I have just read on Sherdog.com that Tito is in contract negotiation with the UFC for future fights. Tito is also entertaining the idea of fighting under a new organization, but he still has yet to rule out UFC completely.
There have even been talks about setting him up with Houston Alexander, Theirry Sokoudjou, and Stephan Bonner. It seems entirely possible that Tito will stay with the UFC.
During Tito's last fight the commentators quoted Tito as saying he is out of the Dana White business. With Lorenzo now apparently taking more control of the business Tito would probably be in direct negotiation with him...not Dana.
Tito himself even said after his fight with Machida something along the lines of nothing's certain. I don't remember exactly what he said, but I do remember thinking it was so strange that after the whole night of them pushing it as Ortiz' last fight it was very awkward of him to say that.
I think Tito would be an excellent gatekeeper for the top competition in the 205 division. Still a decent fighter he would be a definitive milestone to figure the real competition for the title.
I personally think he doesn't have that drive that made him champion anymore. He could surprise everyone and turn things around, but I wouldn't bet on it.
I think it is actually in the best interest of all involved here for Tito to stay where he is. He is a good fighter still, and UFC can profit off him for years to come.
On the other hand I think UFC will be the ones willing to take a risk on him more than the other organizations will. If Tito turns his game around in say Affliction, then their competition would be viewed as inferior to the UFC, because of Tito's last couple years in the organization. Say honestly the ones who have the most to gain by Tito's success is UFC no matter what way he goes.
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3 months ago
I realize that I misspelled Stephan Bonnar
3 months ago
But I want to see Tito beat up Frank Shamrock first!
3 months ago
Tito will never be champion in the UFC again because he has been "Tyson'd." Jenna Jameson is his Robin Givens and his career has and will continue to suffer because of her from hear on out. A damn shame!
from 3 months ago
oh really? well didnt he already beat the current champ? lol.
from 3 months ago
His stand up is always improving, but I think it might have just been too little too late for that. He has fought in Abu Dhabi, and done well, so his submissions are there...Note the triangle attempt that he almost caught Machida in. They also used to talk his neck crank up a lot in his fights. He is just not as hungry for the title as he once was. It seems as though he really relies on slamming his opponent with the double underhooks, which was his bread and butter, back in the day. I am not saying he can't pull off another title, but I am not really sure that he could.
3 months ago
Tito want's way too much $$$ to be a UFC 205lb gatekeeper.
3 months ago
styles most certainly do make fights. I hope we can soon find out what style will defeat Machida, and Im talking Silva/Jardine style.
from 3 months ago
I think Wandy is definitely forward and aggressive enough to chase Machida down. Machida's chin hasn't been tested either. I think maybe someone who will just wait on him and give him a real solid shot may have a chance too.
3 months ago
anybody know why anderson silva is saying that Machida is the 205 champ?
is he being serious or is he talking up a fight between the two of them?
from 3 months ago
I really have no idea...he did say at one time that he was just holding the 185 belt for Franklin, because Franklin was the true champ...Then he beat him unmercifully...maybe just setting up a fight.
from 2 months ago
by guess would be b/c they are training parterns and Silva is saying that he is the best at 205. Silva himself is not staying at 205.
from 2 months ago
Maybe, but he should stay at 205...there are too few 185ers, and it doesn't look like Dan Henderson is gonna get another shot anytime soon...other than Henderson, there is no one else at 185 there for him, he already beat Franklin twice.
3 months ago
back to the point, thoughts on tito/wanderlei II anyone?
from 3 months ago
It depends on the Tito and Wandy that show up to fight. If Tito somehow finds his former self, and the Wanderlei shows up that fought Jardine show up that would be great. If the new Tito, and the Wanderlei shows up that fought Chuck it would probably be as interesting as a Koscheck-Sherk "superfight"
from 3 months ago
I wouldn't say Wandy didn't show up against Liddell. He did lose in a unanimous decision but he took plenty of shots that would knock out almost anyone else out at 205. It was the first time he had been back in the Octagon in a long time and I think he fought fine. Dana was impressed with him after the fight and he's obviously got more comfortable after he dismantled Jardine. If they did fight again I think Wanderlei would win the fight. I haven't always been a big fan of Tito but I respect his game in the octagon and hope he returns to the best organization in the MMA world and isn't just looking for money. He's got enough money, he's gotta show his fans that he is a fighter and not a businessman.
from 3 months ago
Wanderlei was no where near as aggressive as he normally is against Chuck. There is no reason Chuck and Wandy should have gone to decision if Wandy were as aggressive as he normally is.
from 3 months ago
what about Rampage vs. Tito
from 3 months ago
Rampage would annihilate Tito.
And I'm not really interested in Tito vs Wanderlei again. Tito vs Sok would be good imo.
from 3 months ago
Let me add to that -- Rampage has the PERFECT style and ability to beat Tito.
from 3 months ago
guess it doesn't matter to anyone that Rampage and Tito would never fight because Tito trained Rampage for years and they have both said it would take an astronomical amount of money for them to fight each other. They are great friends.
from 3 months ago
Something would have to go extremely wrong for them to fight each other.
3 months ago
I like Tito, I always have. I hope he stays with the UFC.
3 months ago
god tito is just such a dick
from 3 months ago
I think Tito isn't a dick he just plays one on TV
3 months ago
Tito always makes things interesting. I think he has become more of a humble person after a few losses and becoming a father, but Tito is still Tito. I would like to see him stay but after the last few perfomances, I am not sure if he is up to becoming champion ever again. Guess we will see.
3 months ago
Also I disagree that Affliction's product would be seen as inferior if Tito had success there. If I were in charge of marketing at Affliction and Tito were my champion, I would hype up his fights by pointing out he beat Forrest Griffin not that long ago. Even if Machida were to win the title, I would just keep pointing to the fact Tito almost submitted him in the final seconds of the fight.
If you follow what I'm saying, Jason, its that Affliction should be able to believably market Tito and not have their product being seeing as inferior if he signs there. Not to mention that Tito sells ppvs. And a lot of them.
from 3 months ago
Yeah, but you will have the die hard UFC fans, that will throw that in Affliction's face. I just think that maybe with just beginning, they maybe aren't willing to take that big of a risk on Tito, they really don't have much except for heavies. Some fighters of quality, but not championship caliber.
3 months ago
I would be in favor if Affliction could get a hold of any former UCF fighter that is currently being neglected by the UFC. Randy(not really being neglected), Tito, Mirko, the Rua's or anybody else. If they do become a big MMA powerhouse, I just hope they don't sell out like Pride did.
from 3 months ago
Shogun has been injured not really neglected, but ninja, just got passed over by them.
from 3 months ago
Yeah, Shogun's been out because of injury but that doesn't mean he wants to come back to the UFC. He may want to find something else.
from 3 months ago
UFC has the best light heavyweight division. If he is just milking his injury so he can go elsewhere then he is suffering from vaginitis
3 months ago
LOL. Dont get me wrong, I would love to see Shogun become a powerful force in the UFC. But how long does he actually need? It looks like the UFC has got their schedule figured out until October and he is not on any of the upcoming events. Yeah, he could be added to any one of them but not likely.
from 3 months ago
Yeah, but how bad off is his injury. I'm sure once he gets released he could very well be added. I think that is the only thing holding him back. I really don't think he is suffering from vaginitis...I just sadi that because he knows where the top competition is as well as the money. I don't even know really what his injury is, but I have heard it is a knee injury, so that could very well take some time to get back to top form...Maybe Dana told him he won't fight him til he gets back to top shape...who wants to bring in one of the top fighters to fight if he is injured and not fighting as well as he can, may not be the case, but it does make sense.
3 months ago
Ortiz's career has run it course in the UFC. He is nothing more than a glorified mid level fighter. .The game is ever evolving and Tito is not. He was taken to a draw by Rashad Evans not bagging on him but he is not a top fighter in MMA. Yes Dana is pumping him against Chuck but Evans is what he is. And same for Ortiz. The clown has burned far too many bridges on his way out. Good luck Tito you are gonna need it.
from 3 months ago
It doesn't matter how many bridges you burn in the UFC, as long as Dana can make money off of you, and Tito can play out all these scenarios where he is the jerk that needs to get beat down. The special they had before Tito fought Chuck the first time just showed how they hyped Tito as a coward that was running from Chuck, but once it aired it showed that Chuck was the A-hole, and Tito treated him as family, for Chuck to turn around and say we never really were friends. Tito is good at playing the jerk, it is what will keep him as a draw even if he isn't the fighter he once was. It doesn't matter to UFC if everyone is tuning in to see Tito "get what he deserves", or to see him at top form as long as the PPV gets purchased.
2 months ago
tito owns
2 months ago
Tito isnt versatile enough to keep up with the new guys he was state of the art 10 yrs ago when fighters werent all shaped like olympic athletes, but he,s a predictable ground and pound fighter anyone with a good takedown defense will shut him down and pick and point him apart all day. He,s very easily frustrated and isnt agressive when he needs to be anymore. I think gatekeeper would be a great job for him.
from 2 months ago
I think he is versatile enough to be a gatekeeper, but I think championship material has been out of his grasp for a while.
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