| Nevada OKs grudge match between UFC chief White and Tito Ortiz |
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada regulators on Monday approved an unusual grudge match between Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White and the "bad boy" of Huntington Beach, Calif., Tito Ortiz.
White, is the 37-year-old president of the mixed martial arts promotion company that has become a heavyweight in the pay-per-view business. Ortiz (15-5-0) is one of its toughest, most popular combatants.
Ortiz made the three-round match - in which both fighters will box only, no grappling - a condition of his recent contract negotiations.
White was once Ortiz’ manager, but the two "had a real bad falling out" in 2003, White said.
"The last time Tito and I boxed was six years ago and he’s a lot better than he was six years ago," White said after a hearing at the Nevada Athletic Commission, which approved the fight 3-1. "I’m a lot older than I was six years ago, so we’ll see."
Regulators expressed concern that White would be seriously hurt by Ortiz, 32.
But most commissioners were reassured by sparring tapes showing White in the ring against another heavyweight from two months ago. White said he’s been training since last July.
"I’ve seen Tito as a boxer, and he’s probably not as good as you are," commission chair Dr. Tony Alamo told White.
Ortiz will weigh in at 205 pounds, while White weighs 196 pounds, both the boxing equivalent of heavyweight fighters.
The fight March 24 will likely take place at the UFC training center in Las Vegas and be broadcast later on the company’s Web site, http://www.ufc.com , the company said.
| " | "I've seen Tito as a boxer, and he's probably not as good as you are," commission chair Dr. Tony Alamo told White. |
Cave in his fucking head Tito! BLAF is going down!!!
What a crock of SHI%! Thet really pulled a fast one on me. I actually thought it was going to happen!
Dana White,
Why would you doop your fans into watching a fight between tito and yourself and you knew it was not going to happen? To make matters worse you aired that garbage anyway just to get veiwers and ratings.
I’m wondering since you bought pride are you going to turn the ufc into a candy sport like pro wresting. I waited for a stupid hour and you wasted my time and time is money . dont ever pull that again with your fans.
people are starting to wonder if the fights are steup to get ratings.
just a thought!!!!!!
wheres dana whites email?
no where to be found
thats what I thought
To the truth of it…we don’t know who is to blame don’t blame dana when that pus*** ortiz did not show up. anyway I wish it would have happened it would just prove what I have said all along tito sucks