Fantasy MMA: Is There Any Appeal in Tito Ortiz vs. Kurt Angle?
by Luke Thomas on Nov 10, 2008 5:33 PM EST
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PrintFor me? None. In all but the most extreme cases I find the professional wrestling crossover abhorrent despite its utility. What say you? Here's the appeal for the fight:
What would be the biggest slap in the face for a fighter with an ego as big as Tito Ortiz? Losing to a professional wrestler. Who would love to give Tito Ortiz a huge slap in the face? Dana White. Dana White, who has proven he’s not adverse to giving a former amateur/professional wrestler a shot at a former UFC Champion. Dana White who has seen what publicity his faith in Brock Lesnar has provided his company. This actually makes so much sense I can’t believe I’m the first person to have discussed it. It’s a win/win for the UFC. If Tito wins, Dana is happy because he’s paid and a professional wrestlers with delusions of granduer is put in his place. If Angle wins, Dana is happy because he is paid and Tito lost to a 40 year old MMA rookie.
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What better way for the Olympic wrestling gold medalist to prove he is worthy of title shot this early in his MMA career?
The obvious problem with this fight is that Ortiz would very likely crush Angle. Even if we concede the takedown to Angle, he'd likely get swept or submitted very quickly. And were Angle to find himself with Ortiz in his guard, Ortiz would turn Angle's face into ground chuck. Ortiz certainly isn't the fighter he used to be, but he's got enough submission acumen, MMA-honed talent and experience to run circles around Angle.
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As a MMA and Wrestling fan, I think this fight would be a great wrestling match. But as of right now, Angle is still just a one trick pony, who heavily relies on his wrestling background. He might not be able to take a punch with 4 oz gloves with taped hands. Also, Tito Ortiz is not the greatest boxer in the world, nor is he the best submission artist in the land, but Tito Ortiz would almost be able to keep it standing and if Angle were to take him down, Ortiz could pull off a submission. I think if Kurt Angle came into MMA, I think it would be great for the 1-2 years he would be there (considering he is almost 40.. I think.) I personally think Kurt Angle would be a better MMA fighter than Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley because Angle is an Olympic Gold Medalist in Wrestling. Yes that was 1996, but hs wrestling skills are still incredible, and he supposedly schooled Brock Lesnar a couple of times in a wrestling match.
he supposedly schooled Brock Lesnar a couple of times in a wrestling match
In a recent interview Kurt Angle spoke on the amateur wrestling match that he and Brock Lesnar had backstage at a WWE show in Fargo, ND in 2003. He says that he took down Lesnar very easily. Lesnar’s version of the story says that Lesnar pinned Angle in 30 seconds and the size difference was just too much. Internet legend has it that Angle owned him, but those backstage who actually saw it say that it was pretty close with Angle only having maybe a slight edge.
http://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2008/33/kurt_angle_317734.shtml
While Brock’s a jerk (imho), at least he seems to be an honest jerk. Angle, on the other hand, lies like crazy. If you ever watch the Puder incident, and then Angles interview about it, you will see how his reality, and common reality, have little to do with each other.
I’d really rather see them both in fights that they lose handily. I don’t want to hear either one of them giving a victory speech.
by Derek Suboticki on Nov 10, 2008 5:40 PM EST reply actions
I don’t think Angle would be able Lay on Tito for 3 rounds. Tito has an underated submission game. He’s not great, but he can pull one off if Angle we’re to make a mistake. Also i know it’s probably not the greatest example but Angle did have a Kimura slapped on him by puder during a exhibition wrestling match.
Reminder for the new
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoeO13L2V4c (20 seconds + )
I remind cuz it still makes me smile.
Tito doesn’t have to be great to put a submission on Angle. Schooling the equivalent of a white-belt in BJJ is well within Tito’s skill range.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
Yes, but what’s the point of that? I could beat either of them in a pro wrestling match if that’s what the script called for.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
Kurt Angle is a legitimate superstar in the world of professional wrestling. His name will genuinely go down in history books alongside those of Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and Steve Austin as a man who could make a wrestling match not only a piece of entertainment but a piece of art.
Brock Lesnar’s success thus far in MMA opens the door for people to give someone like Kurt an opportunity. Kurt is distinguishable from Brock in the fact that Kurt is not in his athletic prime given his age, Brock’s size is an element that disrupts opponents, and Brock trained extensively in MMA before hitting the UFC which is not something we would be able to say for Kurt.
With that out of the way, I don’t think it is impossible we could see this fight under the UFC banner. This fight would really be a win-win for the company as Angle is truly an Olympic gold medalist. While unlikely, it would not be entirely out of the question for Angle to upset Tito. Tito would surely win were to to gain the mount position but the problem would be putting Angle on his back in the first place – something I don’t think TIto would be able to do.
I say book the fight. If anything, the pre-fight build up would be necessary. This is the type of big name fight Angle needs were he to come into MMA and this is also the type of high profile win that Ortiz needs to insert himself back into the picture. Plus, there’s no arguing that it would make a shitload of money. In the off chance of an Angle victory, a Brock Lesnar vs. Kurt Angle MMA fight would do huge buys.
I would absolutely watch it, for the same reason I would watch Kimbo vs Mike Tyson, the same reason I watched Joey Bottafucco vs Joanie “Chyna” Laurer. Freak show!
Indeed. And since seeing EITHER of them take a beating would delight me, I can’t see what the downside is. :-)
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones
The history books note that Zuffa wasn’t above courting Angle after he was released for drug use. That’s not to say he’s actually gonna sign now because, by all accounts, he’s not seriously training, Its posturing on his part. If he were really out there to be signed, I have no doubts Zuffa would be interested.
I can’t stand Ortiz and would love to see him lose this fight, he’s still pretty good. Machida, widely considered a top contender and feared by many LHW went to decision, Evans, current top contender and undefeated in 9 or ten went to decision, and probably should’ve lost, and beat Forrest, the current champ. That’s a decent resume of the last couple of fights. Better actually than Chucks.
But the fight would be a waste of time. I certainly wouldn’t pay money for it.
He’s never going to fight, but if he did this would obviously be a fight worth doing as spectacle. Probably not much more offensive than Ortiz vs. Shamrock.
Ortiz will be back next year, but likely not against someone like Angle. The back surgery is a result of the kind of contract they’re offering him with huge incentive based on winning. Too bad he can’t make 185 he could beat most of their guys at that weight.
That would be friggin awesome if Tito dropped down to 185. He’d be a beast.
"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
by lovingmma25 on Nov 11, 2008 10:43 AM EST up reply actions
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