Tito is Still a UFC Contender!
By Curtis Clontz on Dec 08, 2008
That was an argument I received the other day. The funny thing is, the person actually had a few very valid points. Tito Ortiz defeated the current champion Forrest Griffin. He also did not lose to number one contender Rashad Evans like everyone else. Another side note, he was incredibly close to finishing a nasty triangle against undefeated Lyoto Machida in his last fight for the UFC.
In my surprise I didn’t have much of an argument to say that Tito wasn’t… It seemed like every comment that I had, he had one that was better. It finally made me wonder, could Tito really still be a legitimate contender in the 205 pound weight class that is the strongest and deepest class in the world? I know that we will never figure out the real answer, but I do know that he still possesses the skills to be a contender.
When you think about Tito Ortiz it is almost impossible not to think about the fights he had with Chuck Liddell over his career. It is hard to imagine that Tito could have a longer run at the top than Chuck. Chuck seemed to own Tito beating him in each of their two fights. Chuck seems to be fading, and fading fast. He is no longer the face of the UFC and is not the most dangerous man in California. Tito does do one thing better than Chuck and that is wrestle. Tito’s wrestling is used differently and is more adapted to the overall game of MMA, and could still be relevant in today’s game. Chuck’s is only as good as his hands. If he can’t dodge a monster overhand right then he will continue to lose.
Tito Ortiz is a face of many things. He is the significant other to Jenna Jamison, the head of Team Punishment, and is the only fighter that has stood against Dana White like concrete. Tito is getting older and is fresh off of back surgery, but he still has gold in his sights. In the next few months he may chose where his quest for gold will be. Affliction seems to be the best remaining organization but Strikeforce could also gain interest.
Either way Tito is a huge draw. He is a part of several of the most watched fights in UFC history and is shoe-in to have his picture in the UFC Hall of Fame. I will not say he is the best 205 pounder in the world. I don’t honestly know if he is still top 10, but we will see him fight again and when he does he will come to impress. He will be there to do more than win. He will be there to show the world that the UFC made the wrong decision, and he is still one of the best in the world.
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he’s not in the UFC.
He’ll go back. Where else will he go?
No one who knows anything questions whether Tito is a good fighter or not. The question has always been whether Tito still has the focus and drive to be a UFC champ again. My opinion is that he doesn’t. Tito has always needed work on his BJJ; but has never brought in a top coach and some top BJJ players so he could get valuable BJJ experience and get formally belted. That negligence cost him against Machida when he couldn’t finish the triangle in that fight. He also lost focus during the 2nd Liddell fight when he failed to capitalize on the takedown in the 2nd round–he had Liddell’s back, but didn’t work an RNC or try anything once he had gotten Chuck down.
Tito has been great for the sport; but MMA has evolved beyond the point where Tito can compete successfully for a championship. He is the same wrestler and GNP fighter that he was when he started in the sport. Tito is one of the best at what he does, but he doesn’t have a large enough skill-set to be at the top today. I’d like to see him come back to the UFC, because he always has great fights; but let’s not kid ourselves that Tito will be champ again or will dominate the sport like he did from ’00 to ’03.
fred, curtis is content to keep kidding himself
Phoenix,
Did you even read the post or just jump at the title?
Because he thinks Tito possesses the skills to become a legit contender?
i did curtis. i’m not trying to hate you, don’t worry. and yes brandt. if there was another word for stupid i would use it. i’m sorry. no one is stupid.
just don’t know why you called it what you did. it doesn’t tie in at all…
but whatever. it doesn’t matter.
The first sentence is why I titled it that. Honestly, you and I both know Tito will never fight in the UFC again. Phoenix, I know you didn’t drink your haterade. That is the good thing about an opinionated website and what makes this one different… You can have different opinions and contest them in the comments.
but i’ve been winning so i’m ok.
1. If you want to count a fight that was almost 3 years ago when Griffin was still fairly green, and could have arguably gotten the decision. Ok.
2. The Ortiz/Evans fight wasn’t really competitive as Ortiz tried to take Evans down the entire fight, yet was successful like twice. All along grabbing Evan’s shorts and the cage to prevent getting taking down himself. Evans dominated what little striking that fight had. Ortiz’s face was a mess.
3. Machida dominated Ortiz, and the triangle/armbar wasn’t even close to finishing Machida. Watch it in slow motion and you’ll see what I’m talking about. Machida made the much bigger Ortiz look like a C-Class fighter.
curtis couldn’t say it better, kelvin. and he didn’t.
Great comments, keep them coming.
Kelvin,
For the most part I do agree with all three of those but for arguments sake…
1. Sure, can’t argue that even if I want too…
2. The end result said it was close. Evans held back and I think he wasn’t very confident in himself. That is why in the third he started winning, the light bulb suddenly flashed. Since then he has been a very different fighter. I think that is the moment he realized he could not only compete but win on this level.
3. Machida is considered by many to be a top 3 fighter in that division (not me). I still think he ran from Tito (game plan or not he still did). I wouldn’t say he made Tito look like a C Class fighter. I need to re-watch that one…
I have a really good argument for Tito not being a contender in the UFC lightheavyweight division: he’s not in the UFC.
We’re not talking about Arlovski as a contender in the UFC heavyweight division. We’re not talking about Tim being a contender. We’re just not.
You know why Tito isn’t a top contender? Cuz he lost to Machida and he lost to chuck. His only win in two years is over Ken Shamrock.
Just saying “Tito is a top contender,” doesn’t make it true. Just because it can be considered doesn’t mean it should.
Assuming he gets healthy after surgery, the UFC IMO would be silly not to re-sign him. Sure, he loves to argue and start war of words with Dana White, but he’s a major draw, and people still want to see him fight.
I think he’d be a good enough fighter again if he brings in the right training partners — or trains somewhere else for a while — and his back really is healthy again.
We’ll see…
Curtis,
I agree that Evans ‘found’ himself in the Ortiz fight, and it was the turning point in his career so to speak. The end result said it was close, but had Ortiz been penalized for each foul OR just succumbed to the takedown the fight had the possiblity of being much different as we saw in the third round once Evans got the take down.
Machida didn’t run from Ortiz at all.
#1. Ortiz was the much larger guy…why would Machida’s gameplan consist of letting him get close enough to clinch or shoot in on him?
#2. Ortiz obtained the clinch/bodylock position a couple of times and Machida threw him off like a ragged doll and even took Ortiz down and was smashing him.
#3. He hit Ortiz at will the entire fight, dropped him in the third with that knee. The only bright spot in that fight for Ortiz was when he PULLED guard and went for the triangle/armbar that wasn’t even close to being locked in properly. That was the only offense Tito had the entire fight.
Curtis, re-watch the fight. Machida dominated Tito during all, if not most, exchanges especially the clinch. Kelvin hit the nail on the head on all points.
Did Machida run? I’ll just say he avoided Tito’s comfort range with lateral movement.
Does anybody remember Tito’s match against Wanderlei Silva??
Is Tito a top contender in the UFC LHW?
No. Top LHW fighter? Yes, but I just don’t see him dominating or beating Jardine, Vera, Luiz Cane, Thiago Silva, Franklin, Forrest in a 2nd fight, and the list goes on. With better training, BJJ, striking, etc. who knows. But there’s one serious hole in Tito’s game that Liddell has exposed and said loud and clear.
Tito is a fighter that doesn’t like to get hit, especially in the face. He covers up when he should use footwork and head movement. A freaking easy target.
Oh yeah, I really think Ortiz may return to the UFC. Well his asking price will need to go down because no one is buying.
I don’t see him coming back to the UFC, but then again I never thought Randy would either…
If Ortiz ever fights again, it’ll be with the UFC. I could write a whole diatribe as to why.
I concur with all those opinions that Tito has no other place but UFC to go. It might not be right away, but being an obnoxious money-loving nuthugger he is, it’s only a matter of time until we see him back in action after kissing and making up with Dana.