Ortiz, Shamrock Back With UFC? UFC Denies Though Rumors Persist
Josh Gross Nov 19, 2005
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.
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.
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.
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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.
