Fertitta confirms Tito vs. Griffin III, Mir vs. Velasquez

[Jack LaBarge]

A great champion is made by a great rivalry. No Joe Frazier no Muhammad Ali, no Sugar Ray Robinson no Jake LaMotta, no Micky Ward no Arturo Gatti, and you can go on through all the fighting greats in history.

Tito Ortiz may only be the people's champion now, but he remains the longest reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion of all-time, and one of the greats in the short history of MMA.

Tito's legacy was built of rivalry.

His three fights with Ken Shamrock made him rich, and were part of a contining rivalry with the Lion's Den, going 1-1 with Guy Mezger, and stopping Jerry Bohlander on cuts.

Tito feuded with Chuck Liddell, losing twice, and in turn cementing Chuck's status as an all time great.

Tito's greatest rivalry was perhaps with fellow former light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, splitting split decisions, with a win in 2006 and a loss in 2009.

The two campaigned to do it one last time, in 2012.

"You know what's funny about me and Tito?" asked Griffin insightfully. "The truth is we each consider the other an easy fight ... Coming back from a bad loss and beating Tito Ortiz up? No problem. For Tito, he's thinking, 'Forrest ain't that good. He's getting old, prematurely. This is a great way to go out, with a win over Forrest!' So, I think it's a beautiful match up."

Now UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta has announced that Griffin and Ortiz are going to get what they want. Fertitta also announced that former UFC heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez are going to be fighting.

No date for either fight was revealed.

[Jack LaBarge]

Mir is going to get crushed!!!!

[Nikk.Durham]

boo

A Wash-Up Vs. A Diver.......

Maybe Forrest will flop again....or Tito will bitch to Dana and kiss his ass enough to get the win.

[AndyK5]

Mir is going to get crushed!!!!

I agree that Cain will win the fight, but I don't know about getting crushed, a 265 pound Frank Mir usually does not get crushed. Lesnar crushed him, but probably weighed in around 280+ at the day of the fight, where Frank was more like 240ish or less i think.

[Brent Smith]

Should be an interesting match up. I think Cain takes it but Mir is no slouch

[Jack LaBarge]

Let me rephrase that Mir will get KTFO!!! Mir was almost out against Nog. Cain is a much better striker than Nog. Cain knows how to finish. I don't believe Mir is going to pull off another miracle submission.

[lates85]

the worst thing about the tito/forrest fight is bruce buffer is going to refer to tito ortiz as "the people's champ"

[David Rosado]

I'm more excited about Mir/Cain. I'm with Jack. I'm not sure if it's going to be KTFO, but I'm sure Cain's gonna look good. I can see Cain getting two wins and getting another crack at the title.

[Mike Dewitt Jr]

I much prefer the hntington beach bad boy! I think tito v forrest will be a good fight no matter what but Cain and Mir...I hope Cain wins.

[David Stager]

Let me rephrase that Mir will get KTFO!!! Mir was almost out against Nog. Cain is a much better striker than Nog. Cain knows how to finish. I don't believe Mir is going to pull off another miracle submission.

Hahaha, keep dreaming. Mir is going to pull another upset. Hmm, now that I think about it, the term "upset" is especially true when referring to Frank Mir since it upsets so many people to see him win.