Ortiz/Jackson swap?

[Johnny Toetags]

Jason P. @ Insidefighting.com brought up this point:

Iceman?s straight right takes title from Couture

After his second straight, one-punch knockout with a textbook cross, the old rapthat Chuck Liddell?s attack consists of punching wide, looping shots should be put to rest. Liddell proved a lot of people wrong ? me included ? with a masterful performance against Randy Couture. The fight was really too short to blame the loss on Couture getting ?suddenly old? and Liddell used movement and angles much better this time. It just goes to show you that anything can happen in there.

Given Liddell?s impressive win over Couture, it?ll be interesting to see how that affects the UFC-Tito Ortiz situation. Personally, I?m hoping the UFC and Pride could work out a swap where Quinton Jackson and Ortiz are exchanged. Jackson put a fearsome beating on Liddell in their fight and ?The Iceman? and he would make a huge rematch. Quinton Jackson is a very marketable fighter with a win over the UFC champ, while Pride champ Wanderlei Silva would surely like to avenge his loss to Ortiz. Ironically, both Jackson and Ortiz are probably more legit title threats in each other?s organizations, at least from a marketing perspective. Revenge themes play well.


I think he's on to something here, this could work out very well. Say Jackson get tooled by Shogun (unlikely) or Wandy again - I'd like this swap to happen. I'd like to see how Ortiz would do in Pride, adding knees to his ground game. Heck, at worse he's just gonna take even better beatings. While Jackson would lose stomps and knees, it's not his breadd and butter and it would REALLY jack up their LHW division - though I'm not sure Rampage'd dig the pay cut....


thoughts?

[Mad Processor]

Hmm, not a bad idea, though I don't think Tito would be up for a fight against Wandy. I guess it'll be more likely with a Vitor - Wandy, but that could happen too early to really put this marketing effort into it.

[Oliver Klosov]

It'd be a great idea. It will be a great day in this sport when top fighters at each weight are free to fight each other regardless of affiliation.

I mean what if the WBC and WBA forbid their champions to fight one another?

[Sir Gibbs]

Seems unlikely to happen. Ortiz is asking for a lot of money even by Pride standards isn't he? And Jackson won't want the pay cut for sure. To me it sounds like Ortiz just plain old doesn't want to fight anymore, does he even have a rep over in Japan?

I'd like it to happen, but it just seems a bit far fetched.

In theory it sounds like a great idea, however in theory communisam works.

[Mad Processor]

It'd be a great idea. It will be a great day in this sport when top fighters at each weight are free to fight each other regardless of affiliation.

I mean what if the WBC and WBA forbid their champions to fight one another?

Exactly my thoughts. It hasn't exactly hurt boxing to do it like this has it ?

[centurion]

Tito has had five fights since 2002, look at fighters like crocop whos had 16 since 02'. Twice now Whortiz has shown us that hes too focused on cash and less interested in fighting.

Instead of dwelling on ortiz who if he wins will ask for outrageous amounts of cash and stall negotiations for further fights, ufc and pride should simply look for new young talent to fill his place.

Lets keep true fighters and ditch a..holes like ortiz, the sport doesnt need primadonnas, let figureskating keep athletes like that. I can sure picture ortiz in figureskating outfit. I bet he would bitchfight tonya harding too...

[Oliver Klosov]

Seems unlikely to happen. Ortiz is asking for a lot of money even by Pride standards isn't he? And Jackson won't want the pay cut for sure. To me it sounds like Ortiz just plain old doesn't want to fight anymore, does he even have a rep over in Japan?

I'd like it to happen, but it just seems a bit far fetched.

In theory it sounds like a great idea, however in theory communisam works.

During swaps the "mother" Organization still pays, doesn't it?

[Oliver Klosov]

ditch a..holes like ortiz,

You can write out "assholes" here - if you like.

[Johnny Toetags]

By swap, I mean more like each going to the other orginization under their own terms with new contracts. I don't think there's been any formal discussion of this, this is just speculation.

[uberfighter]

hells yeah i'd like to see it. i'd also like to see vida guerra show up on my doorstep...so much for wanting to see something.

[kcb]

A rematch between Chuck and Rampage would be schweet. If it was a one-fight deal, I'd love to see those two lock horns right off the bat. But, if Rampage was going to fight under a multi-fight contract, I'd like to see him fight Ortiz, Randy, and then Chuck. For one, it would get the fans that don't follow both organizations excited about a new fighter and also give Rampage a couple fights to get acclimated to the new rules, the cage, etc.

Overall, it would be an MMA fan's wet dream.

[OB Juan]

Personally, I could give a shit about Tito. He would never do it anyhow because he would be useless w/out a cage. He's as one dimensional as they come.

I would love to see Rampage in the UFC. A rematch w/ Chuck and a fight w/ Randy could really solidify the top 4 places @ 205. As it is right now, that's all there would be for him in the UFC is those 2 fights. In Pride there are so many more options, although many of them would be rematches also.

I doubt Rampage would take a big paycut to come to the UFC. If the UFC was going to give him a shot at their champ, he would need a multi-fight deal in case he won. Also, I don't think the UFC would want him unless he was totally done w/ Pride. I don't see them risking having their champ lose to somebody who was proven to be inferior to Pride's champ twice. It's all a nice thought but that's about it.

[TILSON]

I really don't think it would be a paycut for Rampage. He would be in the 100K range in the UFC. I think this makes good sense. It is for sure Rampage isn't going to beat Silva and Tito isn't going to beat Chuck. But I think each would have a shot at the belt in the other organization.

[dopefish]

that would be pretty interesting. I don't think Tito is going to fight for the UFC anymore. He tells them that he will not fight for less than $300,000 a fight. Because of that they don't do contact him for a contract because he's not worth it. Then he goes to the last UFC and isnt treated like the super star anymore which hurt his feelbads. Last I heard is he wrote a article on his website saying he is done with the UFC because they were rude to him. Whatever I guess. It would still be a cool idea but I don't know if Tito is worth more than a 80k/50k contract.

[dopefish]

I've heard that the UFC and Pride have a deal that they will not steal each others fighters. That might be why Vitor had to sign with the UFC to fight in the Pride GP and why Tito was told Pride didn't want him unless he was fighting under the UFC banner. I don't know if that is true though. Just rumors.

[GuidedByVoices]

Tito basically priced himself out of the UFC. I've also heard that Pride isn't really that interested in him unless he fights as a UFC rep. I guess it's possible Wandy could convince them to sign him to a short contract for Wandy to avenge that loss.

Rampage in the UFC sounds interesting, but there aren't really that many good fights for him there. Basically just the Chuck rematch, Randy, and I guess Babalu.

[CHH]

Tito is done. This was quoted from subfighter.com which quoted it from his website (subfighter is very reputable with news)


"I just want to come on and say Hi. I have been very busy on my future. It looks very bright. But being a UFC fighter will not be my future. I have never been so embarssed in my life. I got put in the bleachers, asked to leave the octagon when Ivan won, a was not aloud back stage to get my bags. But its business to the UFC. Iam pushed in to a corner and wont be pushed anymore. I have done good for the UFC in every interview, fights,and just trying to push the UFC to mainstream. Now that iam not there Champ they can careless. i will make it with or without them. I have to look out for my self. I do want to thank them for everything. But its time to go on with my future. What is next for Tito? You all will know soon!!!!

I want to thank my fans for the support. Couldnt have done it without YOU!!!!!!!
Tito Ortiz"

He wants 300K a fight, and he can't afford an editor? tisk tisk

[The Kraken]

Hmm, Heros, maybe?

[Pro shoot]

Tito ortiz has signed with TNA prowrestling. So I quess he has now time to wait good MMA contract.
http://www.tnawrestling.com/news/2005/4/26/news.html

[CHH]

Tito ortiz has signed with TNA prowrestling. So I quess he has now time to wait good MMA contract.
http://www.tnawrestling.com/news/2005/4/26/news.htmlI hate you! You stole my sig picture!!!!

Thanks for the news though

[natecrime]

Tito is wrestling? Wtf, that is bad news, didn't particularly like him but he was a good fighter and there were still a few interesting matches availiable for him especially after his win over Belfort. Greedy bastard.

[Pro shoot]

I hate you! You stole my sig picture!!!!

Thanks for the news though
I don't mind if you want to use "Rickson?s armbar can do more damage than the hellfire from an Apache Helicopter." as your signature :D


I hope we can still see tito in MMA.

[Alfuh]

Tito is wrestling? Wtf, that is bad news, didn't particularly like him but he was a good fighter and there were still a few interesting matches availiable for him especially after his win over Belfort. Greedy bastard.

Change "Greedy bastard" to "Desperate bastard" TNA is such a small promotion, I read (I think on mmaweekly) that the highest paid guys get 5,000 an event and he would likely be getting around 2,000!

[natecrime]

Change "Greedy bastard" to "Desperate bastard" TNA is such a small promotion, I read (I think on mmaweekly) that the highest paid guys get 5,000 an event and he would likely be getting around 2,000!

I know that TNA is wank and he will be making shit nothing from that. It's the fact that this has all probably happened simply because he was trying to hold the UFC to ransom with how much he wanted per fight, completley isolated himself and now has to resort to Jeff Jarrett's organisation. Big mistake by Tit.o

[DrOctagon]

I have no doubt that we will be seeing a Wandy V Tito rematch in the next 12-18 months. He as always said he wants to be in the WWE after he finishes his MMA career so the news comes as no surprise to me. The WWE will sign him soon as they will certainly recognise his notoriety in MMA and how popular the sport is becoming with the success of TUF and the crowd chanting UFC when Daniel Puder was on Tough Enough. As much as people don't like Tito, i think he has done a lot too make our sport popular in the mainstream. People like larger than life characters and Tito certainly is that. Whether it be in Pro Wrasslin' or MMA, Tito will always be a good draw because he has the personality to make people either love him or hate him with his actions and personality. Say what you want about the guy but there is no denying he has a lot of charisma and talent.

-This message was brought to you and paid for by the Tito Ortiz Bandwagon Society.

[Alfuh]

Say what you want about the guy

He is a boring fighter and has a big head

@Nate - Gotcha, I misunderstood what you were saying. Glad his greedy ways caught up with him. I mean, he's a professional fighter, not a star basketball player or A level actor (although I've heard his acting is superb :p )