Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz renew their rivalry as they meet in the cage for a pay-per-view match later this year.
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya revealed on Thursday that he has inked a deal with the erstwhile UFC light heavyweight stars. De La Hoya who is widely recognized for promoting huge fights in the boxing world added that he is considering a jump to MMA in the foreseeable future.
"Everyone remembers their rivalry helped put the sport on the map, and we're excited to host the next and final chapter of the historic rivalry," an excited De La Hoya said.
Storied Rivalry Between Ortiz And Liddell
Liddell and Ortiz first met at the Ultimate Fighting Championship 47 pay-per-view in 2004. The former beat the latter in the non-title bout courtesy a second-round knockout.
Both fighters would again cross paths two years later at UFC 66 but the result was more of the same as Liddell scored a third-round knockout over Ortiz. The storied rivalry between Ortiz and Liddell has been among the iconic feuds in the history of UFC that gave a lease of life in the success of mixed martial arts in the 2000s.
Liddell holds a professional MMA record of 21 wins and eight losses including a 16-6 win-loss card in the UFC. On the other hand, Ortiz is just as impressive sporting a 19-12-1 MMA slate and a 15-11-1 UFC record.
The 48-year-old Liddell decided to hang his boots up in 2010 after losing five of his last six fights in the UFC. Liddell is coming off a terrible loss to Rampage Jackson in his final title-defense. His last victory in an MMA match came in 2007.
Ortiz followed Liddell's UFC retirement as he called it quits two years later but the 43-year-old returned to Bellator MMA in 2014. Ortiz flashed him form in Bellator winning three of his four fights highlighted by a breath-taking submission victory over Chael Sonnen in a high-stakes grudge match.
After fighting Sonnen, Ortiz decided to retire but he is coming back with the hopes of avenging his previous losses to Liddell. However, Ortiz hasn't been that impressive in his last nine fights in the UFC finishing with a 1-7-1 card.
With his recent victory over Sonnen, experts are certain that Ortiz would finally exact sweet revenge on Liddell, citing that the former would beat the latter in the opening round. Ortiz and Liddell will be competing in the 205-pound weight class.
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