More than four years have passed since Tito Ortiz last won in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the charismatic Huntington Beach fighter finds himself nearly a 2-to-1 underdog in Las Vegas sports books for Saturday night’s light-heavyweight UFC 121 fight at Anaheim’s Honda Center.
"Whatever," former light-heavyweight champion Ortiz said in a telephone conversation from his Big Bear training compound. "It's cool. I'll make my fans a lot of money."
“I fight a little harder in O.C.,” Ortiz said. “I’m trying to get my world title back, so getting a win is the most important thing. The close matches, the draw, guys running from me … I’m tired of it. I’m going to be doing my job. I’ve heard a lot of smack talk, but those people saying it aren’t as successful as me. “I put on a show. UFC understands my value. I give my heart and soul.” Ortiz said Monday he was 15 pounds over the light-heavyweight limit, but argued, “That’s nothing, as a wrestler I’ve cut weight all my life. I’m in great shape.” He’ll have an opportunity to back up the talk Saturday. Another loss, and there’s little choice but to side with the Ortiz haters who accuse him of spewing nothing more than empty words.
To read the article in full, written by Lance Pugmire, in the LA Times Sports Blog please click HERE
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