Tito Ortiz is back with the UFC

[Posey H8er]

Dana's Twitter-

I am going on espn 1100 in vegas at 6pm. I will be talking anything mma. Call in number is 702 364 1100! Oh yea and welcome back tito

Edit- Next Friday Dana will have a press conference with a 'laundry list' of announcements. He couldn't officially confirm Tito but it seems legit.
http://mmajunkie.com/news/15628/dana-wh ... things.mma

[Nemesis21]

Boo !

[CPT]

I like it.

Been hearing a lot about this possibly happening lately. He's not my favourite fighter by any means, but I can't deny that he makes things more interesting when he's involved.

[damo[23]]

Don't like the guy that much, but really can't be a bad thing for the UFC. He's known and can draw a PPV crowd, and in a stacked LHW division, he has a lot of talk to back up now. But if he is back fully, its getting to the stage where any LHW fight on a card is pretty much guaranteed to be a top end fight.

[sh00n]

Can't complain. I never really disliked Tito and I always found his matches fun to watch.

[damo[23]]

Looks like Tito and Vitor back in the UFC could change up things as early as UFC 103.

Adding fuel to the fire, a newly available fighter such as Tito Ortiz or Vitor Belfort could be seeing action in the Octagon on September 19th as UFC.com has recently removed the previously announced rematch between Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson scheduled to headline UFC 103 in Dallas, TX.

http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2009/07/25/ ... r-ufc-103/

If that were to happen, with Tito vs Franklin and Belfort vs Hendo, that card just becomes immense with Santos and Cro Crop, thats a lot of big names looking to make some progress or get back into the swing of things and would make a lot of noise in 3 respective divisions.

Hopefully there is some truth behind it.

[Deelow_23]

Ortiz is washed up. The last time he finished someone in a fight besides Ken Shamrock was in 01 against Elvis Sinosic. If they do fight, i believe Ace beats him rather easily.

[Nemesis21]

Ortiz is washed up. The last time he finished someone in a fight besides Ken Shamrock was in 01 against Elvis Sinosic. If they do fight, i believe Ace beats him rather easily.

[CPT]

Ortiz is washed up. The last time he finished someone in a fight besides Ken Shamrock was in 01 against Elvis Sinosic. If they do fight, i believe Ace beats him rather easily.

I usually don't want to defend Tito, but he's still a top 10-15 LHW.

And even if he isn't, he has enough history to make some big fights.

He's beaten Griffin, so there's a rematch there.

He fought to a draw with Evans, so there's definitely a rematch there.

He gave Machida his toughest fight in the UFC...not sure there's a rematch there, but it's something to say he isn't washed up.

Aside from Shamrock, he was only fighting top guys, so it's not surprising his record isn't that impressive.

He'll be a solid gatekeeper that can really get some hype behind up and coming guys, and make their fights interesting. You think Machida would be where he is if he had not beaten Tito Ortiz? And there's always the chance he puts a few wins together and fights for the title again. I mean if he were to beat Franklin and then someone else, why shouldn't he get a shot?

[damo[23]]

Yeah thats my logic, spot on CPT.

He might have lost a few steps in his time off, but at worst, even in a stacked LHW division [which the UFC is] he'll be a solid mid level guy that could be a decent co-main event on a "weak" card vs a good up and comer or someone the UFC want's to put into the limelight a bit more, or a good filler. Or at least thats what I expect.

[Hilltop]

Well he's always been a draw and the UFC can never go wrong with him anyway. The gatekeeper/middleman role is pretty much right on the money. In any case, it will be a lot more interesting with Tito back in the mix.

I wonder how he and Dana patched it up though (if they ever did).

[damo[23]]

Well he's always been a draw and the UFC can never go wrong with him anyway. The gatekeeper/middleman role is pretty much right on the money. In any case, it will be a lot more interesting with Tito back in the mix.

I wonder how he and Dana patched it up though (if they ever did).

That's it, when you've got a mid level guy with a big draw and marketability, you can't complain, and the LHW division once again gets a little bit deeper. It pretty much is at the point now that any LHW fight is going to be between really solid level fighters.

And yeah, Hilltop, I have to say I am wondering about that myself. I think I read that they aren't "buddy buddy" but they won't be abusing each other every time the other ones name comes up in conversation like they have the past couple of years.

[Hilltop]

Well he's always been a draw and the UFC can never go wrong with him anyway. The gatekeeper/middleman role is pretty much right on the money. In any case, it will be a lot more interesting with Tito back in the mix.

I wonder how he and Dana patched it up though (if they ever did).

That's it, when you've got a mid level guy with a big draw and marketability, you can't complain, and the LHW division once again gets a little bit deeper. It pretty much is at the point now that any LHW fight is going to be between really solid level fighters.

And yeah, Hilltop, I have to say I am wondering about that myself. I think I read that they aren't "buddy buddy" but they won't be abusing each other every time the other ones name comes up in conversation like they have the past couple of years.

True, anything less 'disrespectful' than their previous relationship is a start I'd say I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Oh and on a side note, did you make that avatar?

[CPT]

I also forgot to mention the back surgery, if anyone buys that as an excuse for his recent losses. He says he's feeling much better. Lets him train harder and use his wrestling more. The same surgery Nate Quarry had.

I'd say any advantage gained by that would probably be offset by the ring rust of 16+ months out of action though.

Still something to consider.

[CapeCrusader]

Ortiz is washed up. The last time he finished someone in a fight besides Ken Shamrock was in 01 against Elvis Sinosic. If they do fight, i believe Ace beats him rather easily.

I dunno about that man. Look at Mark Coleman, who had him beating Stephan Bonnar?....just saying upsets (which may not be an upset) happen all the time.

[cowboyronnie]

A gatekeeper for name status, but not for contenders. Ortiz won't be a relevant fighter. His style is way out-dated and his physique hinders any chance of being a good boxer.

[Hilltop]

He gave Machida his toughest fight in the UFC...not sure there's a rematch there, but it's something to say he isn't washed up.

I would agree with the latter statement, I'm not so sure I consider it Machida's toughest fight though. I guess it was his first 'scare' considering Tito nearly got a triangle on him, but everything else was pretty much a wash.

[Cammo101]

I do not think Tito is washed up really, but he is no longer a title contender either. He is a top 15ish LHW.

[Deelow_23]

A gatekeeper for name status, but not for contenders. Ortiz won't be a relevant fighter. His style is way out-dated and his physique hinders any chance of being a good boxer.

Exactly how i feel. Of course Ortiz will draw the crowd but not because he's exciting. He is a clown and people love to see him lose.

[Nemesis21]

A gatekeeper for name status, but not for contenders. Ortiz won't be a relevant fighter. His style is way out-dated and his physique hinders any chance of being a good boxer.

Exactly how i feel. Of course Ortiz will draw the crowd but not because he's exciting. He is a clown and people love to see him lose.

I am one of those people. Never really liked Tito, he is very cocky and disrespectful.