Tito Ortiz: I’m Willing to Fight in PRIDE

Tito Ortiz: I’m Willing to Fight in PRIDE

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz (15-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) is willing to fight in the Zuffa LLC-acquired PRIDE Fighting Championships, according to a recent interview with MMANews.com.
Ortiz, who most recently dropped a title fight to Chuck Liddell at UFC 66, will next face top contender Rashad Evans at UFC 73. However, even if he were to defeat The Ultimate Fighter 2 heavyweight winner at the July 7 event, Ortiz is unlikely to earn a title shot again anytime soon.
After all, both of Ortiz’s past two losses have come at the hands of Liddell, and a third fight is unlikely to garner the amount of pay-per-view buys their first two fights did.
Liddell is perhaps the UFC’s most marketable and most revered fighter, and the organization would probably be hesitant to schedule the champ in a main event that fans have seen twice before. Other options such as Evans, Keith Jardine, Lyoto Machida and even a rematch/rubber match with Liddell’s upcoming UFC 71 opponent, Quinton Jackson, would seem more logical options at this point.
So, that leaves Ortiz competing with a division of contenders with no potential title fight in sight. Perhaps that’s where PRIDE could come into play.
As Ortiz told MMANews.com:

“It doesn’t matter [who I fight]. I’d like to fight anybody just so I can get another title shot — [Mauricio] Shogun [Rua], Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson, it really doesn’t matter. Anybody in the top five. I just want to get a chance to get my world title back and whoever I have to go through to get that title shot again, I’ll do it.
“I would love to [fight in PRIDE]. I’m glad that Zuffa bought Pride because now that just brings fresh meat over. I have no problem fighting in Pride because the UFC will condone everything. Before UFC didn’t want me fighting in Pride because they strictly wanted me fighting in the UFC. Now I can go over and beat all those guys and get the world title there and come back and unify the titles and beat Chuck for his too.”

The potential move to the Japanese-based organization might make even more sense if Ortiz loses to Evans in July. Although Ortiz will always have a large contingent of U.S. fans, he could become a solid draw in Japan. He’s certainly a character, and Asian fight fans seem to cling to American oddballs such as Heath Herring and Kevin Randleman. If nothing else, Ortiz’s status as a former champ and one of MMA’s biggest names should earn him a big following with such a crowd.

Tiko wants to beat ALL OF THE PRIDE GUYS then beat LIDDELL AND UNIFY THE BELT?????? IT is official, the Syphillis has destroyed your brain!! You'd better worry about getting past Rashaad Evans cause if you don't its off to your old ladies "other career"

clean up in pride, then beat liddell's ass? just like that huh? i like tito but, wtf?

in his mind he is the champ! ha-ha

tito needs 2 take something 4 that shit! his days are over. this next loss will b his last in the ufc. he better go 2 pride.

I have Tito beating Evans but... "Shogun [Rua], Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson." ???!!?? Come on dude. Wake up and smell Jenna's failed vaginaplasty.

he's 2 busy doing a LIP'O"suction on her! i wanna see him fight Wandy again

CeLnVA wrote:

he's 2 busy doing a LIP'O"suction on her! i wanna see him fight Wandy again

YOU BASTARD!!! YOU BEAT ME TOO IT!!!!!!!!!!! TOO FUNNY!!!!

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeS!

I think me and Cel are gonna end up as the MMA'S version of the TOO LIVE CREW!!! BANNED IN THE USA- *Flips coin to see who is gonna be luther cambell*-LOL!!

Somebody has filled that massive head with a lot of bullshit

You got to be an arrogant son of a bitch to make a porn star your old lady!!!

Plus Jenna is really UGLY she doesn't even have an alibi is how U.G.L.Y she is

Andy wrote:

I think me and Cel are gonna end up as the MMA'S version of the TOO LIVE CREW!!! BANNED IN THE USA- *Flips coin to see who is gonna be luther cambell*-LOL!!

u can b uncle luke....ill b the sleepy eyed light skinned pimp