Joe Rogan Questions The Motivation Behind Chuck Liddell Vs. Tito Ortiz trilogy
Earlier this week it was announced that MMA legends Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz would fight for a third time before the end of the year and that under Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. But the date and venue of the fight are still unknown.
More than a decade since both fought each other and they were the faces of the UFC in the early part of the 21st century, and their rivalry is considered among the most memorable in MMA history. With Liddell finished Ortiz twice in 2004 and 2006 in two of biggest MMA fights. Liddell 48 and Ortiz 43 both are past their prime time. Liddell last competed in MMA back in 2010 and Ortiz hadn’t fought since January 2017 when he submitted Chael Sonnen at Bellator 170. So their trilogy likely is a subject of controversy, and many aren’t too excited about this showdown.
Latest is UFC commentator Joe Rogan who criticised this fight between two aging legends. Recently speaking on his The Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show, Rogan admitted why they feel compelled to fight again. (Via MMAFighting)
“If they want to compete, if it’s because they want to compete, I wonder where it makes sense to tell them they can’t or they shouldn’t?” Rogan said. “Because if they want to do it and they had money – what is it about it? Is it the motivation that bothers me? What is it about a fight like that? I think it’s the motivation that bothers me, a little bit.
After retirement from MMA, White provided a strong incentive for the Liddell not to fight again – a cushy job as a UFC brand ambassador, after WME-IMG purchased the UFC in 2016, Liddell was let go from that position. Soon after, talk of a comeback intensified. Liddell never showed he’s low in funds, but Ortiz taunted ‘The Iceman’ that he needs the money reason he’s looking for another fight.
Now “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” is hoping to pull at least 500,000 PPV buys.
“[Chuck] has been saying that he misses it. It was his favorite thing and he misses it. If we were gonna live forever, I’d say definitely don’t do it because you’re just gonna keep damaging yourself. But if you’re not gonna live forever . . .”
Do you share the same feelings as Joe Rogan about trilogy between two MMA legends?
