Mayweather vs. Ortiz: What Would Happen If Money and Vicious Met in UFC Octagon?

It's been a big month for fighting sports, what with Floyd Mayweather knocking out Victor Ortiz last weekend and the MMA extravaganza between Strikeforce 55, UFC 135 and Bellator 51 this weekend.

The Mayweather-Ortiz fight, in particular, left a funny taste in many people's mouths. Whether you think "Money" May was in the wrong or not, whether you think "Vicious" Victor should've been more vigilant or not, there's no denying that the ending of that one was bizarre.

So many mistakes on Ortiz's part, from the head-butt to the poor defense, yet still such an outpouring of sympathy for the kid, with Mayweather so perfectly playing the part of the villain.

Sensing the opportunity for a big payday and a potential shot at redemption, Ortiz wasted no time or breath begging Mayweather for a rematch, both in the ring with Larry Merchant and at his own press conference.

Sure, Mayweather would be interested at the right price—that's, in part, why they call him "Money"—but he doesn't seem completely up for it. He's got plenty of cash for now, pocketing approximately $40 million, with a base purse of $25 million.

But Floyd has nothing to prove. Chances are, he would've beaten the stuffing out of Ortiz anyway had the fight gone past the fourth round.

He needn't waste his time and energy on Ortiz when he can make just as much money, if not more, beating new challengers like Amir Khan or (dare I say it?) Manny Pacquiao.

For the sake of discussion, though, what if Ortiz got his rematch, but in an unusual setting.

What if, in some sort of doppelgangerish alternate universe, Mayweather got so cocky that he decided to shift the fight to the Octagon to take Ortiz down in a full-fledged mixed martial arts brawl? How would things shake out then?

In short, not so well for Ortiz.

Obviously, both Mayweather and Ortiz would come in with excellent stand-up games, seeing as how boxing is essentially (from a reversed perspective) stand-up MMA without the kicking. In that arena, though, Mayweather would still hold a clear advantage.

But what if the fight went to the mat? Would Ortiz be able to use his advantage in size and strength to ground-and-pound Mayweather into a bloody pulp?

Again, not likely. Mayweather is still far quicker, more athletic and a much more adept defender than Ortiz could every hope to be. Those attributes would make Mayweather difficult to get on the ground, much less pin decisively.

Not to mention that, as a fighter, Ortiz hasn't exhibited the sort of skill set at any level that would indicate he could grapple with a fighter like Mayweather.

And if Ortiz decides to go for another desperate headbutt, he'll once again find himself on the wrong end of the rule book. Most major MMA leagues, the UFC included, strictly forbid the use of headbutting in their fights.

Thus, inevitably, Mayweather would once again find himself in the winner's corner against Ortiz, this time by extending his professional unbeaten streak to 42-0 across different platforms.

The chances of this sort of thing happening aren't really as outrageously small as you might expect.

If Mayweather continues to hold out on a Pacquiao fight (or vice versa, whoever's side you happen to be on), MMA may be the only kind of fighting that's still profitable, seeing as how boxing is a dying sport and all.

Like Sanskrit, only with fewer scholars dedicated to the cause.

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