Tito Ortiz Targeting Ryan Bader Fight With Win Over Alberto Del Rio
Tito Ortiz is set to make his debut in Combate Americas, against Alberto Del Rio. However, if he wins in that fight, he wants to rematch Bellator champ-champ Ryan Bader.
Ortiz retired in Bellator, after beating Chael Sonnen, in 2017. However he returned for a trilogy fight with Chuck Liddell, at the lone Golden Boy MMA event. Now that he won that fight, he decided to return again, this time to Combate Americas.
In this promotion, Ortiz will be taking on former WWE star Alberto Del Rio. Ahead of that bout, he says a win here could set him up for a big fight. Speaking with MMAFighting, he explains that if he gets past Del Rio, he wants a fight with Ryan Bader.
“I would like to chase after a world title after this. I know Ryan Bader is the heavyweight world champion and the light heavyweight world champion of Bellator.”
Tito Ortiz and Ryan Bader fought back in 2011. Rising above expectations, Tito beat Bader, in what would be his last UFC win. It was a huge performance, defying the odds-makers. Now he says he wants to give Bader a chance to redeem that loss.
“I would like to go after that light heavyweight belt and give him a chance at redemption when I beat him back in 2011.”
Nevertheless, Tito Ortiz is focused on his bout with Alberto Del Rio. Furthermore, if he does get the win in his Combate Americas debut, there is still the matter of contracts. A bout with Ryan Bader would be a Bellator cross promotion. Although, this is not the first time they have done such a thing.
