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10:48 PM EST
www.wrestlingnewsdesk.com reporter Anna Elizabeth Anderson reported on the return to the Octagon of The Huntington Beach Bad Boy in an excellent article for THE NATIONAL LEDGER, which you can read in its entirety here: http://www.nationalledger.com/artman/publish/article_272617551.shtml.
The story states the following:
While girlfriend Jenna Jameson is busy teaming up with Heatherette Fashion Designer Richie Rich in converting an old Chinatown New York City brothel into a trendy nightclub/fashion shop, Ultimate Fight legend Tito Ortiz is planning his comeback into the UFC Octagon. "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" plans on a big return for May, 2008.
"Tito has been plagued with a bad back for quite some time," noted Mmanewsdesk.com editor Arturo Collozo Jr., "that last fight he had, which went to a draw with Rashad Evans, should have been a victory for Tito. But he's showing the strain of his racked-up body, and a fighter at less than 100% is a stepping stone for other people in UFC nowadays."
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UFC could use the drawing power of Ortiz in 2008. UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture's career may be over, both because of his contract dispute and because he's been pursuing Hollywood projects and appears to be looking to move on from the fighting world. Feared Croation MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop was a flop in UFC. Chuck Liddell better score some impressive knockouts soon or his drawing power will be diminished considerably after his reported late night club hopping caught up with him this year. Fedor Emalianenko, regarded as the best heavyweight in the world, did not sign with UFC, which started a quick chain of events that drove Couture to decide he didn't want to be champion anymore.
Forrest Griffin can be a star, but his knockout at the hands of Keith Jardine is a reminder that anyone can get kayoed at any time in the Octagon. Former WWE wrestling superstar Brock Lesnar may become a huge star, but that's only if he can look impressive against former champion Frank Mir, a tough submission expert, in their February 2nd Super Bowl weekend showdown in Las Vegas. UFC needs the star power of Ortiz, but only if he can deliver in his fights.
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"Tito wants to be a celebrity, which is why he's appearing on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice this year ... and much like Jenna, he is a very savvy self-promoter," noted MMA News Desk's Collozo, "but he's lost a lot of sizzle in the fighting world, especially since UFC President Dana White knocks Tito at every turn.
For Tito to bring his UFC audience with him into television and movie projects, he needs to score a couple of really impressive victories and reclaim his reputation." No opponent has been named yet for Ortiz.
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