Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

[MC Fatigue]

I've heard a little bit from around the webs that Ortiz is out of the Liddell fight and that Chuck may be facing Franklin instead. I've nothing to actually back this up, but thought I'd mention it in case anyone had heard anything.

[aholbert32]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

I've heard a little bit from around the webs that Ortiz is out of the Liddell fight and that Chuck may be facing Franklin instead. I've nothing to actually back this up, but thought I'd mention it in case anyone had heard anything.

I prefer the Franklin fight.

[Pistolero]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

That'll be a good and better match-up.

[Phillmattic]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

Yeah it looks like they'll be using Chuck vs Franklin to couner the April 17th Strikeforce show.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2010/3/13...-rich-franklin

Chuck Liddell will be fighting Rich Franklin in his next bout and not rival TUF 11 coach Tito Ortiz, Fighters Only has heard from a reliable source. The switch was initially reported to us just under two weeks ago but was only a rumour at that time.

However, the rumour hit message boards late last night and an industry source confirmed that Liddell will indeed be facing former middleweight champion Rich Franklin. The fight is to headline an April 17th Fight Night event which will counter Strikeforce's show on the same date.

[Scoop_Brady]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

So, is he fighting Tito again too or just Ace now? Chuck vs. Ace should be a great fight.

[Phillmattic]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

So, is he fighting Tito again too or just Ace now? Chuck vs. Ace should be a great fight.

It looks like just Franklin now. Something mysterious is up with Tito and there are some rumors that his career may be in jeopardy.

[Phillmattic]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

mmajunkie.com is reporting that Lidell vs Franklin is going to be at UFC 115 and not on the rumored April 17th card.

Light heavyweights Rich Franklin and Chuck Liddell are penciled in for a June showdown.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the promotion that the two have verbally agreed to face each other in June at UFC 115, though contracts have yet to be finalized.

The new matchup replaces a planned third meeting between Liddell and Tito Ortiz that had been expected for the promotion's first trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and may have been arranged as a result of Franklin's unexpected involvement in "TUF 11."

Also it seems Tito didn't even finish filming the entire season of TUF 11 and Rich was brought in to finish the upcoming season.

With Ortiz no longer in the plans, the former champion's next move is currently unknown.

In February, with "The Ultimate Fighter 11" still filming in Las Vegas, the "Hunting Beach Bad Boy" posted a series of cryptic messages on his Twitter account the led to many to speculate something had run afoul with his role as a coach on the Spike TV series.

"If things couldn't get worse, they just did!" Ortiz stated on Feb. 24. "[Expletive]! "I want to thank all my fans for your support!

"I guess business is business."

Three days later, additional Ortiz comments led to further speculation.

"Thanks for all the support," Ortiz stated. "Thinking that life couldn't get any harder? It just did! Another challenge that god has given me! Wow.

"Many things that challenge us in lives will make us stronger. One thing I can say is don't ever quit. I'm strong because of my family and fans!"

MMAjunkie.com has learned from additional sources that Ortiz was not able to complete the filming of "The Ultimate Fighter 11," though the reasoning behind his absence wasn't immediately known.

Those same sources suggested that Franklin was possibly brought in as a replacement coach to finish out the season's filming, and "Ace" now meets Liddell as an opposing "TUF" coach.

[TheShizNo1]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

Ortiz is a bitch. Wanted to see Liddell knock him out again

[MachoMyers]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

During the filming of the show? Crazy. Oh well, wouldn't mind seeing Rich back on TUF. He is great!

[Pistolero]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

Dude WTF!! Wonder if he starting bitching around with Dana again since they never liked each other to begin with.

[JerseySuave4]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

judging from his twitter posts there it would lead me to believe he either had an injury or illness but the business is business post would seem more along the lines of him not getting along with Dana. Plus we would have heard something if he had been hurt or sick.

Maybe Dana said to him, "since you wanted to talk s**t to Coleman after he lost, now you get your chance to fight him."

[aholbert32]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

According to Dana's Twitter, Couture/Franklin is the fight and Chuck/Tito is still on.

[BlueNGold]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

http://tsn.ca/mma/story/?id=313840

After reports surfaced early Saturday that Tito Ortiz would be unable to face Chuck Liddell at UFC 115 in Vancouver and that Rich Franklin would be taking his place, UFC president Dana White responded via Twitter.

"Not true! We are doing [Randy] Couture vs. [Rich] Franklin, not Chuck," said White on Twitter.

"Nothing happened to Tito. Tito and I are cool," he added.

While White's comments make it appear as though Couture and Franklin will do battle this summer, the story continues to evolve as the day progresses. It remains to be seen if the rumoured bout between Ortiz and Liddell will take place at UFC 115, or at all.

Liddell and Ortiz were expected to face each other after their run as head coaches on Season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter came to an end. However, various reports have suggested that Franklin took over for Ortiz part way through filming TUF, after Ortiz was forced to leave the show for undisclosed reasons.

While a potential matchup between Couture and Franklin had been discussed over the last month, many reports claim that there are still setbacks that could prevent the bout from happening.

Franklin, 35, is 27-5 and one no contest in his mixed martial arts life, with his losses coming to top fighters like Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida, Dan Henderson and most recently Vitor Belfort at UFC 103 last September.

Couture is 2-0 since he dropped back down to the light heavyweight division, after losing the heavyweight crown to current champion Brock Lesnar. It now seems like he will continue to pursue a shot at the light heavyweight title.

Liddell, 40, has posted a 21-7 record during his Hall of Fame career. After losing four of his last five fights it was widely believed that The Iceman would retire, but he got back in the gym and will once again step into the octagon this summer.

As for the UFC 115 fight card, there have been no official announcements, but recently signed Canadian Claude Patrick is being lined up for the June 12 card, as is Kelowna, B.C. native Rory MacDonald (10-0) who will likely put his undefeated record on the line against former WEC champion Carlos Condit.

There are also reports that Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann will square off, as well as a lightweight collision between Matt Wiman and Mac Danzig which has been agreed to by both fighters for the Vancouver event.

In addition, Japanese star Yoshihiro Akiyama is rumoured to potentially face Wanderlei Silva, while a pair of heavyweight bouts could see Ben Rothwell take on Gilbert Yvel, and Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic battle Pat Barry.

[Pistolero]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

Well...I hope Tito gets Chuck this time.

[PBlast]

Re: Ortiz vs Liddell possibly off?

Haha so I read through this whole thread from the start and I was bummed that I wasn't going to see Ortiz get his teeth knocked in. Clicked on the second page and I'm a happy man again. I hope Claude Patrick pans out, always nice to see new Canadian fighters!