled IVC and IVF champ Pedro Otavio.

• Gary Goodridge picked up his eighth MMA win.

• Kazushi Sakuraba continued to assert his dominance over top competition by dispatching of Canadian rising star Carlos Newton, who would eventualy win the UFC welterweight strap.


(PRIDE never die…)

PRIDE 3 went down 13 years ago.

Why it matters:

• Mark Kerr was still in his prime, which was how we want to remember “The Smashing Machine.” He easily handled IVC and IVF champ Pedro Otavio.

• Gary Goodridge picked up his eighth MMA win.

• Kazushi Sakuraba continued to assert his dominance over top competition by dispatching of Canadian rising star Carlos Newton, who would eventualy win the UFC welterweight strap.

• Prior to the Saku-Newton bout, Sebastiaan “Bas” Rutten made a special appearance in the ring to talk about his upcoming UFC 18 title bout with Randy Couture and to announce that after that fight his intention to fight Rickson Gracie under the PRIDE banner. Neither bout ever happened. Couture forfeited his UFC HW strap because of a contract dispute, so Rutten instead fought and defeated Tsuyoshi Kohsaka at UFC 18 in May 1999 by TKO at the 14:15 mark (there were no rounds or time limits at that time). After defeating Kevin Randleman four months later at UFC 20 to win the vacant heavyweight title, Rutten promptly retired because of ongoing issues with his knees, so the fight with Gracie never materialized.

PRIDE 3
June 24, 1998
Nippon Budokan,
Tokyo, Japan

Akira Shoji and Daijiro Matsui fought to a draw after four rounds.
Daiju Takase Emmanuel def. Yarborough by submission (punches)  3:22 R2.
Kazushi Sakuraba def. Carlos Newton by submission (kneebar) 5:19 R2.
Gary Goodridge def. Amir Rahnavardi KO (punches) – 7:22 R1
Mark Kerr def. Pedro Otavio by technical submission (kimura) – 2:13 R1
Nobuhiko Takada def. Kyle Sturgeon by submission (heel hook) – 2:18 R1

MMA’s version of Rocky, Randy Couture was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame 5 years ago.

Why it matters:
*See below*


(Videos courtesy of YouTube/ItownBob47)

The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale went down five years ago.


Why it matters:

• Michael Bisping, who was actualy a fan favorite on the show, won the light heavyweight side of the bracket, while Kendall Grove took home the glass trophy for winning the middleweight side of the competition. Both fighters were from Tito Ortiz’s team, which bolstered the opinion that Ken Shamrock was one of the worst coaches in the show’s history.

• The show participants were Mike Stine, Kendall Grove, Rory Singer, Danny Abbadi, Kalib Starnes, Solomon Hutcherson, Ed Herman, Ross Pointon, Michael Bisping, Noah Inhofer, Josh Haynes, Matt Hamill, Jesse Forbes, Kristian Rothaermel, Tait Fletcher and Mike Nickels.

• Of the 16 contestants, only three remain under UFC contract (Hamill, Bisping and Herman)

• Bisping went on to coach opposite Dan Henderson on TUF 9 and was knocked out by the former PRIDE champion at UFC 100. He is slated to appear on the next season of the SPIKE TV reality series opposite Jason “Mayhem” Miller.