"From low tide to high tide.... You figure in losing the title [to Evans] that Forrest has doubt; he had doubt against Silva. This is all or nothing for him. And this is my comeback fight. I'm not going to lie, it's been a challenge for me. Not pain. I have no [back] pain, but I'm dealing with the fatigue from not fighting so long. I'm like 80 to 90 percent now, not 100. Coming back is hard mentally and physically. So even though I won't be going anywhere - I have five fights left on my contract - it's kind of do or die for both of us. But I promise I'm going to get in there and entertain. I can't wait.... [The first fight] might have been a split-decision, but I thought I won. Look at my face after the fight, and look at his, and you'll also see my hand was raised afterward.... Two former champions. A lot of fans hate Forrest now after the Silva fight, but he usually brings it, and I always come to fight. I'm not going anywhere. I've been surviving for 12 years. I know how to do this."-Tito Ortiz
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz talks to the Los Angeles Times about his rematch against Forrest Griffin, which is now the main event of UFC 106 on Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ortiz vs. Griffin II was promoted to the main event of UFC 106 after an illness forced current UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar to withdraw from his showdown with Shane Carwin, now slated for UFC 108 on Jan. 2.
Ortiz and Griffin first fought at UFC 59 in April 2006, where Ortiz scored a very close split decision win over the TUF 1 light-heavyweight winner, Griffin, in an exciting back-and-forth battle.
Both men are on the comeback trail as Griffin is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses against Rashad Evans in December of last year and Anderson Silva in August.
Meanwhile, Ortiz is coming off of major spinal fusion surgery to correct a back problem that has bothered him for several years. He is winless in his last three bouts and hasn't competed since May of 2008, when he was defeated by Lyoto Machida at UFC 84. Ortiz hasn't won a fight since October of 2006, when he defeated Ken Shamrock for the third time.
UFC 106 was supposed to be one of the promotion's biggest shows of the year, however, with the loss of a mainstream attraction like Brock Lesnar, the event could turn out to be somewhat of a disappointment. Ortiz who has always been a big draw and great event pitchman will now be called upon to use his great promotion skills and to sell UFC 106.
| (0) Comments
Click here to Register!