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Tito Ortiz: I’m trying to aid Chuck, he needs money, but I’m getting a little revenge

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Tito Ortiz. Photo: Matt Tucker

Although it will be a clash of two rivals for centuries, two legitimate figures from the Hall of Fame in the world of MMA, who will go down in the history books of the second stage of the development of this sport, Tito Ortiz on November 24 v Chuck Liddell’s fight, promoted by Golden Boy, is a fight for identity .

Liddell (21-8), 48 years venerable (9/10), hasn’t fought since 2010 and thought he was done with the physical side of the sport before his tenure in UFC management was ended when modern owners refused to honor the man’s verbal affection. So he’ll go back to what he knows best and what he does best… fighting. There is no shortage of experts and fans who would like him to stay in a jacket and tie and not want to change the aging script. However, the circumstances and his genetic and character tendencies make him put on petite gloves and want to win 3-0 against Ortiz in Inglewood, California and on PPV in less than two weeks.

Ortiz is 43 years venerable and I consider him the favorite in this case because the layer of rust he will have to shake off is not as chunky as Liddell’s layer of rust. The loudmouth, who has a record approaching .500 (19-12), shared his thoughts with the media during a recent workout:

“My entire career has been influenced by Muhammad Ali and Hulk Hogan. Ali, of course, I’m in combat sports and Hulk Hogan is in sports entertainment, and I try to find that balance between being flamboyant and confident, knowing how much work I’ve put into it. Of course, you have to win the fight to support this conversation.

But of course the topic of age came up…

“Age is only a number. I’m 43 and I feel better now that I’m 43 than I did when I was 34, just because of the injuries I’ve been able to recover from. I’ve had four neck surgeries, a back surgery and two knee surgeries, but I’m able to pick up the pace and get the training I want… but I think it’s just a matter of attitude, Ortiz said.

Ortiz hits the gloves during a recent media workout. Photo: Matt Tucker

He then fired an oblique shot at Liddell. “I take care of my body, I don’t go out and party, I don’t do drugs, because in this job as a mixed martial arts fighter you have to be a professional, you have to take it seriously, because once you step into the cage against another person, they try to do the same damage to them, that you are trying to do to them. You have to make sure you’re prepared for it and I think throughout my 21-year career I’ve prepared myself the right way physically and mentally. When it’s time to train, I work my ass off, I put in all the work, I don’t look for ways out, I don’t look for the basic way out, I try to find the hardest way possible. I try harder and I think that’s what makes me who I am.

He also shared his training mindset, which he uses as a mantra to motivate himself. “Three things have always happened to me in life and I try to push myself as challenging as I can, I force myself to throw up, dull or die. I’ve thrown up a few times, I’ve never passed out, and I’m still sitting here, so every time I train, I try to give it my all, because when I go into the cage and I’m fighting another person, I want to make sure that I’ve prepared for the worst, so that the best can happen.

He also delved into how and why this match came about. “This match against Chuck Liddell, yes, it’s about revenge (but also) about redemption. It’s about getting a chance to fight someone who was a friend of mine, was a close friend of mine, who sold me out because he wanted to go into the company. Now suddenly, 10 years later, the company has dumped him and he has to fight. I’m trying to aid Chuck, if he needs money so bad, I’m trying to aid him, but I’ll take revenge. It’s not a championship, it’s redemption, it’s a chance to beat someone who beat me twice… and people think I don’t have a chance, but on November 24, I’ll show how mean I really am by standing on top of Chuck Liddell while he’s passed out on the canvas.”

Tough call… good for marketing. Good thing he sold the scrap. And that’s good for Ortiz, because he’s regaining the energy he needs to keep grinding, even as the areas of his body where he’s had surgeries are barking to find a modern calling.

(Highlights from Ortiz’s last fight, a choke victory over Chael Sonnen.)

My two cents: you can dismiss this as two guys in the past, but I will actually join for the curiosity factor. We’ve gotten to know these two through their decades of work together in sports, and I can’t aid but be interested in their careers and lives. Whose fate will take a darker turn on November 24, who will be able to soar higher and enjoy the outcome that will enable them to further this sweet and wild science? Time will tell us.

Follow Woods Twitter.

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MMA

Demetrious Johnson equaled Anderson Silva’s UFC title defense record

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by Kendrick E. Johnson |

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson defended his flyweight title at UFC “Fight Night Kansas City,” looking to stop challenger Wilson Reis and make UFC history.

After beating Reis from the opening bell and submitting him via armbar at 4:49 of the third round, Johnson did exactly what he wanted. With this victory, Johnson has now won 12 straight fights, but more importantly, it is his 10th defense of the UFC flyweight title, tying Anderson Silva’s record for the most consecutive title defenses in UFC history.

The spectacular, historic victory left Johnson more placid and reserved than usual after the fight.

“GSP, Anderson, they are great champions, but I am the best champion that has ever stepped foot in this Octagon,” Johnson said. “I finish off all my opponents. There is no other champion who can mix it all, fight, punch and clinch like me.

Johnson scored the victory by punching and softening Reis while staying out of danger first. The champion then took him to the ground, pounded him some more, and then delivered a neat submission to the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

Going from a full mount to an armbar submission faster than anyone else in the UFC to end the event, “Mighty Mouse” showed why he’s considered the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world today.

“It was a damn good night,” Johnson said in his post-fight Octagon interview. “It’s probably the best training camp I’ve ever had, and my head coach kept telling me, ‘Just be yourself.’ I came back and did a lot of things differently at this camp and it was the best effort I’ve ever felt.

Even if people like UFC president Dana White call him the “GOAT” of the UFC, putting his name first alongside Silva, who ruled the middleweight division and pound-for-pound rankings from 2006-2013. Johnson remains focused on taking his division and legacy to heights never before seen in MMA.

“I’m like any champion, whether it’s a team sport like the Michael Jordan Bulls or something like the UFC, I want to win as many championships as possible,” Johnson said at the post-fight news conference. I’ve got 10 title defenses now and I can take this belt home and hopefully next time I can break through and maybe I can get 13 or 14 titles, so why not set the bar high. Just like Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world, I’m the fastest man in mixed martial arts, so I’m going to continue to prove that and hopefully set the record at 15 years and then I can retire.

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MMA

Max Holloway is on a mission at UFC 212

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by Kendrick E. Johnson |

Even with 10 consecutive wins inside the Octagon, UFC interim featherweight champion Max “Blessed” Holloway never had the opportunity to fight for the undisputed championship.

That will all change on Saturday when Holloway faces UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo in a unification fight at UFC 212 at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This will be only the second time in his career that Holloway will headline a pay-per-view card, but he is extremely confident of entering enemy territory in pursuit of his lifelong dream.

“I’ve been in the spotlight in my career, I’ve had a five-round fight outside the UFC and I’m ready for anything,” Holloway said during a recent conference call.

“I’m just ready to show the world what I’m about and why I’m the best fighter in this division.”

“Blessed” has finished seven opponents in his 10-fight winning streak, including a TKO over former UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis to become interim champion.

Holloway and Aldo are two of the best all-around strikers in MMA today, but there aren’t many other similarities both inside and outside the Octagon. What they have in common, however, is that their last defeat came against UFC’s most recognizable star, “Notorious” Conor McGregor.

For Holloway, losing to McGregor four years ago was a good thing. He regrouped, became a more complete fighter and put together one of the greatest winning streaks in UFC history.

However, despite his incredible success at the championship level over the past few years, the UFC has been reluctant to put its hype machine behind Holloway, much to the surprise of many in the media and fans.

Even with this lack of pressure, Holloway is very excited to reign supreme in a division that has only had two undisputed champions in its compact history.

“I just can’t wait to do the damn thing; get in there and fight one of the best of all time,” Holloway said. “He is one of the greatest in our sport, but it is time for a up-to-date era.”

“I have been an underdog my whole life. I do not care. I shouldn’t be here. Max Holloway shouldn’t be talking to any of you. I shouldn’t be here. It is what it is. “Actions speak louder than words, and I have done many things.”

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MMA

Amanda Nunes withdraws from UFC 213 title fight

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by Kendrick E. Johnson |

After being hospitalized hours earlier, UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has been withdrawn from her UFC 213 main event bout against top-ranked Valentina Shevchenko, UFC president Dana White confirmed.

The report of Nunes’ illness and withdrawal was first revealed by mmafighting.com’s Ariel Helwani. White told LA Times writer Lance Pugmire via text message: “I don’t know why Nunes (14-4) withdrew from the card after being examined by a doctor.

“The doctor cleared her to fight. She said she wasn’t feeling well,” White said. “It is what it is. You can’t force anyone to fight.”

Now, the scheduled co-main event fight for the interim middleweight title between Yoel “The Soldier of God” Romero and Robert “The Reaper” Whittaker will be upgraded to main event status at UFC 213. The fresh co-main event will be a heavyweight fight between the former champion Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem, who will fight for the title of number 1 contender to champion Stipe Miocic.

Many commented on how exhausted Nunes looked, as fighters often do, at the official weigh-in on Friday morning around 10 a.m. PST. It must be admitted that in her nine-year MMA career, “The Lioness” has never officially made weight or withdrawn from a fight due to weight loss problems, until today.

The fight will likely be postponed soon. Bob Bennett of the Nevada State Athletic Commission said Nunes had problems beyond the weakness resulting from the weight cut that led to her withdrawal.

Meanwhile, undefeated women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk spent Saturday morning “begging White to fight via text messages and social media.” Jedrzejczyk last fought at UFC 211 in May and plans to fight in November at UFC 217, but she was in town for International Fight Week and told White she would face Shevchencko.

Much to the disappointment of fans and the media, the strawweight champion has no chance of fighting tonight because medical tests and other clearances require a little longer before the NSAC will clear her. So everyone has to hold on tight to see how this story unfolds over the next few days

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