UFC 78: Tito Ortiz Added To Fight Card
The always controversial Tito Ortiz will return to the octagon on November 17th at UFC 78 in New Jersey. Though no opponent is confirmed it is expected that Ortiz will face off with Rashad Evans. The pair fought to a draw at UFC 73 in July and comments following the fight indicated they would square off again in their very next fight which we now know will come at UFC 78.
In their first meeting earlier this year Ortiz had claimed a 29-28 victory on the judges scorecard but a one-point deduction for grabbing the fence cost him the fight and a rematch was granted to determine a winner. The winner of the bout will likely get serious consideration for a title shot in 2008 increasing the importance of securing the win for both fighters.Ortiz won 5 straight UFC fights and received a chance at the Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 66 in December but was dispatched by a heavy handed Chuck Liddell. The draw to Evans further slowed Ortiz’s momentum though a win over Evans could put him back on track.
Evans will be looking to add to his undefeated 10-0-1 record when he likely faces Ortiz at UFC 78. The winner of the second season of the Ultimate Fighter he had 5 straight wins in the octagon over Brad Imes, Sam Hoger, Stephan Bonnar, Jason Lambert, and Sean Salmon before fighting to a draw with Ortiz.
UFC 78 has yet to be officially confirmed but when it is expect this bout to be among the first announced.
For more on UFC 78 check out the MMAFrenzy.com UFC rumors section.
Tags: Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz
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I didn’t care for their first fight. I hope Tito is healthy this time so he can just wipe the cage with Evans.
man rashad will tear up ortiz a one dimensional fighter who cant strike and only gos 4 takedowns
Evans will tear Ortiz up huh….Yeah except for that fact that Tito smacked him in the first fight. Ortiz won that fight and every one knows it. He won the fight on the score cards but a bogus deducted point gave Rashad the Draw. As for one dimensenial, Ortiz opened the fight with a round house kick to the head that he took Rashad down from and pounded him every time they exchanged hands standing up. If you need a recap of the fight, try Sherdog’s play by play of all the fights that night or any ufc event. Maybe it’ll clear things up for you.
I could care less about this fight…. I like Rashad, but its anyones fight. Who cares….I really hope they suprise everyone and not have him fight Tito. I would like to see Tito fight someone else this year then Chuck and Rashad….. I dont think he has fought anyone else this year…but I could have a brain fart. Sum everything up….. not another rematch right away!!!
Actually you added an opponent: Chuck Liddell. He faced Liddell in 2006 so he’s only faced Rashad this year.
Tito needs to step up and beat Rashad. Rashad is small for that weight class.
I am looking forward to this showdown. I think Ortiz will win this fight. I just wonder what will happen to Ortiz, if he loses? If both Griffin and Ortiz both, then we could have a Griffin vs. Ortiz II. Otheer than Ortiz fighting Griffin, I don’t see an opponent that he might fight, if he loses to Evans.
How bout this? The winner of Evans/Ortiz faces yhe winner of Griffin/Rua. A Shogun/Ortiz fight in the making? That would be an interesting fight. I don’t know if Tito would want to fight Shogun Rua. Maybe Ninja, but not Shogun. Then Griffin and Evans could fight. That would be a good one.
I think that in no time, Shogun, will take it all. That dude is a monster. It will be interesting. Tito wouldnt stand a chance against Shogun.
Oh and thanx for the correction Kris. It was close enough!!! haha.
If Tito gets his game back together, he could give anybody at lightheavyweight a challenge. Remember, he beat Wanderlei Silva. Tito is no chump, he has just been acting like one as of late. I do agree Shogun is a monster(and a master) of MMA. Hopefully his brother will come over soon. His fight with Robbie Lawler should be great.
I think this is Tito’s last shot at the saloon, after rather a few average performances in the octagon Tito needs to beat Rash ad convincingly to prove he has still got what it takes at the highest level. In my opinion Tito is great for the sport as he is a great showman and entertainer but I feel we have seen the best of him.
SCOTCHYDOW, Tito has said before that he wants to fight Shogun. I know that Tito runs his mouth a lot, but he has more than onece said that he wants to fight Shogun. That would be a good fight, I would pay to see it. That’s a pretty good concept you got with both of the winners fighting each other, but Dana White said if Shogun wins, he is getting the next title shot.
All those who say Tito this Tito that are seeing things just like him. I lost cause of this I lost cause of that. He is full of excuses and real childish comebacks in his preand post game interviews. Come one when is the last time the “Little boy” won a real definite victory over anyone. How many times has he lost and made up some dumb excuses. He is a Big Baby. Rashad and anyone who fights him wins.
Yeah…again, except for the fact that TITO BEAT RASHAD! People are stupid, but people who are biast because of how a person acts to hype his fights and bring in ratings for his company, are even worse. Tito Ortiz doesn’t whine or complain and he had every reason to b**** about the Evans fight. He won on the score card 29-28 and THEN the deducted point made it 28-28 a draw. DRAW. WHICH MEANS ORTIZ BEAT RASHAD! So… how is Rashad and any one who fights Ortiz gonna win. Ortiz already beat Evans and I hope they fight again to settle the score so Ortiz can dismantle him, convincingly, and shut people like you up. Plus, I *dare* you to say Ortiz is a baby to his face. It’s people like you who would never step into a cage but call those that do babies is what makes me mad. I get in that cage, and I’m no where near what these guys are and I give my respect to all of them for their talent and hard work. None of them are babies, they get in a cage and go to war. It’s fans like you who don’t realise that.
Tito will dominate “Rashad” HA! What a name
I agree that Tito tore Evans up. I also agree with the point deduction though. I hate it when a fighter grabs the cage, or ropes (You listening Fedor) to avoid an unavoidable (except by cheating) takedown. I am sue Tito will destroy Rashad but you never know. I hope it is a better fight than their 1st, and just once I would like to see Tito fight at 100%.
i agree i hate the cage grabbing and it cost him the win! i also hope its a better fight as the first one wasnt the most exciting.i dont think tito has been at his best for a while now i thought he lost to forrest.
I disagree about the Forrest fight. When I first watched it, I thought it was pretty close, but I think Tito pummeled him so bad in the first round, that it could’ve been a 10/8 round. The rest of the fight, Forrest threw a lot of punches, but didn’t land a hell of a lot. Tito’s accuracy through the rest of the fight was pretty good, and I think he landded more. But like a decision, that’s an opinion.
it was definatly very close and could of gone either way.like you say its all about how you see it! but i agree it would be good to see tito back fighting at 100% hes still a hard fight for anyone.
Um, how was that deducted point bogus? Tito had the chance to win the fight afterward, but didn’t. Draw.