Shamrock stopped Ortiz with punches late in the fourth round.
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“I had a great camp”.
Tito Ortiz isn’t looking to take the easy road. Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion Liam McGeary defends against Tito Ortiz serving as the main event. Ortiz, meanwhile will aim to continue his career resurgence in the Bellator cage by upsetting the Brit.
Though rumours are flying that he’s agreed to a long-awaited deal with UFC, the Russian star – widely considered one of the sport’s greatest ever – was quiet.
That said, while Ortiz is a huge underdog, he’s no slouch, and you can expect him to show up in the best shape he has been in for years. That doesn’t make sense to me. “I was just ready to move for my career”.
Ortiz will face McGeary (10-0) Saturday night at Bellator 142 from the SAP Center in San Jose (Spike TV, 9 p.m., delayed). Growing up in England, Vassell was an anomaly among his peers for his lack of desire to play or watch football, the country’s biggest sport. “I think he’s beatable and I have the opportunity to do that”.
“I only plan on being there for a total of a minute and a half for both fights”, Davis cracked, joking he’s capable of fighting “five MMA rounds, go next door, get suited up and kick somebody in the head”, in the Glory ring. I’ve always heard he’s talking sh-t, but I haven’t actually heard anything.
At age 40, Tito Ortiz is being quite realistic about his chances heading into his next fight. He retired from competition after losing to Forrest Griffin at UFC 148 in 2012.
As it turns out, it was because of what was going on in his personal life.
“I also took (McGeary) down, which wasn’t the smartest thing to do with him being really good off his back, and especially with him being hesitant to strike”. His failed relationship with his ex-wife Jenna Jameson is in the past and Ortiz has custody of his two young boys.
Low and behold, Ortiz is getting a shot at a belt now, albeit one with slightly less “best-in-the-world” ramifications than the UFC one has. Overall I favor McGeary to take a decision victory here. They see how hard their dad is working and they want to do push-ups and sit-ups before they go to bed. They have their own fights.
Ortiz is at peace with himself, and that could spell trouble for McGeary. His wrestling skills are prodigious, even if he has recently relied more on a developing striking game. Liam McGeary fought an excellent fight to win the title from Emanuel Newton, and if he puts on the same sort of performance here, Ortiz may just be overwhelmed.
“ESPN Deportes has a long history of carrying premier sporting events, relevant to our Hispanic sports fans”, says Lino Garcia, general manager of ESPN Deportes. I was able to grab some experience with some top level fighters, that I would not have been able to do fighting for someone else at the time. “Not me, though. Not my thing”.
He hopes to add one more title to his list of accomplishments.
More gold will be on the line on the main card as the vacant GLORY light heavyweight belt is up for grabs between Brazil’s Saulo Cavalari and Congo native Zack Mwekassa.
There’s a big four-man tournament with former UFC fighter Phil Davis, former Bellator champion Emanuel Newton, former Strikeforce champion and TNA talent King Mo, as well as up-and-comer Linton Vassell. The winners will then face each other later in the evening.
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