Just My Thoughts: K-1, PRIDE and UFC 47
UFC
Mike Sloan May 2, 2004
UFC 47: It’s on!
Congrats to Tito Ortiz for both sticking to his word on fighting Chuck Liddell at his own game and also taking his knockout loss like a true champion. Usually when popular and confident/cocky (former) champion loses in such dramatic fashion, more excuses than a pregnant nun come spilling out of the fallen’s mouth. Not Ortiz. The only excuse he made was that he “was a complete idiot” for fighting Chuck the way he did. Tito was actually upbeat and funny in the aftermath to his loss to friend/rival/enemy Liddell and wasn’t too worried about the repercussions of his second consecutive defeat.
Trust me; Tito will be back in August and whoever he fights is in for a long (or short) night. Let’s just hope that Zuffa doesn’t trump a surefire blockbuster by re-matching Ortiz and Liddell immediately down the road. This baby has to fester for quite some time and if Ortiz can immerse himself on a spectacular winning streak, especially if Liddell can win the title, both fighters could pocket at least half a mil, if not more. Believe my words on that one.
On a final note of UFC 47, Andre Arlovski looked invincible against poor Cabbage. Arlovski is a true warrior and he took a fight against Cabbage, a situation where Arlovski had little to gain and everything to lose. Arlovski was poised to fight Tim Sylvia for the vacant UFC heavyweight title but ol’ Timmy pissed hot for steroids again (even though it was a miniscule amount in his urine, a failed test is a failed test) and had to be yanked from the card. Too bad for Arlovski that Sylvia is now fighting Frank Mir next and not Andre. In my eyes, that is shady on Zuffa’s part; Arlovski deserves better treatment.
In closing, I hope you enjoyed my maiden column. Email me all you want with praise or hate.
Congrats to Tito Ortiz for both sticking to his word on fighting Chuck Liddell at his own game and also taking his knockout loss like a true champion. Usually when popular and confident/cocky (former) champion loses in such dramatic fashion, more excuses than a pregnant nun come spilling out of the fallen’s mouth. Not Ortiz. The only excuse he made was that he “was a complete idiot” for fighting Chuck the way he did. Tito was actually upbeat and funny in the aftermath to his loss to friend/rival/enemy Liddell and wasn’t too worried about the repercussions of his second consecutive defeat.
Trust me; Tito will be back in August and whoever he fights is in for a long (or short) night. Let’s just hope that Zuffa doesn’t trump a surefire blockbuster by re-matching Ortiz and Liddell immediately down the road. This baby has to fester for quite some time and if Ortiz can immerse himself on a spectacular winning streak, especially if Liddell can win the title, both fighters could pocket at least half a mil, if not more. Believe my words on that one.
On a final note of UFC 47, Andre Arlovski looked invincible against poor Cabbage. Arlovski is a true warrior and he took a fight against Cabbage, a situation where Arlovski had little to gain and everything to lose. Arlovski was poised to fight Tim Sylvia for the vacant UFC heavyweight title but ol’ Timmy pissed hot for steroids again (even though it was a miniscule amount in his urine, a failed test is a failed test) and had to be yanked from the card. Too bad for Arlovski that Sylvia is now fighting Frank Mir next and not Andre. In my eyes, that is shady on Zuffa’s part; Arlovski deserves better treatment.
In closing, I hope you enjoyed my maiden column. Email me all you want with praise or hate.
