Rua manager: I'd like Shogun to fight Tito Ortiz on the New Year's Eve UFC show
Mauricio Rua made a successful return to the Octagon this past Aug. 27, 2011, at UFC 134 in Brazil by knocking out former Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin in the very first round.And now he's got his sights set on... Tito Ortiz?
Indeed, the former 205-pound king apparently desires a contest against "The Bad Boy" before he sets sail for Huntington Beach ... for good.
"Shogun" never did get to square off against Randy Couture before he left the sport, so now his team is making it clear they would like to get their turn against Ortiz before he does the same.
At least, this is what his manager and mouthpiece, Eduardo Alonso, tells Tatame:
Star-divide
"I've been hearing some rumors, but until now there's nothing concrete about UFC. If it depends only on my plannings, he'd fight on December 31st, it'd be great. I'd really like him to fight Tito Ortiz since he's an icon of the sport and will soon retire. He didn't have the chance to fight (Randy) Couture, something Lyoto had the luck and credits to do, but I'd like to see this fight. It came from Tito himself, who challenged him, but we're realistic. I know it's not much likely, so it's only left for us to wait. Everybody knows Shogun doesn't pick his opponents, so we're opened to discussion. To me, the date (December 31st) is more important than the opponent."
Unlikely match-up is unlikely.
Ortiz, who staved off retirement with a stunning first round submission victory over Ryan Bader at UFC 132 on July 2, made a quick turnaround and fought Rashad Evans just over a month later at UFC 133 on Aug. 6.
He lost that fight and wasn't altogether competitive in the process.
As noted previously, Rua is coming off a complete drubbing of Griffin. While matching up the two former champions is certainly a possibility, it clearly doesn't make sense in the grand scheme of the light heavyweight division.
Then again, current division champion Jon Jones is booked to battle Quinton Jackson with the winner of that bout taking on "Suga" Rashad. "Shogun" will need something to do in the meantime.
But is a fight against Ortiz the smart play? Anyone care to see this fight before we no longer have the chance?
Sound off, Maniacs.
After three consecutive losses as a middleweight, Japanese UFC judoka Yoshihiro Akiyama is finally moving to welterweight.Akiyama, who is 1-3 in the UFC and 14-4 with two no contests overall, considered retirement after getting knocked out by Vitor Belfort last month, but now instead intends to drop down 15 lbs and ideally seek the guidance of divisional king Georges St. Pierre.
Speaking to Japanese outlet Sponichi, the 2006 K-1 Heros Light Heavyweight GP champ also stated the would like to debut as a welterweight at the UFC's return to Japan in February 2012. Before his move to the UFC, Akiyama was the biggest draw in Japan and he would certainly be an asset to any event in the East.
Due to financial problems surrounding a former manager, Akiyama was forced to close his highly regarded Cloud Dojo prior to his meeting with Belfort at UFC 133 and with his move to welterweight, Akiyama stated that he would like to make the move to the champion's gym to become St. Pierre's "apprentice".
The move to welterweight was a long time coming for Akiyama - although he has put on three "fight of the night" performances and was successful in his UFC debut against Alan Belcher, the Japanese fighter was widely considered to be too small to compete in the upper echelons at middleweight in Western promotions.
