Comments on: Tito is Still a UFC Contender!

By: Fedor DVD

Fedor DVD — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:43:04 +0000

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.

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:59:41 +0000

If Ortiz ever fights again, it’ll be with the UFC. I could write a whole diatribe as to why.

By: Curtis

Curtis — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:52:49 +0000

I don’t see him coming back to the UFC, but then again I never thought Randy would either…

By: Vee

Vee — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:53:16 +0000

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.

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:20:07 +0000

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.

By: Michael "Shogun" Hatamoto

Michael "Shogun" Hatamoto — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 05:09:26 +0000

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…

By: Josh Stein

Josh Stein — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 04:57:41 +0000

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.

By: Curtis Clontz

Curtis Clontz — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:51:41 +0000

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…

By: iamphoenix

iamphoenix — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:43:35 +0000

curtis couldn’t say it better, kelvin. and he didn’t.

By: Kelvin Hunt

Kelvin Hunt — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:19:34 +0000

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.