Report: Ortiz gearing up for return in October/November

by Matt Bishop on Jun 30, 2010 10:00 AM EDT in News

Tito Ortiz says he'll be back in action later this year and will be on a quest to reclaim the light-heavyweight title. It likely will be more than four years since he last won a fight by the next time Ortiz steps into the cage, with that win coming Oct. 10, 2006 against Ken Shamrock.

Sherdog.com's Mike Sloan spoke with Tito Ortiz and the former UFC light-heavyweight champion said he's received his doctor's release to slowly but surely return to the gym after undergoing surgery to relieve a bulging disc between his C6 and C7 vertebrae. The injury forced Ortiz to pull out of his scheduled UFC 115 bout with Chuck Liddell.

Now, Ortiz is lifting weights and slowly beginning to travel the road back and has gotten his weight up to 220 pounds from 200.

"July will really be the test for me because I'll be wrestling and stuff and starting to get into it," he added. "On July 1, I'll start doing jiu-jitsu and start drilling. Nothing live -- just drilling to get my body back into shape."

Ever the optimist, Ortiz plans on winning back the light-heavyweight championship he hasn't held since losing it to Randy Couture nearly seven years ago.

"I have five fights left with the UFC," said Ortiz. "I started my career with the UFC and I'm going to end my career with the UFC. After these next five fights are over, maybe I'll take a step back and see what I'm going to do after I defend my world title after I win it."

I think it's safe to say Ortiz has quite the mountain to climb to recapture "his" title. Unfortunately, it appears Ortiz's injuries are catching up with him, leaving his days as a high-level fighter in the past.

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I wish no ill will toward Tito at all...never liked him...never will..

however, it’s clear that he is done as a fighter….even if he was to get back to 90% of what he used to be…the game has passed him by…the top fighters of today would nullify his strengths in regards to his takedowns and delivering damage from the guard position. He has no standup to speak of and remains a pretty one-dimensional fighter…albeit his submission game was a bit underrated…he never utilized it much. so yea…that is all.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 30, 2010 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

That really is all.

Well said.

"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way

by RearNakedPoke on Jun 30, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Dont agree the game passed him up

If he fights at 100% he can still beat alot of top 5 guys. What passed him up, was the period of time where he was by far the bigger fighter in the fight. THe LHW div has alot of guys who go into the cage at 220-225 now, and Tito cant be the bully anymore.

The guy wasnt terrible against Machida (a guy who has destroyed a couple other top 10 guys) he tied Rashad after losing a pt on a cage grab, and in the first meeting He was completely destroying Forrest before his injuries came into the fight.

I say that, and I cannot stand Tito as a TV personality or a fighter. But he is still top 5 if he is at 100%. I just dont think he will ever be 100% again.

by oggsmash on Jun 30, 2010 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

No.

But he is still top 5 if he is at 100%

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by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 30, 2010 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

And let’s be real: he’ll NEVER be 100% again. Too much wear and tear.

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by -Neil- on Jul 1, 2010 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions

" Tito Ortiz gearing up for return!"

Ehh

Ride the Tiger!

by doonerthesooner on Jun 30, 2010 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

ZOMG

He’ll be healthy, and he’ll be in shape, and he’ll be ready to go!! Just like last time!! Or the time before that!! WOOOOO! Not.

Incase anyone hasn’t been following along: Tito Ortiz hasn’t won a fight since October 2006. Against Ken Shamrock.

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by -Neil- on Jun 30, 2010 10:38 AM EDT reply actions

shit

he really hasn’t beat anyone since like Patrick Cote…who’s a MW…and that was in 2004….Belfort and Griffin were VERY close fights.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 30, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

Tito

gearing up his post-fight excuse list

@fjbar on twitter...formerly El Mexicutioner

by _Felix_ on Jun 30, 2010 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

lol

well played sir

"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way

by RearNakedPoke on Jun 30, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

But....but...

He’s coming for his title guys!

by Matt Bishop on Jun 30, 2010 12:26 PM EDT reply actions

yea

the title he defended when he fought a bunch of middleweights….oh..and Ken Shamrock…pffft.

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by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 30, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Boy Kelvin...

You are reaching Neil Wagner territory here.

by Matt Bishop on Jun 30, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

oh

I’m just getting warmed up..

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by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 30, 2010 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Holy shit… the Tito hate on here is strong…

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by Anthony Pace on Jun 30, 2010 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

Well to be honest, Tito hasnt done much to earn any favors the past few years

His mouth, and backtracking whining are pretty unsavory to alot of folks, so I could see why folks color thier opinions of him as a fighter from his persona.

by oggsmash on Jun 30, 2010 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

We have all heard this before.

Tito, swore up and down, before the Forrest fight that he was recreated in a lab. That his old back injuries are a thing of the past. That, he is training harder then he ever has. That he is the former champ and on the path to regaining his title. I have heard before, but, for some crazy reason, I will tune in to see him. Tito is a great salesman, he has the It factor. I cant wait to see him get beat again. I hope his next fight is Chuck, this would be a viable fight for both, a true indication on how far from contention Tito really is, and the nail in the coffin of Chuck. Make this fight, and we can be rid of 2 over hyped and over rated fighters in one fell swoop.

If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?

by whardiek on Jun 30, 2010 6:31 PM EDT reply actions

Actually, That is a bad fight for Tito (chuck) because

Of the style match, I think Chuck could get to the point he cant beat anyone at any level, and would still have a good chance of beating Tito. For tito, losing to a way past prime chuck does zero for his career, but the payday for fighting chuck, well could set him for retirement. Tito, I dont think has any interest in fighting Chuck, the style match is way out of his favor and I think a 75% chuck beats a 100% Tito, so its a no win for the career IMO.

I dont think Chuck is overrated at this point, by anyone, but he is still popular. Tito, because of his mouth is a bit underrated actually, and lost a ton of popularity as well. If Tito is really interested in really fighting still, he really needs a win over a top 5 guy, and soon.

by oggsmash on Jun 30, 2010 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree with some of that.

I still think if Tito is able to beat Chuck, it would be the vehicle to relaunch Tito. The average fans, they dont know shit, but they have heard of Chuck and Tito. Im not gonna suggest this is a top 5 fight. But, it would be a big gate and a bigger PPV buy then some of the cards on tap.

If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?

by whardiek on Jul 1, 2010 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions