Arch Rivals,former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell and also Former Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz have been lobbying a fight in the UFC for weeks but UFC President says there ain’t a chance in hell,Liddell vs Ortiz 3 is happening inside the Octagon.
Last year, rumors began to stir that Chuck Liddell was looking to come out of retirement and make a return to MMA. Shortly afterwards, Liddell stoked those flames with an Instagram post of himself and Tito Ortiz squaring off, with the caption ‘Why not?’ That post got Ortiz to take a shot at Liddell over Twitter, claiming no interest in a third fight with his former foe.
But February 15,2017 witnessed sudden change of events wherein a tweet from Ortiz lead to the heat for the trilogy bout (via Twitter):
Ortiz would later admit that he acted out of turn with his reply but the groundwork seems to have been laid and now, Ortiz is having a change of heart.
Speaking recently with TMZ Sports, Ortiz said that he has “a lot of interest” in a third fight with Liddell and that he pitched the idea to the UFC at the start of the year, but that the issue will be getting Liddell a license to fight.
“I have a lot of interest level,” said Ortiz. “Actually, on New Year’s, I asked the matchmakers for the UFC if they’d ever want to do a Chuck Liddell-Tito Ortiz III and he kind of looked at me and laughed and said, ‘Chuck couldn’t pass to fight again. He’s been knocked out, unconscious, five times.’ I guarantee you the doctor won’t give him a license.”
Dana further added,”No, I couldn’t do that fight,I love Chuck Liddell. I love him. And as a friend, I don’t think he should fight.”
When asked about Chuck’s claim that he might be medically cleared by doctors,Dana said,”Chuck’s almost 50 years old … 50-year-old’s shouldn’t be fighting.” (via YouTube):
Liddell is 48 years old and hasn’t competed since 2010, a knockout loss to Rich Franklin at UFC 115.Ortiz retired last January after submitting Chael Sonnen at Bellator 170 where he won the bout via rear naked choke in the first round.Liddell and Ortiz previously fought at both UFC 47 and UFC 66. Liddell won both bouts by TKO.
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