Tito Ortiz's last match?

[LegendK1ller]

Ortiz has lost his last four matches, do you think he will beat Ryan Bader? I personally am hoping Ortiz beats Bader. I know most people hate Ortiz, but I have always been a big fan, I love having a villain in the UFC. Unfortunately, he talks a lot of shit, but has not backed it up. I hope to see a new and improved Ortiz going into this fight.

So, does he have any shot at beating Bader?

 

[wrestlingfan]

Ortiz has come and gone. His syndrome is worse then Chuck Liddell's. He's past his prime,I don't even consider Tito to be at gatekeeper status. Bader is going to simply destory him. Machida vs. Couture 2.0

 

[JWGunslinger]

I have both loved and hated Tito Ortiz throughout his career, during his battles with Liddel I was as anti Tito as one could be. After I grew up I realized that he acts the way he does to get a reaction(which he always does) and that he has done great things for the sport so I would call myself an Ortiz fan.
I actually gave Tito the edge in his fight with Matt Hamill(it was probably just me feeling bad for Tito) but if he couldnt beat Matt then he wont stand a chance against Bader.I hate seeing him with such a horrible losing streak but I cant say he has a chance in hell honestly, if he beat Bader it would be the kind of upset Serra-GSP was, though it's not as big of a fight I doubt there is anybody giving Tito a chance. Tito will unfortunatly get demolished(most likely KO'd) and retire, and while the though of another UFC legend retiring saddens me it will definitely be for the best.

 

[Fizzy]

Ortiz has come and gone. His syndrome is worse then Chuck Liddell's. He's past his prime,I don't even consider Tito to be at gatekeeper status. Bader is going to simply destory him. Machida vs. Couture 2.0

Worse than Chuck's? Hardly. Tito is still competitive in every fight he's had and never fights easy competition these days. He went to a draw with Rashad Evans who was considered the number one contender for over a year, almost beat Machida with a triangle in the final round when he was coming into his "unbeatable" stage, lost a very close fight with Forrest, and had a poor night against Hammil. He's not getting KOed every fight, and is still being competitive against some of the best in the world. He is way past his prime and should be retired, but he is not on Liddell's level.

As for this fight, I want to see Tito win, but Bader is better at everything. He's a better wrestler, better striker, and much more athletic at this point in their careers. I expect Tito to lose, and retire but I hope I am wrong.

 

[wrestlingfan]

Worse than Chuck's? Hardly. Tito is still competitive in every fight he's had and never fights easy competition these days. He went to a draw with Rashad Evans who was considered the number one contender for over a year, almost beat Machida with a triangle in the final round when he was coming into his "unbeatable" stage, lost a very close fight with Forrest, and had a poor night against Hammil. He's not getting KOed every fight, and is still being competitive against some of the best in the world. He is way past his prime and should be retired, but he is not on Liddell's level.

As for this fight, I want to see Tito win, but Bader is better at everything. He's a better wrestler, better striker, and much more athletic at this point in their careers. I expect Tito to lose, and retire but I hope I am wrong.

But he's losing a lot. In the UFC it's not always about who had close fights or put up a fight. Face it the guy hasn't won in 4 years, That's a sign.

 

[Rizza]

Ortiz has lost his last four matches, do you think he will beat Ryan Bader?

Personally, no, I don't think he can beat Bader. I think Bader has too much to offer. More effective striking, better wrestling, and and the ability to apply pressure and dictate the fights pace. Something Tito can't do as well with all of his injuries mounting up over the years.

I personally am hoping Ortiz beats Bader.

Me too, as I can't stand Bader, and would love to see Ortiz get his last moment of glory.

I know most people hate Ortiz, but I have always been a big fan, I love having a villain in the UFC.

Nowadays though, there are so much better villains in the UFC. As far as just plain unlikable guys, there are guys that are way further up in that area then Ortiz. Schaub, Bisping, Kos, just to name a few.

Unfortunately, he talks a lot of shit, but has not backed it up. I hope to see a new and improved Ortiz going into this fight.

I would love to see a new and improved Ortiz too, but if we haven't seen it yet then I doubt we will. He is from the old school group of MMA fighters, and time has shown that a lot of those guys don't evolve enough to hang with a lot of these younger guys like Bader.

So, does he have any shot at beating Bader?

Did Edgar have a chance at beating Penn the first time around?
Did Werdum have any chance of beating Fedor?
Did Griffin have any chance of beating Shogun?

The Popular answer was no. But it is MMA where anything and everything can, and at times does happen. So yea he has a shot. Just a very slim one.

 

[Fizzy]

But he's losing a lot. In the UFC it's not always about who had close fights or put up a fight. Face it the guy hasn't won in 4 years, That's a sign.

Which is why I said, he should retire. I agree on that point. What I don't agree on is your reasoning behind his retirement. The guy is fighting because he loves to and is still competitive against top guys. It's not like he is getting completely outclassed by cans or getting KOed every single fight. At least he's still competitive which is more than can be said about Liddell. Ortiz isn't close to that level.

 

[wrestlingfan]

Which is why I said, he should retire. I agree on that point. What I don't agree on is your reasoning behind his retirement. The guy is fighting because he loves to and is still competitive against top guys. It's not like he is getting completely outclassed by cans or getting KOed every single fight. At least he's still competitive which is more than can be said about Liddell. Ortiz isn't close to that level.

Fighting because he loves to? Well he's still losing. I understand he's not completely being outclassed but losses are losses.

 

[Fizzy]

Never said they weren't, and I never argued the point that he should retire. I'm arguing your statement where you said he is worse than Chuck was before he retired which you have yet to address or give a reason why you believe so. Tito should retire win or lose and that is non debatable. Even with his losses though, he's still doing better than Liddell.

 

[wrestlingfan]

Never said they weren't, and I never argued the point that he should retire. I'm arguing your statement where you said he is worse than Chuck was before he retired which you have yet to address or give a reason why you believe so. Tito should retire win or lose and that is non debatable. Even with his losses though, he's still doing better than Liddell.

I still believe he's just as bad as Liddell. He's still losing as much. But you proved a good argument. I just feel the only reason he isn't on the losing streak like Liddell is because he's 5 years younger.

 

[SalvIsWin]

The problem with Tito is the same problem Liddell had, which is that they are marquee fighters that no one wants to see fight a nobody. There are light-heavyweights in the UFC that Tito Ortiz could beat, as there were light-heavyweights that Liddell could beat, but since no one wants to see either of them fight less than top 10 competition, they're in a bad spot.

Personally I think Tito Ortiz is done if he loses his next fight. It will be clear that he can no longer beat top 10 competition, and those are the only opponents fans want to see him fight. There's no where else to go for a person like Tito after the UFC, so he's on the chopping block for sure.

WrestlingFan - How is Tito as bad as Liddell when most of Liddell's recent losses were vicious knockouts, whereas Tito's were all decisions?

 

[jmt225]

I'm definitely rooting for Tito. I don't think Tito is either the fighter or personality he used to be, but this is his chance to prove me wrong and make me a fan of his again.

As I've stated many times, I used to be a HUGE Tito Ortiz fan. He was basically my first favorite fighter and the reason I became a hardcore fan of the sport. He was just simply badass. He talked shit and didn't give a fuck what anyone said about him. And win or lose, he always put on an entertaining fight for the fans.

These days though... I mean, first and foremost, the guy has won in so fucking long. However, he's also a different person. He's a company man these days. He fucking married a porn star (not a hot young one either, but an aging way past her time ****) and has aired all their bad laundry out on Twitter with their little fights on there... that shit's pathetic. Not to mention all the injury excuses he has made. I mean, whether they were legitimate or not... don't make yourself look like a pussy by using injuries as an excuse, especially something as ridiculous as a cracked fucking skull.

All that said... I am rooting heavily for Tito to bounce back. I do not want his career to end this way. While I agree with Fizzle that Tito's fall is nowhere near as bad as Chuck Liddell's (Tito's never been knocked clean out, keep in mind), it's still been a horrible few years for Tito record wise and just overall appeal wise. Regardless though, while Tito looked dreadful against Matt Hamill... I still think he can compete. I mean, this is the same guy who brought both Rashad and Machida to the absolute limit (shit I'd say he even beat Rashad), and both of those guys went on to win the Light Heavyweight Championship. So, Tito is still no bum, you have to believe. He just has to incorporate the right gameplan and carry it out.

Plus, Ryan Bader is a boring piece of shit who called out an aging Tito Ortiz instead of a worthy prospect. I would really, REALLY like to see Ortiz make him regret doing that.

 

[The Crock]

It's pretty obvious that if Tito loses, this is the end of the line. That being said, I think it might be a wake up call to Tito. He still has something left in the tank, I mean, his last four fights have gone the distance, against some great competition (Hamill, Griffin, Machida, and Evans) and in some of those fights he could have won. Ortiz has been lacking his old explosiveness in the cage, but he's still an excellent wrestler, so Ryan Bader won't be able to take him down at will, but not only that, Tito will be motivated. Tito isn't the type of guy to let Bader choose him as a "quick win," Ortiz will come out swinging, I promise. Ortiz has nothing to lose, Bader doesn't have that pressure or that motivation, Tito knows that if he doesn't win, his UFC career is over. Hell, I'm sure he's aware that he's lucky to even have the opportunity against Bader.

Yes, at this point in their careers, Bader is the better fighter. Bader is a, what, 3:1 favorite to win, so I'm aware that it's unlikely Tito will win, but I don't want to see him go out by getting knocked the fuck out.

 

[INDYjon22]

To say Tito is getting demolished is silly. Tito may be past his prime but he is still a competitive fighter for anyone and is still a pretty solid draw. Lets not forget this man was one of the three big names that helped get the UFC recognized in the early days. I mean, I can't imagine him having many more fights left in him and a loss to Bader will likely be the end of the line for him in the UFC at the very least, but he is still giving guys a hell of a hard time in the cage. That said, I hope he does retire sooner rather then later. He should be remembered as the man who dominated the Light Heavyweight division from 2000 to 2003 and was a massive draw. He doesn't need to be remembered as the guy with the porn star wife, who couldn't give up fighting and ruined his legacy.