Tito Ortiz planning Bellator rematch with Chael Sonnen, wants to ‘smash’ him at MSG

Bloodyelbow.com

In combat sports terms, there’s something strangely honest about Tito Ortiz’s retirement. Instead of hemming and hawing as to whether he’s coming back or walking away, it appears he’s just decided to do both at the same time.

Ortiz told TMZ that he’s “gonna stay retired” in a recent impromptu interview with the outlet. But, now that he’s got so much time on his hands, he might as well kill a little of it by taking a fight or two. It’s more or less the Floyd Mayweather plan, but on a lower pay scale.

And apparently Ortiz already has a bout in the works — just a month and a half after dusting Chuck Liddell in the main event of the first ever Golden Boy MMA card. In the buildup to their contest, Ortiz was adamant that a fight with the ‘Iceman’ was the only thing that could get him back in the cage again. Bellator and Chael Sonnen, however, appear to have changed those plans.

“He started it,” Ortiz explained when asked about his current beef with Sonnen. “As Chuck started it. And Chuck only lasted what? Four and a half minutes? He called me out man. I’m gonna stay in retirement. I’m still gonna stay retired, and I’m gonna smash Chael. I’m not gonna choke him, I’m not gonna submit him, I’m gonna smash him. I’ll put a show on for every one of the fans. That’s what I’m gonna do.”

The ‘Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ made it known that the rematch of the 2017 fight – that saw Ortiz submit Sonnen just two minutes into the first round – is already in the works. The bout will apparently take place back under the Bellator banner, which played home to their first matchup. As for where or when? Those questions still appear to be up in the air, but Ortiz is hoping the promotion can book Madison Square Garden for the fight.

“I don’t know,” Ortiz replied when asked where his rematch with Sonnen would be held. “So, I’ve never fought at Madison Square Gardens, so possibly Madison Square Gardens. That’ll be the first thing.

“So, I was the first UFC fighter – mixed martial artist – to ever fight in California. First one. First one to fight in Las Vegas. First one. First one to fight in Florida. First one. So, I’d like to just add to my repertoire of being able to go to Madison Square Gardens and fight. Where the greatest have fought. People like Ali, people like Frazier, people like Foreman. Just to do something great for mixed martial arts, at the expense of Chael Sonnen.

“This guy has a loud mouth,” Ortiz continued, “I’m gonna shut him up. Like I say: I’m not gonna choke him, I’m not gonna submit him, I’m gonna pummel him for three rounds. And give the fans what they want to see, and that’s a great fight.”

Sonnen is coming off a 1st round TKO loss to Fedor Emelianenko in the semifinal round of the Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix. That fight ended a two-win streak, over ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Wanderlei Silva — putting the ‘American Gangster’ at 2-1 since his first loss to Ortiz. It’s not exactly a rematch fans have been calling for, but it appears to be a fight that both he and Ortiz are interested in making. Maybe that’s enough.