Following his split decision loss to Forrest Griffin at Saturday's UFC 106, Tito Ortiz made a number of statements that angered fans and fellow fighters. He felt Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson didn't deserve a "Fight of the Night" award, told fans that a "cracked" skull had hindered his training, and spouted off to media about being "robbed" by the judges. It was a typical Tito Ortiz loss. But one of the truly interesting pieces of information that came from both Ortiz and Griffin was when they were asked about a potential rubber match showdown within the structure of an eleventh season of The Ultimate Fighter.
Ortiz stated that it would be "awesome" and "break records" while Griffin said he'd do whatever Dana wants him to do. Dana White's comments didn't deny the possibility of Ortiz and Griffin's rubber match being a part of The Ultimate Fighter season eleven, and it seemed like White and company hadn't made their minds up as to who would coach the middleweights and light heavyweights that would make up the show.
The past rumors have all centered around Georges St. Pierre and Dan Hardy as potential coaches with Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell also looming in the shadows as a possibility. The real problem for the UFC is that the heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight divisions are somewhat on hold currently with the lightweight title being fought for at UFC 107. It doesn't leave too many options for the UFC to put title bouts on their cards for the beginning of next year, so tying up Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy within the structure of the show would ensure the fight wouldn't take place till the summer of 2010.
That really only leaves Ortiz, Liddell, and Griffin in the mix with the possibility of new candidates coming forward. With two months left before taping, the UFC will need to decide fairly quickly.
I'm not a huge fan of The Ultimate Fighter by any means. This season has been particularly bad for viewing exciting action, and I've been a strong proponent of bringing in the WEC's talent to bolster not only the UFC's excitement factor on UFC Fight Night cards and pay-per-views but seasons of The Ultimate Fighter as well. I won't be getting that wish any time soon, but from a business standpoint -- Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin's rubber match, while stylistically uninteresting, should bring in some viewers due to their personalities.
Sure, it won't be multiple seasons of Ortiz talking massive trash to Ken Shamrock and curbstomping him into near retirement, but it should provide some added drama to a lineup of fighters that should be more exciting than the current season's talent. It is also a match-up that has no title implications, which takes it out of the picture as a fight that could have detrimental effects to the top of the division due to the lengthy period of time each fighter will be off.
I say go with Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin. Unless White wants to press Rogerio into a bout with either guy to increase his exposure for a run toward the top or potentially give either man a shot at the loser of Silva vs. Evans, Griffin and Ortiz don't have anything else going on right now. The division is deadlocked near the top until Machida vs. Rua takes place, and the show debuts in April 2010, while Machida vs. Rua takes place on May 1st, 2010. That should work out perfectly.
HT: MMAJunkie.com