Lorenzo Fertitta Q&A: Velasquez vs. Mir, Ortiz vs. Griffin III in the works
Posted on February 10, 2012, 10:43 AM by Joey Santosus
Quite active on Twitter last night was UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta, who in addition to answering on several fan questions, confirmed multiple high-profile match-ups planned for 2012.
Opening the floor to questions from his 76,000-plus followers (@lorenzofertitta), Fertitta provided information on a variety of topics, including plans to book Cain Velasquez vs. Frank Mir, Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin III, and a target date for the Heavyweight title clash between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem.
According to Fertitta, the highly anticipated Heavyweight showdown between division champion dos Santos and top contender Overeem is currently in the works for Memorial Day weeked in Las Vegas.
Awaiting the winner of that match-up could possibly be the fighter who emerges victorious from Velasquez vs. Mir. With the AKA product just one bout removed from losing the strap to dos Santos and Mir currently riding a three-fight win streak, it's a match that may very likely serve as a title eliminator.
Ortiz, meanwhile, has been vocal about his intentions to hang-up the gloves after making one final octagon appearance. It now appears he will get his wish in the form of a rubber-match with Forrest Griffin. Currently split 1-1 after their first two encounters, each fighter has picked up a split decision victory over the other. Ortiz came out on top back in 2006, while Griffin got the nod in 2009.
In addition to the aforementioned match-ups, below are highlights from Fertitta's late night Q&A:
• Described a potential "superfight" between Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and Featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo as a "good idea."
• In response to Diaz's failed drug test, he admitted to being "a sap for real fighters," and indicated that the former Strikeforce champ would not be released. "Really like the kid just needs to get it together," said Fertitta.
• Confimed Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber III for July 7th in Las Vegas. Added that Rich Franklin's return is also possible for this event.
• Carlos Condit's next fight is yet to be determined. Unsure whether or not he will defend the interim Welterweight title or await GSP's return.
• Was complimentary of UFC 143 "KO of the Night" winner, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.
• Expressed interest in signing Bellator Middleweights Hector Lombard and Alexander Shlemenko.
• Stated that the UFC would still possibly sign Fedor Emelianenko for the right price.
• Responding to a potential "superfight" between Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and Light Heavyweight champ Jon "Bones" Jones, Fertitta said, "Maybe."
Photo: Francis Specker
Comments
Yes to all the above bouts please!
You wonder why, at this point, with Lorenzo becoming more knowledgable about the business, why they keep Dana around.
one of the most real billionaires men out there
Exactly. That's my point. Now that Dana has established the business and business model and because sometimes he says things that the mainstream lawmakers and media just don't like/get don't you think that Lorenzo and Frank might think lets save the next billion Dana would have gotten and run the business ourselves?
all these are AWESOME!!!
exactly what needs to be done!
Ortiz griffin 3? The only two "name" fighters they can beat in that division is each other. Neither of those guys are in it to fight for a title any longer, just for the money. I love forrest, and sometimes even tito, but that's a completely uninteresting fight. None of those guys want to get KFTO'd, but they sure as hell want their payday.
Who is their right mind is interested in that fight?
Velasquez vs mir on the other hand. That's interesting.
It honestly doesn't matter whether or not two people are the absolute best and can beat everyone else for a normal fight. Ortiz vs. Griffin wouldn't be for a belt, it would be to try to set up two people of comparable skill levels to put on a good show.
I think it's a good match up. I'd also say Griffin vs. Bonnar III, given that it would give Stephan a chance to get one of those losses to Forrest back, and he's good enough now I think he might be able to.
I would like to see Bonnar vs Griffen 3 as well, as I think Bonnar one their first fight, its the rubber match in my eyes.
Don't you think we show respect for two legends and extremely important figures in the sport, give them a fight that they both want and will probably be fun to watch?
Neither of them are in the title hunt so this is a great match-up for Ortiz to retire on.
Im looking forward to the Ortiz vs Griffen fight. Sometimes there is more to fighting than just winning for the fighters, and the fans.
Lorenzo is awesome
After reading so much hype about Wonderboy, I'm glad his UFC debut went the way it did. I'll be following him closely and waiting for his next fight. The guy's got a ton of potential.
the only reason griffin/ortiz is happening is cuz its titos last fight. Mir vs cain should be a sick fight and the UFC should get Fedor &shlemenko; both guys will put on great fights
and not lombard?
Actually interested in Ortiz - Griffin 3 the most.... Even with all the hate towards Tito, and trash talk he has done, there is no denying that he is one of the main fighters that brought the UFC to its popularity. Hats off to Tito Ortiz and hope he wins his last fight.
I've wanted to see Mir face off against JDS or Cain for awhile now. I'm honestly kind of surprised that neither of them had to go through him on the way to the title.
hopefully they sing Fedor!! even though its highly unlikely, wouldn't that be something to see Fedor in the ufc been waiting a long long time to see that, Fedor would show he still got it
sign*
Mir vs Werdum - Cain vs Fedor would be the bomb.
agree 100%
Werdum vs Mir is a must!!
and Cain vs Fedor would be epic also Couture vs Fedor would be
a dream fight , one that shoulda happen since 2007.
Ideal situation at its finest.
Im a big Mir fan, but I think Cain is going to dominate that fight. As much as I would like to see Mir wear the belt again, the odds are against him.
Might as well retire both Ortiz and Griffin after that fight nether guy provides any real challenge to the good fighters. So many popular fighters are used to sell cards but then its the under cards that have the awesome KOs and subs with lots of main card fights boringly going to the judges.
I'd give Griffin one more fight to get the rubber match with Stephan Bonnar. They're probably the lowest ranked two people that could headline an even and still sell PPV.
actually not rly interested in mir vs cain :/ i see cain as the winner due to mir's last two losses have come from heavy handed people n u dont really get much heavier handed than cain. would love to see big foot silva come over for cain, stylistically it intregues the hell outta me! plus they can bill it as big foot vs the shrexican (from a past video were a guy asks cain why he doesnt have a nickname n suggests that lol)
Mir vs. Cain = yes
Forrest vs. Tito III = c'mon
get lombard over here asap
I personally would love to see Chuck and Tito one more time! not going to happen, I know. one can dream. I miss the iceman
would be nice for tito to end on a highnote but i'm never rooting for the guy whos retiring, doesn't make sense to cheer for the guy whos not gonna move up the rankings even if he wins
and yea, after saying they'd sign fedor he says 'for the right price', which means they don't want to pay him a lot anymore, so carry on dreaming its not happening
Do you have a brother that has a big sailboatt named ARghhhhhhhhh?
Wears a patch on his right eye and loves Parrots.
No don't be stupid.
he's called John.
Calling John the fisherman!
jon jones vs anderson silva would be awesome
chris lebem vs wanderlei 2 when he returns from suspension (2 bangers)
Aldo vs edgar (speed vs speed)
Chuck liddel vs tito for the last fight would be ****in awesome...come out of retirement Chuck for one last beating of tito
forest griffin vs retirement
wonderboy vs dana white
these are the fights i want to see