The trilogy bout between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell drew plenty of criticism throughout the MMA community, particularly because Liddell was eight years removed from his last professional appearance.
“The Iceman” looked like a fighter nearing 50 years old this past Saturday, as he suffered a knockout loss to Ortiz 4:24 into the opening stanza of the Golden Boy MMA headliner at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Ortiz, while nowhere near his prime, still had 10 bouts to his credit since Liddell’s first retirement.
Ortiz recently attempted to justify the booking against Liddell in a lengthy Instagram post.
“I’ve had some time to think about this fight [vs. Chuck Liddell],” Ortiz wrote. “How [did] it come to be? This is something that Chuck wanted, I was OK doing my businesses. He called me out. Yes, I [agreed] and helped make it happen with [Golden Boy Boxing].”
After losing to Liddell in two previous Octagon bouts more than a decade earlier, Ortiz said he wanted “redemption” against his old rival.
“I’ve never been so nervous before a fight like this one, but I knew I was ready,” he wrote. “The mind games that Chuck was playing made me work harder. So thank you, Chuck. I was in a lose-lose situation but I was willing to gamble my health. Chuck said he was ready. I knew I was ready, may the best fighter win. In this case it was me.
“…I respect Chuck for stepping up and following through with the fight. You’re a champion and a hall of fame legend that brought the best out of me! Sorry to all your fans, I was on a mission.”