Tito Ortiz to fight Babalu at Afflicton 2

[Fluid1]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/mma...?urn=mma,96545

Sources have told Yahoo! Sports that free agent Tito Ortiz will fight Renato "Babalu" Sobral in the co-main event at Affliction's next fight card, on Oct. 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus in Las Vegas. The main event will feature a heavyweight bout between WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski.

Affliction vice president Tom Atencio would not confirm the Ortiz-Babalu fight. He said details for the fight card will be released during an Aug. 6 news conference that most likely will be held in Las Vegas.

Atencio also indicated that he didn't think Affliction could speak with Ortiz until Aug. 4 because of a 60-day non-compete clause in Ortiz's UFC contract. Ortiz's last fight for UFC was on May 24 at UFC 84. If the 60-day clause is accurate, the deal ended last weekend. Atencio said the biggest stumbling block for an Ortiz deal would be the financial terms.

Affliction would seem to have the inside track at signing Ortiz, a former UFC light heavyweight champion (15-6-1, 14-6-1 UFC). He and his girlfriend, Jenna Jameson were conspicuous during the Affliction "Banned' event, sitting next to Affliction partner Donald Trump. Ortiz and Trump developed a relationship during the most recent season of The Apprentice.

Sobral told MMAJunkie.com that Ortiz is the fight he wants.


"That's my dream fight," a smiling Sobral said. "I'm looking for another guy. Wait for the name. It's coming. I think Tom (Atencio) is going to bring a name for me. And I'll be here to kick his ass."

Babalu's relationship with UFC ended in August of 2007. Sobral (30-7, 6-4 UFC) was released from his contract after a controversial win over David Heath. Sobral would not release a choke even after referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight. Babalu won his Affliction debut on Jul. 19 with a unanimous decision over Mike Whitehead.

Because Affliction is not a licensed promoter in Nevada, Roy Englebrecht will serve as the promoter. Englebrecht was the promoter of record of the Banned card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

[Leman'sSunset03]

Originally Posted by Fluid1

http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/mma...?urn=mma,96545

Sources have told Yahoo! Sports that free agent Tito Ortiz will fight Renato "Babalu" Sobral in the co-main event at Affliction's next fight card, on Oct. 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus in Las Vegas. The main event will feature a heavyweight bout between WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski.

Affliction vice president Tom Atencio would not confirm the Ortiz-Babalu fight. He said details for the fight card will be released during an Aug. 6 news conference that most likely will be held in Las Vegas.

Atencio also indicated that he didn't think Affliction could speak with Ortiz until Aug. 4 because of a 60-day non-compete clause in Ortiz's UFC contract. Ortiz's last fight for UFC was on May 24 at UFC 84. If the 60-day clause is accurate, the deal ended last weekend. Atencio said the biggest stumbling block for an Ortiz deal would be the financial terms.

Affliction would seem to have the inside track at signing Ortiz, a former UFC light heavyweight champion (15-6-1, 14-6-1 UFC). He and his girlfriend, Jenna Jameson were conspicuous during the Affliction "Banned' event, sitting next to Affliction partner Donald Trump. Ortiz and Trump developed a relationship during the most recent season of The Apprentice.

Sobral told MMAJunkie.com that Ortiz is the fight he wants.


"That's my dream fight," a smiling Sobral said. "I'm looking for another guy. Wait for the name. It's coming. I think Tom (Atencio) is going to bring a name for me. And I'll be here to kick his ass."

Babalu's relationship with UFC ended in August of 2007. Sobral (30-7, 6-4 UFC) was released from his contract after a controversial win over David Heath. Sobral would not release a choke even after referee Steve Mazzagatti stopped the fight. Babalu won his Affliction debut on Jul. 19 with a unanimous decision over Mike Whitehead.

Because Affliction is not a licensed promoter in Nevada, Roy Englebrecht will serve as the promoter. Englebrecht was the promoter of record of the Banned card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

I'll enjoy seeing Babalu beat the crap out of Tito

[ryano85]

i would love to watch titos whining ass get knocked the f*ck out, babalu is fun to watch so i think i will enjoy this one... maybe he can drag jennas annoying, fake orgasm sounding ass into the cage and stomp on her too. that would be a good watch

[Highway Riding]

This is a Dream fight but we'll have to see if Affliction can pony up for Tito.. Tito usually makes what the entire Banned card cost to put on between contract-fight purse PPV buys.. It will def cost affliction the bank to get Tito on board unless Tito lowers his expectations fights for the love.. lol

[Fluid1]

Babalu isn't going to be knocking anyone out, specifically not Tito. This could go either way, Babalu could get the submission or Tito could get a KO/ TKO with G&P

Good fight, good lineup, Affliction is bringing the goods, and I'm pleased. I just hope that they turn the financials around and get some good footing.

[Fluid1]

Originally Posted by Highway Riding

This is a Dream fight but we'll have to see if Affliction can pony up for Tito.. Tito usually makes what the entire Banned card cost to put on between contract-fight purse PPV buys.. It will def cost affliction the bank to get Tito on board unless Tito lowers his expectations fights for the love.. lol

Do you realize that Affliction paid out 3.3 million in fighter salaries at Banned?

I think that Tito would fight for free if it meant sticking it to Dana lol

[Highway Riding]

Originally Posted by Fluid1

Do you realize that Affliction paid out 3.3 million in fighter salaries at Banned?

I think that Tito would fight for free if it meant sticking it to Dana lol

yes sir... Tito def gets a few mill when all is said and done.. He Randy, Chuck are the highest paid fighters with PPV's.. I will however agree on the point that Tito may try to stick to the old guys at the UFC. I call it fighting for the love of the sport.. But we'll see

[Mikey-Z]

Ahhh...

Now it makes sense. Tito has generated a lot of PPV & gate sales, and him fighting in Vegas is going to be huge.

They'll probably give him a % of the purse. I just hope he doesn't ask for too much. I want Affliction to put on 4-5 cards a year, and the only way they're going to do that with a stable of highly paid fighters is if they limit their blockbuster fights to 2 a card.

They'll use the heavyweight and LHW divisions to their fullest, and get lower ranked fighters for the lower weight divisions. It makes a lot of sense actually... you get more 'bang for the buck' with the lower ranked small guys, and it takes top end LHW and HW fighters to put on good fights. If you get lower ranked HWs, you end up with crappier fights (Buentello, Sanchez, etc)

[Leman'sSunset03]

Originally Posted by Fluid1

Babalu isn't going to be knocking anyone out, specifically not Tito. This could go either way, Babalu could get the submission or Tito could get a KO/ TKO with G&P

Good fight, good lineup, Affliction is bringing the goods, and I'm pleased. I just hope that they turn the financials around and get some good footing.

I think the Huntington Beach Bad Boy's days of dominate G&P are coming to an end. I guess he could actually make a comeback at Aff 2 but I just don't see that happening. He's always good for hyping up a fight though so it should still be highly entertaining

[Highway Riding]

IMO they should just conentrate on the HW division.. the lower classes should be soley for fan fav fights.. Dream fights like this one mentioned. I doubt Tito would fight for less than what he made for his last UFC fight..

[Fluid1]

Originally Posted by Leman'sSunset03

I think the Huntington Beach Bad Boy's days of dominate G&P are coming to an end. I guess he could actually make a comeback at Aff 2 but I just don't see that happening. He's always good for hyping up a fight though so it should still be highly entertaining

I really disagree. I think that Tito looked good and game against Machida, but Loyto likes to do a lot more floating and a lot less stinging.

I'm calling Tito by TKO in round 1!

[Highway Riding]

http://mmarated.com/users/video/163/659.html

Tito interview.. talks Machida and Dana

[Fluid1]

Good link Highway thanks

[Mikey-Z]

Tito's 'legendary' takedowns and G&P was born out of being either the bigger guy, the younger guy, or the stronger guy. See his wins against Evan tanner (MW), Patrick Cote (MW), Shamrock(OLD), Forrest Griffin(stronger), Yuki Condo, etc.

That's not to take away from what he is though. A very strong wrestler, who found the exact combination of skills (weight cutting, wrestling & submission/sub defense) to be successful during a moment in MMA. He's no different than Matt Hughes with the exception that he obviously was less dominant.

I'd like to see how he takes down Babalu, an excellent wrestler in his own right, without the cage to help him. Renato isn't going to be knocking out anyone with his hands, and definitely not Tito who has a decent chin (but has the tendency to clam up when getting hit).

On paper, this should be a pretty typical clinch, strike, clinch, strike affair, with no one really ending it (See Babalu/Whitehead). Babalu has a good shot at kneeing Tito in the face though if he gets frustrated w/ the boos and goes for a double carelessly.

[finalforce]

Babalu looks like a very intimidating fighter, especially the promo with him shaking his head and all the sweat flying in front of the flames.....that guy is wicked.

[Highway Riding]

Originally Posted by Fluid1

Good link Highway thanks

u got it bro. The Tito Drama continues.. lol

[cdtcpl]

Without the cage Tito is going to have a problem. Tito is able to fight from inside the guard because he puts your shoulders against the cage and it allows him to bend you to hit you. Tito's striking has come a long way, but I really don't think Babalu or Tito will be KO'ing each other. This will be an interesting match up and if it is in Vegas I am gonna try to go. Fedor vs Arlovski will be reason enough to go!

[ppw350Zunit]

i can't wait for this one cause i can't stand tito. babalu by submission 2nd round.

[stu46]

Tito via UD by winning the stand-up and keeping dominant position on the ground.

[black06z]

lol @ the people predicting Babalu with KO. WTH?!?!? Have you guys watched most of their fights?
Once Tito gets position on the ground, its gonna be G n' P with a TKO. Babalu doesn't stand a chance unless he stops Tito's take-downs and he'd be very lucky to pull off a submission. Otherwise, I see Tito winning this fight "hands-down".