Tito Ortiz gets revenge on Chuck Liddell
USA - Twelve years later, Tito Ortiz has his revenge against Chuck Liddell.
The UFC Hall of Famers had their trilogy fight Saturday night in the headliner of Golden Boy’s first MMA event. The result was different from the previous two encounters, with Ortiz winning by vicious firstround knockout to secure redemption before 7,839 fans at The Forum.
Liddell (219) had finished Ortiz (20-12-1) twice before in 2004 and 2006 at UFC 47 and UFC 66, respectively. Still, more than a decade later, the trilogy was put together by Oscar De La Hoya’s boxing promotion.
The outcome should put to rest what has been a longstanding bitter feud between Ortiz, 43, and Liddell, 48. It was Liddell’s first fight since June 2010. Afterward, the two MMA legends hugged and seemingly buried the hatchet. “Chuck, thank you for taking this fight,” Ortiz said. “You pushed me so hard for all of these years, and you made me work hard. I appreciate you. You are a real champ.”
As for the fight, both Ortiz and Liddell came out measured in their approaches, though it was Ortiz who stalked Liddell on the outside of the cage. Ortiz won a few brief exchanges, and his confidence seemed to grow as the first round wore on, so much so that he taunted Liddell by daring him to hit him in the chin.
It was moments later that they engaged in another flurry of punches, with Ortiz landing a straight right that immediately dropped Liddell to the canvas. The referee wasted little time in stepping in, and the fight was over. (USA Today)