Following a bloody, sweaty, occasionally ugly attrition win over Stephan Bonnar on July 11, Fighters Only reports that UFC 10 -- when the damn arena was candlelit -- veteran Mark Coleman has reached a deal to face Tito Ortiz in Las Vegas on Nov. 21.
This is normally the part where I’d bemoan some sandbagging matchmaking, but Ortiz’ biggest strength -- the ability to grind down opponents on the mat -- also happens to be Coleman’s, and Coleman is the one with the better wrestling credentials. (1992 Olympian, Ohio State NCAA Champion.) Ortiz is also coming off a layoff dating back to July of 2007, which casts his performance ability in serious doubt following inactivity and back surgery. And the last time Ortiz faced a 40-something wrestler with ears like rotten cheese wedges, he literally got spanked. This one actually makes some sense.