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[QOTSA420]

Liddell: Ortiz is a ‘Tune-Up’ Fight

Chuck Liddell pushed a proposed bout with longtime rival Tito Ortiz during a Spike TV conference call for “The Ultimate Fighter 11,” and said that “to his knowledge,” a third matchup with Ortiz is still happening.

Liddell and Ortiz, who serve as rival coaches this season on the reality show that begins Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, are anticipated to meet a third time following the show’s conclusion, likely at the yet-to-be-announced UFC 115 on June 12.

However, Sherdog.com reported on March 13 that Liddell and former middleweight champion Rich Franklin have verbally agreed to face one another instead, according to multiple sources close to the bout. UFC President Dana White later denied the reports, but Sherdog.com re-affirmed through its sources that the bout is still on track. Fighters appearing on the reality show all sign rigorous non-disclosure agreements to keep the series’ plotline a secret before airing.

“I’ve heard the rumors, of course, but from what I understand, (Ortiz’) signed to fight and he’s still coming at me,” Liddell said on Monday. “He’s still going to actually show up and get his beating again. I think I earned it having to put up with him for seven weeks.”

Liddell, who called the proposed third bout with Ortiz “a tune-up fight” numerous times during the call, was asked later about the Franklin reports as well.

“I hope that’s not true,” said Liddell, who earned technical-knockout stoppages against Ortiz in 2004 and 2006. “I want him bad, so this would really upset me if this doesn’t happen.”

Ortiz and Liddell’s back-and-forth relationship has been one of the sport’s major though-lines in the past 10 years. Both were once managed by UFC President Dana White and trained together for a time. In recent years, each fighter has soured on one another, though.

“I don’t like the guy,” said Liddell. “If you listen to him, he sweet-talked me out of a fight and I betrayed him. If you want to listen to him, there are a lot of things. He’s not the brightest guy out there.”

At one point during the call, Liddell called Ortiz a “scumbag” for fabricating stories about Liddell’s personal life, which Liddell said included an alleged intervention between White and Liddell to address the fighter’s alleged alcoholism issues.

Liddell, a former UFC light heavyweight champion and hall of famer, took an extended leave from the sport following his first-round loss to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 97 last April -- Liddell’s second knockout defeat in a row. The 40-year-old Liddell was urged by White to retire, but instead took a spot on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and continued to hint his return to the cage.

“I was taking some time off because I thought I got hurt by shots that shouldn’t hurt me and I know the only (thing) for-- that really (helps) that is giving time -- you need to rest from those kind of things,” said Liddell.

Liddell, who once touted an eight-fight knockout streak in the Octagon, said he didn’t as much as hit a pad from April to December, but continued his grappling studies with Eddie Bravo and Scott Epstein at 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Los Angeles.

“I am going to mix it up a little bit,” said Liddell of his June return. “I got away from that for a little while. I coached my guys to mix it up, but I think I got away from it ‘cause I like striking so much. I’m going to continue to strike. Don’t worry about that, but I’m going to mix it up more, make people guess a little more. You know, make it a little harder on guys to get a read on me.”

Liddell, who said he’s in excellent shape and around 222 pounds currently, predicted a knockout in his next bout, though it remains to be seen if that will apply to either Ortiz or Franklin.

If it’s Ortiz, Liddell said his fellow coach as it coming to him.

“He did the worst thing he could do,” said Liddell. “He motivated me to train harder than I probably would have for the fight.”

Liddell also didn’t rule out “one last run” at a UFC title.

Tune up for who exactly? I love Chuck but he should go out on a Tito win. It is really a drag seeing him sprawled out in the ground wondering who knocked him out.

[tinkerskippy]

He's right it is a tune up fight - Tito won't knock him out and he can handle the take downs. However Chuck will never be champ again - father time has won this battle.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

To begin, I'm not terribly interested in this fight, but stylistically speaking, the reason Chuck Liddell beat Tito was a combination of ridiculous takedown defense and his awsome power....and some pretty suspicious kempo jabs(cough-pokes-cough), but if Chuck's really markedly slower this time around and Tito shows up with his same ole gameplan, I would not whatsoever be surprised if Tito can take Chuck down and grind on him and maybe GNP the very fragile and slower Chuck. I'm not too certain what condition Chuck is going to be in after more than a year off and a major dropoff in exposure and status, but I personally feel Tito's game, while not a TOP TIER talent anymore, is still a very lethal and challenging threat and he looked very good in the Forrest fight, which I think could give a slower Liddell trouble, because the pace Tito could set and the amount of pressure he could put on Chuck, combined with Chuck's possibly slower striking speed, could really be a difference maker.

[The8thPlague]

Pointless Fight.

[Kimbo> Rampage]

Tito's game is sad, He doesnt set up his takedowns well, and his standup never seems to improve, it seems like he doesnt like to get hit. Liddell will stop his horrible takedown attempts and knock him out. Then liddell moves on to face somebody like jones, t. silva, etc and loses.

they both arent top10 material.

[MetallicKnight3X]

it will be the same result.. unless tito gets a favorable *poke* in the eye or somethin this ends within the 1st two rounds.

[TBEAR]

Chuck will ko tito, but then what?

Franklin would take Chuck i think
maybe a rematch with Jardine
Rashad vs Page loser

Chuck needs some real big wins to work back up the ladder, and if he gets there, Machida, Shogun hell Anderson is just way to much for Chuck nodays

[p1jrod]

I will always be a Liddel Homer, no matter who or when he fights i wanna see the dude win. I honestly feel after seeing tito fight forest again, he has nothing for chuck, tito doesnt have the power in his hands to KO chuck, and with his back he cant take chuck down.

I feel this is an easy win for chuck hands down. Chuck did lose 3-4 fights, but who did he lose too? 2 of the 3 best LHW in the world right now, Shogun and rampage, and he got cliped by a damn good punch each time, it happens to everyone, they all get clipped. You cant take creidt away from a guy because he got beat by 2 of the best in the world in his division...

yea he did lose to jardine, but i think it was more of a fluke then anything, jardine came in with a great strat, and it worked to perfection. If they fought again id beat chuck takes him out in the 1st.

Do i think chuck can make a run, probablly not, but hell he could fight forest, bonnar, eventually franklin, and then see where it goes, but if chuck were to lose at all then id agree with most fans and say his time is over.

[steve_44]

I think he's going to suprise everybody. In his ko's he was never outclassed in stand up he just got caught. Also the shogun n rampage ko's didnt even look like hard hits maybe the break did his chin some good like he said. If he starts to go for takedowns aswell whoever fights him has another thing to think about, just that could make him more dangerous than he ever was, aslong as he isnt past his prime. Maybe he's like randy lol.

[Kimbo> Rampage]

Originally Posted by steve_44

I think he's going to suprise everybody. In his ko's he was never outclassed in stand up he just got caught. Also the shogun n rampage ko's didnt even look like hard hits maybe the break did his chin some good like he said. If he starts to go for takedowns aswell whoever fights him has another thing to think about, just that could make him more dangerous than he ever was, aslong as he isnt past his prime. Maybe he's like randy lol.

He got ktfo by a right hook from rampage and huge shots from rashad and shogun. he even got dropped by jardine. rofl chuck vs tito 3, tito lost both times and is going to lose again. one fight i wouldnt mind seeing is liddell-couture 4. hopefully no eye pokes or slips this time.