Tito Ortiz explains why he turned down the fight against Rashad Evans at UFC 133
Posted on July 13, 2011, 05:31 AM by Anton Gurevich
"I have a life and things to take care of. The fight game is about making the right choices of my career. If you knew what I have been going through you all would understand. Peaking for a fight is what makes a fighter unstoppable! Timing is everything in life. This is a rebuild year for me not do or die. The time will come again!"
Speaking via his Twitter account, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Ortiz explained why he decided to turn down the offer to replace the injured Phil Davis against Rashad Evans. Ortiz and Evans already met four years ago, in a fight that took place at UFC 73: Stacked and ended in a Draw. Since then, Rashad Evans won three in a row, including the UFC Light Heavyweight Title bout against Forrest Griffin at UFC 92, while Tito Ortiz lost three in a row against Forrest Griffin, Lyoto Machida and Matt Hamill.
Evans was promised a title shot following his victory over Rampage Jackson at UFC 114. Victory over "Suga" would have put Tito Ortiz into pole position for a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight title, and give fans one of the most amazing comeback stories in MMA history. But according to Ortiz, "the time will come again".
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Photo: Francis Specker
Comments
Well he just fought so...
Yeah, for thirty seconds....a hungry fighter would take the fight, it's a great opportunity to get back into the mix. Tito doesn't have the fire anymore.
I get what he is saying Dana had him on the chopping block, 1st time
he has one in 4ever why take a fight short notice ..in his younger days
when body could recoup fast ...and Rashad on short notice yeah I give him 30/70 then Dana might have him kick rocks
tito doesnt want to get cut, fire has nothing to do with it
Smart decision
i dunno man (i'm not knocking your opinion btw),he's had such a lay off that i think it'd be better to keep his momentum going...like most fighter's,they fair better when continually fighting rather than long time's off inbetween (ring rust)...i truely think tito could've taken rashard in this fight as the fight with bader didnt last that long and he didnt take any/much damage so really,he should be more or less good-to-go...he's fought rashard before so it's not like he does'nt know his fighting technique AND,rashard's been KO'd since where as tito has'nt (yet).
i suppose tito knows how his body's feeling or maybe he want's more time to re-negotiate his purse with UFC as he apparently took a paycut...i think if he'd have took the rashard fight,beat rashard,tito would've had more bargaining power...if he lost,well,he would've had the 'i took the fight with less than 3 weeks notice and have just fought 2 weeks before' excuse which might've got him another fight or 2 anyway...rematch fights are always the best as fighters let loose a bit more because they've tasted their oponant's power and speed before
Jenna tweeted last week that Tito was still hung over from partying, I doubt he is in fight condition or could make weight.
Dumb decision. OPPORTUNITY only knocks so often. Punk move by Tito.
unprepared, not a good match up for ortiz, rashad to hungry for a win, tito in climax mode. not a good time to risk things up.
tito still needs atleast 1 more win until he is safe of not being cut so hes waiting for an easier match up like lil nog
Smart in the sense he wants to rebuild his career by taking his time and looking to reinvent himself. Its always best to be able to focuse 100% on a fight, so if things at home are confused and in disorder then i can see why he would refuse to fight anybody at the moment. Stupid because this fight would probably give him a title shot if he won, also there would be no better time to fight rashad than now due to the extensive lay-off he just went through. right now tito just passed on a perfect opportunity.
Tito was fighting in the UFC in 1996, what a pioneer
Dumb ass.
If he had half a brain he would take the fight. If he beat Evans he would be right in line for the title shot. Tito's not hungry anymore.
no ur the dumbass! It's not just about the fight...it''s 7-8 weeks training camp to prepare. Yea he just came off of one but that was for a different fighter. And Bader(clearly) isn't on the same level as Suga. The body needs time to recoup and heal. Just ask RICK STORY! Tito is smart and wise enough not to put his body through another rigorous camp. His time will come. He needs to work his way back up the ladder. TEAM PUNISHMENT!!!!
Saying that since the draw "Rashad has won three in a row" indicates that he has only won three in a row, which clearly isn't the case because we've seen him get KTFO in the meantime, and then two more fights after the loss. Maybe something like "Rashad then went on after the draw to rally off three consecutive wins" but the tenses are wrong. Anton, shoulda taken my offer buddy!!
Smart decision by Tito, considering all the injuries he's had and the length of time he's been fighting. It would be a bid risk for Tito physically going straight into another training camp to fight in early august.
Very smart decision.Or else he would be digging his own grave.
On the other hand,if he really wants the belt,he could have taken this fight which would put him in the no 1 contender spot,if he should win it.
I would take the fight for the same amount tito took the last fight.lol
(and be eating through a straw probably)
Kida
That just shows how much to me tito wants it
This isnt some newb he's be fighting, it's Rashad Evans. Former LHW champ, fought Tito to a draw. He'd be a fool to take this fight without proper preparation. Bader is no Rashad.