Tito Ortiz is one of the men who led the charge of getting the UFC into the mainstream spotlight. At the same time when he was on top there was a great set-up of rivals with Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell. Even his bouts with Ken Shamrock, while unimpressive in competition level in retrospect, were huge to the company at the time.
We're now years removed from that time on top and has only won a single fight in his last eight trips to the cage. After receiving a beating against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Ortiz said he wanted one last fight in the UFC before retiring.
MiddleEasy caught up with Tito to discuss his future and his goals for his final fight.
From the video:
July, hopefully Fourth of July weekend I will be fighting my last fight and I will be done. That's it; it's time to walk away. You know, Forrest, or I know everybody would like to see me against Chuck (Liddell) and, I don't know. We will see what Lorenzo and Dana have to offer and see what they want to do. I'll sit down with Lorenzo and Dana next week and let's see, let's make a fight, my last fight and let's make a memorable one.
0 recs | 91 comments
Never too late for that Ortiz/ Sakuraba supre fight!!
Ziggy325 - January 3, 2012
Yes it is.
POW - January 3, 2012
Twat? I cunt hear you?
RECE ROCK - January 3, 2012
A Tito vs Jones fight would be pretty memorable…
Shnak - January 3, 2012
Fuck it
Give him Aldo.
some schmuck in texas - January 3, 2012
no WAIT!
Jim Hettes. Not just a tiny guy, but also completely unknown. And I bet he’d choke Tito like a chickenbone.
some schmuck in texas - January 3, 2012
They would never fight...
…Tito gave him a bear hug after he beat Nam Phan and it was one of the most memorable moments of Hettes’ life. He wouldn’t want to ruin that.
Luke Nelson - January 3, 2012
Yeah, it would really ruin his special night.
Sugel Mendoza - January 3, 2012
Ha!
jthin - January 3, 2012
beat me to it. :)
gspmademegay - January 3, 2012
Rampage.
To finally kill the “friends won’t fight friends” mentality.
Machiel Van - January 3, 2012
You are a cruel, cruel mistress
warren305 - January 3, 2012
Would you say he’s a harsh mistress?
thirdparty - January 3, 2012
booo
miked612 - January 3, 2012
Ugh, another Forrest/Tito fight between two guys who dont really care anymore having a gentleman’s agreement not to bust each other up too much……….meh.
Hutchy - January 3, 2012
Liddell??
nah let Hendo Knock Him Out
Green Naugahyde - January 3, 2012
Would Dana even let Chuck unretire for one fight?
I know it’d probably be a bad idea but it’s a fight that both guys would get up for.
BKdroid - January 3, 2012
Methinks it will be Stephan Bonnar
krcampbell - January 3, 2012
I have a gut feeling
Bonnar is getting Lil Nog next
HeadKickLegSweep - January 3, 2012
I HAVE IT ON GOOD AUTHORITAY
That we will see Bonnar vs. Ortiz or Bonnar vs. Griffin III
That good authority is that Stephan and I got really fucking drunk at the Tapout party last Friday night and he told me about these fights. Then he got in trouble with his wife.
krcampbell - January 3, 2012
YOU PROMISED THAT STORY WAS A TEAM SECRET!
At least you left out the part about you, Brittany Palmer and Chandella.
POW - January 3, 2012
THE WHOLE STORY IS A TEAM SECRET
I gave him two sentences, YOU GUYS GOT THE ESSAY. Also, you will get the exclusive pics when my British friend sends them over.
The worst part? Apparently GINA was supposed to be at the party and didn’t show. Given how drunk she is and that we have a legitimate mutual friend means she may have actually pretended to be interested in me for about 20 seconds. BONER.
krcampbell - January 3, 2012
Is this why she isn’t competing anymore? Permanently drunk?
Luke Nelson - January 3, 2012
Based on the behavior I saw on Friday, yes.
She is more than likely permanently drunk. She was on the camera side and probably wasn’t on TV very much, but Gina spent the duration of Donald Cerrone’s entrance dancing. To Kid Rock. I see no better gauge for her current state than that.
krcampbell - January 3, 2012
I hope this is a joke
because that fight is the least interesting thing ever. Also, IDK why Bonnar would take a pointless fight like Ortiz if he is trying to move towards a title shot.
HeadKickLegSweep - January 3, 2012
Bonnar is never going to get a title shot.. might as well fight Tito
Horselover Fat - January 3, 2012
Never say never
If he strings together another half dozen wins, beats some guys he’s not suppose to beat, they’d pretty much have to. Well not really, i.e.- Jim Miller, but I think Bonnar is more marketable than Miller. Jones already having a win over him doesn’t help anything. But I’d pick Bonnar over Rampage and maybe even Rua at this point. Dudes a gamer and is near impossible to finish.
HeadKickLegSweep - January 3, 2012
Haha! Really? That’s the thing, he’s not going to beat any such guys. He’s a gatekeeper at best, his impressive three fight winning streak consists of K-Sos, Pokrajacs, and Kingsbury. I mean, come on.. and to be honest this is about as good wins as he’s going to get. Might as well fight Tito!
Horselover Fat - January 3, 2012
Uh... not sure if you knew this or not but Bonnar is the Supreme Champion
And he’s touched some giant fakies with video proof.
menckenstein - January 3, 2012
I have no idea what that means.
Horselover Fat - January 3, 2012
All will be revealed
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1283546/
menckenstein - January 4, 2012
Yeah it's not that great.
But I think he’s fighting smarter. I’d like to seem him as more than a gatekeeper though. Think a matchup against Gustafson would make sense.
HeadKickLegSweep - January 3, 2012
Okay, yeah. I’d actually be ok with that match up, but no doubt in my mind Gustafsson would destroy him.
Horselover Fat - January 3, 2012
ehhh
Bonnar has one of the best chins in the business. If Gust can’t put him away early, he could lose the decision. Agree though, it is Gust’s fight to lose.
HeadKickLegSweep - January 3, 2012
Stephan Bonnar is the Clay Guida of the LHW
hahaha
Never thought guida would get a shot,
but he came damn close.
HeadKickLegSweep - January 3, 2012
Heh, that is actually not a bad comparison. But as much as I hate Guida I have to admit even he is better than Bonnar, sadly.
Horselover Fat - January 3, 2012
Bonnar is a better fighter than Guida
Bonnar can actually produce offense.
discoandherpes - January 4, 2012
Bonnar is on a winning streak
Tito is on a losing streak. Don’t think that is a good idea.
discoandherpes - January 3, 2012
f it
give him forrest and they both can patty-cake their way into retirement……just not as a co main event.
F'n Clownshoes - January 3, 2012
Forrest Griffin lit him up last time, this time it would probably be worst.
discoandherpes - January 3, 2012
Oooooo
give him Chuck! It’d be funny as shit if Tito fights Chuck and ko’s him for his last fight!
SentientAndroid - January 3, 2012
Not cool, bro.
thirdparty - January 3, 2012
LOL. I would love that.
andrew861 - January 3, 2012
i love how he calls out chuck knowing hes retiered for years already
benten20 - January 3, 2012 via mobile
year and half actually my bad
benten20 - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Let him fight Chuck again. Chuck deserves to go out with a win ;)
feniin - January 3, 2012
I'm betting on Franklin
Would be interesting to see since Rich has better skills but doesn’t do well against bigger opponents.
Either that or the Janitor maybe.
HeadKickLegSweep - January 3, 2012
franklin.
gspmademegay - January 3, 2012
I dig Franklin vs Ortiz
slapjaw ackrite - January 3, 2012
Franklin or Forrest Griffin is my guess.
chrisbboy82 - January 3, 2012
I want to see Franklin v Ortiz. Two guys who were long time Champs 1 weight class apart that are now near the end of their career, it would be a great fight.
dpk875 - January 3, 2012
Tito vs Teleprompter
menckenstein - January 3, 2012
Teleprompter, 1st Rd, via "I want to tell me what you see, let’s go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Ikuhisa Quinoa - January 3, 2012
oh god! lol i loved that like for real tito should never be near a mic
Mac Marley - January 3, 2012
Either should you.
That sentance was just as painfull
Clay Davis - January 3, 2012
You too.
Sugel Mendoza - January 3, 2012
Seraldo Babalu, one of the greatest light heavyweights of... the night.
menckenstein - January 3, 2012
hard to believe Belfort fought on that card at 131years of age.
Victor Rodriguez - January 3, 2012
So painful
Cunny - January 3, 2012
Ortiz-Shamrock IV!
Ikuhisa Quinoa - January 3, 2012
Ortiz v (Frank) Shamrock II
dpk875 - January 3, 2012
Stop calling out Liddell
How about Ortiz vs:
VeeisAnimated - January 3, 2012
You are right about Griffin...
both fighters would be too focused on not losing.
They should put Tito in a pro-wrestling match so they can actually get him out on a W.
OmoPlata - January 3, 2012
Anderson Silva
make it happen!
Tats16 - January 3, 2012
How about this
if they can somehow finagle King Mo out of Strikeforce, a win over Tito could help get him over with UFC fans. Those two could sell that fight, guaranteed.
Machiel Van - January 3, 2012
That murder would be a nice way to introduce Mo
Ziggy325 - January 3, 2012
Good thinking.
thirdparty - January 3, 2012
bonnar or the janitor
no im serious he should just fight a janitor
gxc - January 3, 2012
Oh Tito, oh Tito
You’ll munch on fists
Like they’re two giant Chee-Tos
Oh Tito!
Nogueira left you
With skids in your Speed-o
Oh Tito!
Odds are good
That you’re gonna bleed-o
Oh Tito!
With all apologies to Cactus Jack…please Tito, I don’t wanna see you hurt anymore!
Mr. Socko - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Rec'd hard for that Cactus Jack song
Candido, O Candido…
Never actually heard it, just read it in his book
Cunny - January 3, 2012
It's
On his video “Mick Foley: Greatest Hists And Misses”. One a funny note, I remember this dumbass I used to know saying he would have made a good MMA fighter. Laughs all around for that one, to be sure!
Mr. Socko - January 3, 2012 via mobile
wtf
He’d have had to Homer it
Take punishment to the head until the other guy was tired
He’d be a HW so he’d have a chance
Cunny - January 4, 2012
What's Jeremy Horn up to?
I’ve always kind of wanted to see that fight, and I think it’s winnable for Tito.
Forrest Griffin would probably bust up Tito, so I would give him someone older with somewhat of a name. Sakuraba would be good if he wasn’t falling apart, but he is falling apart so fuck you.
discoandherpes - January 3, 2012
Meh
Ace is more interesting than that. Let Rua have a tuneup fight perhaps. Let Gustafson step on his corpse up the ladder maybe
Cory Braiterman - January 3, 2012
gustafson is a good call.
Clifford J - January 3, 2012
Just retire already....
no need for some crappy “last fight”
Kid Kimura - January 3, 2012
Chael Sonnen
The two biggest trolls in UFC history. Do it, do it
warren305 - January 3, 2012
Normally I would rag on a dude for wanting a more winable fight, (eg: Hardy/Hughes)
but Tito has put his time in, he’s earned the right to ask for a specific opponent in his retirement bout.
pud333 - January 3, 2012
oh please
Hardy has clearly put in his duesCory Braiterman - January 3, 2012
He has
he just sucks
Cunny - January 3, 2012
Takes a strong man to go on a 6-fight losing streak and not give up. (Has he done that ye- doesn’t matter, it’ll happen.)
thirdparty - January 3, 2012
Rich Franklin- Nowhere near relevent in the LHW division, but he and Tito are at similar skill levels at the moment. Maybe Rich would retire too?
Gustafson- At this point Gustafson should maul Tito, but you have to keep giving him opponents like to so he can keep improving. He’s still a couple years away from competing with the top fighters and I’d rather not just throw him to the wolves.
Forrest Griffin- nobody wants to watch this fight. They’d probably co-main it too. No thanks.
Shogun?- I only suggest it because everyone is either tied up or he just fought them. Jones/Evans/Davis/Henderson then you have Rampage/Machida/Forrest. Tito would be a fight to hold him over while the LHW division clears up a bit. This is all moot because I think a fight with soon to be reinstated Thiago Silva or a rematch with Little Nog would both be bananas for Shogun.
Random scrub- giving Tito anyone who has a pulse for his last fight. Tito has been fighting for a looong
Tim Bernier - January 3, 2012 via mobile
I’m done commenting on the mobile site. DONE!
Tim Bernier - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Rich Franklin would destroy Tito Ortiz
People forget Franklin is a pretty violent dude and well rounded.
discoandherpes - January 4, 2012
Rich Franklin- Nowhere near relevent in the LHW division, but he and Tito are at similar skill levels at the moment. Maybe Rich would retire too?
Gustafson- At this point Gustafson should maul Tito, but you have to keep giving him opponents like to so he can keep improving. He’s still a couple years away from competing with the top fighters and I’d rather not just throw him to the wolves.
Forrest Griffin- nobody wants to watch this fight. They’d probably co-main it too. No thanks.
Shogun?- I only suggest it because everyone is either tied up or he just fought them. Jones/Evans/Davis/Henderson then you have Rampage/Machida/Forrest. Tito would be a fight to hold him over while the LHW division clears up a bit. This is all moot because I think a fight with soon to be reinstated Thiago Silva or a rematch with Little Nog would both be bananas for Shogun.
Random scrub- giving Tito anyone who has a pulse for his last fight. Tito has been fighting for a looong time and was one of the first draws for the UFC. This would be a good way to send him away with thanks.
Tim Bernier - January 3, 2012 via mobile
I myself would like to see eather Chuck or Franklin for tito’s last fight. I could care less to see him fight Forest for a 3rd time. I got a feeling the chuck fight actually could be made one that Dana actually thinks about pulling the string on ? With Brock gone and GSP hurt it would make sense becasue there is no doubt it will sell.
Shocbomb - January 3, 2012
Could we just not make this fight a big deal?
The UFC spends far too much time on older guys with drawing power than they should. At least from a competitive standpoint.
I’d rather he didn’t even fight again to be honest.
It would be awesome if the UFC had a “retirement night”, where Tito is honored in a ceremony before the card begins. Maybe the prelims or the undercards can be doubled in length and they can do a mini-marathon, best of Tito Ortiz type of thing.
Luke Nelson - January 3, 2012
Thiago Silva
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - January 3, 2012
The Chuck fight would be perfect
And there’s really no reason to keep Lidell away from that if he wants it. Not sure what state Lidell is in training wise and so on. If he really accepted his retirement, it may be too late for that.
KGNLuc - January 4, 2012
It's not like he's at risk of getting knocked out
It might be sort of nice to see them both go out in a dignified way.
HeadKickLegSweep - January 4, 2012
Tito vs Brock in a battle of soft bellies!
Shnak - January 4, 2012
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