Built Ford Tough Posted July 31, 2009 Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will return to the Octagon Sept. 19 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, where he will fight former middleweight champ Rich Franklin. UFC President Dana White announced the UFC 103 bout Friday during a media conference call. To make the matchup, he nixed a previously announced rematch between Franklin and Dan Henderson. “The fans didn’t like (Henderson-Franklin), so we’re going to change it,” White said. Belfort-Franklin will take place at 205 pounds. As for Henderson, White said he is “definitely next in line” for Anderson Silva’s middleweight title. The UFC president said Demian Maia and Nate Marquardt, who meet Aug. 29 at UFC 102, are in the mix. Source Former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has re-signed with the UFC, ending months of speculation regarding his future. UFC President Dana White, with whom Ortiz has enjoyed a well-publicized love-hate relationship, announced the deal on Friday during a teleconference. Terms were not disclosed. “Tito Ortiz is still a guy fans want to see fight,” White said. “He’s ready to compete at 205 pounds. A lot of people love him, and a lot of people love to hate him. He’s back. Tito and I set all our differences aside. Tito Ortiz will retire in the UFC.” Ortiz, who originally anticipated a September comeback, has targeted a return in November or December. White indicated Ortiz could possibly square off with UFC hall of famer Mark Coleman. Full article HERE The upcoming Franklin/Belfort match is going to be a very fun fight to watch. Vitor loves to stand and bang and Franklin, although he doesn't have ruthless knockout power (he does have KO power, just ask David Loiseau), he is a good, technical striker. That fight should be very similar to Rich's last fight back at UFC 98 when he went up against Wanderlei Silva. That should be a very enteraining fight. Not exactly what I would consider to be main event caliber, but considering the fact that most of the UFC's big names are all tied up as Lesnar just fought at UFC 100, GSP is injured and just fought as well, Penn is fighting at UFC 101, Machida is defending at UFC 104, Anderson Silva is fighting Forrest Griffin at UFC 101, Rampage and Rashad are tied up with TUF and fighting in December and Randy Couture is fighting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria at UFC 102. So considering the fact that most of the UFC's to tier talent (which is what Franklin is) are all locked up at events right before or right after UFC 103, this is a quality main event to top off a well rounded card. As for Tito Ortiz, I am so pumped to see him back in the octagon. He has always been my favourite fighter and I am interested to see how he bounces back after his back surgery. I honestly think that he is still a legitimate fighter in the Light Heavyweight division, and although he is probably not going to contend for the 205 Championship, he is still going to be a very relevant fighter in that division. Coleman-Ortiz is going to be a very good tune up fight for Tito. I know that Coleman is coming off of a win against Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100 but I just don't see how he is going to beat Tito. Should be an interesting fight between two ground and pound specialists though. Anyways, it sucks that the UFC and Fedor couldn't get anything done, but this is definitely two great moves on their behalf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted July 31, 2009 Owner Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Tito is going to get rocked by Coleman, Sean. YEAHHHH!!! Man, I really wanted Fedor in the UFC though. That Lesnar/Fedor fight would be hyped so much...man...the roof would blow off the building when those two stepped into the octagon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Built Ford Tough Posted July 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2009 Tito is going to get rocked by Coleman, Sean. YEAHHHH!!! Man, I really wanted Fedor in the UFC though. That Lesnar/Fedor fight would be hyped so much...man...the roof would blow off the building when those two stepped into the octagon. Coleman will throw one punch and then gas. The guy has absolutely no cardio (which is to be expected considering he is like 45 years old lol) and Tito's cardio has always been one of his best attributes. A poster on Sherdog summed up what is going to happen in that fight perfectly in a little poem. Coleman gasses,Tito passes,Elbow to the head,Coleman is dead Lol, but seriously, if Tito comes into the octagon and doesn't have massive amounts of rust considering he hasn't fought in like 2 years or something and is coming off of back surgery, Coleman is going to get worked. The Hammer is one of the UFC's legends and one of the pioneers of the sport, but the guy is so far past his prime that it isn't even funny. The Nevada State Athletic Commission were hesitant to even clear Coleman to fight against Bonnar at UFC 100. That is how far past his prime he is. It is a fight though, so you never know what is going to happen. All it really takes is one punch (although Tito does have a very good chin) to finish the fight. Dana White hasn't said that nothing will happen with Fedor and basically left the ball in his and M-1's court. If M-1 drops their ludicrous demand of co-promotion, Fedor will be in the UFC. If they aren't willing then Fedor will never be in the UFC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karl Malone Posted August 2, 2009 Report Share Posted August 2, 2009 fuk that. ORTIZ IS MUHH [expletive]AA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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