TUF 3 coaches?

mepersoner · 11-19-2005, 02:02 PM

From Sherdog.

Quote:

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 18 — Little more than a week after Sherdog.com reported Tito Ortiz (Pictures) had signed a contract to fight for the WFA, strong rumors out of Las Vegas Friday indicate that Ortiz will instead return to the UFC.

While sources close to Ortiz told Sherdog.com on Nov. 10 that the former UFC light heavyweight champion had signed on the dotted line with the resurrected WFA, six days later new information surfaced that suggested Ortiz had only verbally agreed to terms with the Las Vegas-based company.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, a source familiar with the situation informed Sherdog.com that Ortiz was negotiating a one-fight deal with the World Extreme Cagefighting.

The rumored deal, which could have possibly put him in the cage in January, was apparently meant to serve as a tune-up for Ortiz’s late February or early March WFA bout. WEC’s Scott Adams refused to comment on the record and Ortiz could not be reached for comment.

By Friday afternoon serious talk of Ortiz’ signing with the UFC began to circulate. Multiple sources, each independent of the other, indicated to Sherdog.com that Ortiz put his name to a contract Thursday evening that reunited him with the only mixed martial arts promotional company he’s fought under since January 1999.

Following UFC 56 weigh-ins, Sherdog.com asked UFC president Dana White about the rumors of Ortiz re-signing with the UFC. White repeatedly denied that such a signing took place.

Conversation swirling around the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, however, continued to suggest that Ortiz signed with the UFC. The alleged agreement would, in part, place Ortiz as one coach for the third season of Spike TV’s The Ultimate Fighter reality show.

According to these same rumors, Ken Shamrock (Pictures), who Sherdog.com learned is arriving in Las Vegas Saturday morning to negotiate his contract, could join Ortiz as coach.

When asked if Ortiz, who is currently in Las Vegas, and Shamrock would be enlisted as coaches for TUF 3, White vehemently denied the accuracy of those reports.

There has also been discussion that a portion of Saturday’s UFC 56 pay-per-view would be slotted for White to make several announcements inside the Octagon. It’s believed that news of the Ortiz signing, as well as a deal with Shamrock if it’s signed, would be mentioned during the broadcast.

The UFC has used its pay-per-views as platforms to break news in the past. At UFC 40, the crowd — along with several UFC employees — in the MGM Garden Arena were stunned when Tank Abbott made his way to the cage. There appears to be a strong chance Ortiz and Shamrock will do the same on Saturday.

Unknown · 11-19-2005, 02:09 PM

Oritiz and Shamrock as coaches would be cool. I would like it. But untill the show starts with Ortiz as the coach I will not believe it. I'll see if they do make say anything tonight.

RebLMunkE · 11-19-2005, 04:00 PM

Awesome I'd like that...............Pick BLUE Ken blue wins everytime !!!!!

[Danny] · 11-19-2005, 04:27 PM

MMAWeekly.com also said that Royce Gracie is another rumor for the other coach to oppose Shamrock.

PghPens71 · 11-19-2005, 04:31 PM

wow, man, that rules.
i hope it is ortiz/shamrock. that'd be semi-awesome.

subgenius · 11-19-2005, 04:33 PM

It would be cool to see any of those three as coaches... Royce, Tito, or Ken...

Bellyflip · 11-19-2005, 05:11 PM

I really believe that it's just rumor but it would make for some very intense moments throughout the season, those two have a serious hate for one another.

Weasel · 11-19-2005, 05:11 PM

I would be absolutely amazed if Ortiz was one of the coaches....Don't forget, they have to work closely with Dana on the programme, and I just can't see Dana allowing it somehow - too much bad blood between the two now.

Shamrock and Gracie would be excellent choices IMO

[Danny] · 11-19-2005, 06:44 PM

UFC will be anouncing it tonight who the coaches are!

armageddon · 11-19-2005, 07:28 PM

It will never happen. Dana knows the chemistry behind Tito and Shamrock, they hate eachother and that would not go well with a show like tuf. I think they both have a welth of knowledge but this would be a bad show to put together in my oppinion. Coaching is where Shamrock needs to go because he cant hack it as a fighter anymore. As for Tito, I would love to see him return to ufc and have his rematch with Liddel. Wheter you like Tito or not its always a damn fun fight to watch, well accept the Cote fight, that sucked bigtime.

Thrash13 · 11-19-2005, 07:42 PM

Whether they like each other or not won't really matter. They are professionals, regardless of what most people think about Tito. He is still a pro, and he and Shamrock could co-exist with each other if the situation arose. They know where the checks would come from.

I think it would make for great TV. The coaches, along with the fighters, would be much more competitive. That would be awesome.

And then, Tito and Shamrock could fight on the season finale. How is that not a good plan? That would make for great ratings, and the two could have the rematch that they have both wanted for some time.

Weasel · 11-19-2005, 08:35 PM

The point I was trying to make was that there is too much bad blood between Tito and Dana, and seeing as they have to work closely on the programme, I would be really surprised if Dana let Tito anywhere near the show. But hey, stranger things have happened. I guess we find out tonight.

Unknown · 11-19-2005, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel

The point I was trying to make was that there is too much bad blood between Tito and Dana, and seeing as they have to work closely on the programme, I would be really surprised if Dana let Tito anywhere near the show. But hey, stranger things have happened. I guess we find out tonight.

You know Dana and Tito could be just what TUF needs to get the reality TV fans intresed in TUF again. And Dana might be thinking that.

Grave · 11-19-2005, 09:04 PM

Shamrock is cool and a UFC icon,but well,he is pretty much over the hill. As for tito ortiz,he is a jackass and gone for so long.Whats he deserve being a coach for? Pffft to that idea i say!

I'd like to see two 'current' guys like rich&matt are, who are worthy of being coachs. Like i dunno.... GSP maybe for one. Is Evan Tanner still around in MW dicision? Seems like he might be a good coach on the show too.

Unknown · 11-19-2005, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grave

Shamrock is cool and a UFC icon,but well,he is pretty much over the hill. As for tito ortiz,he is a jackass and gone for so long.Whats he deserve being a coach for? Pffft to that idea i say!

I'd like to see two 'current' guys like rich&matt are, who are worthy of being coachs. Like i dunno.... GSP maybe for one. Is Evan Tanner still around in MW dicision? Seems like he might be a good coach on the show too.

I would like GSP and Tanner as coaches better as well.

subgenius · 11-19-2005, 09:10 PM

Andrei Arlovksi and Frank Mir as coaches would be interesting... It would be another six months or so before the show tapes, airs, and concludes at the third season TUF(3) Finale. Maybe they could have a Mir-Arlovski HW title main event at that card.

If Tito Ortiz is on TUF3, then maybe they could get Chuck Liddell to come back on the show... Then have a Liddell-Ortiz main event. Hmm?