Tito Out; Rich Franklin In Against Chuck?

[desflood]

For the show as well as the fight? Has anyone else heard anything more on this, or is it all just a big fat rumor?

UPDATE: Chuck Liddell Vs. Rich Franklin To Take Place In June
By Mark Wayne | March 13, 2010

Fighters Only magazine reported earlier today that Tito Ortiz was out against Chuck Liddell and a replacement bout pitting former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin against "The Iceman" would take place on a rumored April 17th card. MMAJunkie.com is reporting now that Ortiz is, in fact, out of the fight and that Franklin and Liddell will face off; only their fight will occur in June at UFC 115 where the original Ortiz-Liddell bout would have taken place, not in Nashville on April 17th.
According to MMAJunkie's sources, Liddell and Franklin have both verbally agreed to face each other and that bout agreements are expected to be signed soon.

Ortiz and Liddell were coaches against one another on this season of "The Ultimate Fighter" (which recently concluded taping), and plans were made for the two men to fight for the third time at UFC 115 upon the show's conclusion on television.

It has been said that Ortiz was unable to complete filming of "The Ultimate Fighter" and was replaced by Rich Franklin at some point during the show. It is logical to think that whatever forced Tito out of the show also forced him out of the fight and has the future of his career in question. These rumors are strongly supported by the news that Franklin and Liddell are now set to square off. In February, Ortiz had posted several messages using his Twitter account that had fans speculating and that also lend credence to the rumors.

"If things couldn't get worse, they just did!" Ortiz wrote. "[Expletive]! "I want to thank all my fans for your support! I guess business is business."

Following that, some days later Ortiz posted, "Thanks for all the support. Thinking that life couldn't get any harder? It just did! Another challenge that god has given me! Wow."

There were other messages posted that were in the same vein as these; nothing has been disclosed as to the nature of Tito's distress and subsequent exit from the reality show but it has been indicated that it is not due to injury.

[dbreiden83080]

I saw this on Sherdog earlier and Tito's tweets don't make much sense. One tweet way back, he is saying filming is almost over and he's getting ready for Chuck, but the rumors say he left the show and Rich stepped in.. Probably know for sure by Monday if this is rumor or fact..

[Stringer_Bell]

I think he DID complete filming but Dana probably thought Tito vs Chuck was a shitty fight. Very strange comments, but he's certainly taking it like a man without shit talking. Dana's not the type of dude to let things leak like this, and if they do he counters it ASAP. If Tito somehow fucked this up, Dana would get on him by now and tell everyone. They must be protecting something IMO.

Tito seems in decent spirits, he's doing contests and giving out prizes.

[Stringer_Bell]

http://www.fightersonlymagazine.co.uk/news/viewarticle.php?id=4113

Apparently Tito is healthy, and the reasons for him backing out are known to the site, but they aren't telling. Maybe it's a legal battle or the health of his family?

Or now he's fighting James Toney? :lol

[dbreiden83080]

he might be sick with something serious

Hope not..

[dbreiden83080]

Dana on Twitter says it's Rich and Randy not Chuck

No word on Tito though..

[dallaskd]

Rich would beat all 3

[dbreiden83080]

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Liddell-Franklin-Slated-White-Issues-Denial-23199

Former UFC champions Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin have verbally agreed to meet in a light heavyweight tilt in June, Sherdog.com has learned from multiple sources. UFC 115, though not officially announced, has been tentatively scheduled for June 12 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Liddell, 40, just completed a six-week taping in Las Vegas for Season 11 of Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter,” which debuts on March 31. Liddell and longtime nemesis Tito Ortiz served as opposing coaches on the show and were originally expected to meet for a third time at UFC 115. It remains unclear what will become of that proposed bout.

A message posted late Saturday on UFC President Dana White's Twitter account denied that the bout was slated. "We are doing couture vs franklin not chuck," read the post.

Sherdog.com re-affirmed with its sources that the Liddell-Franklin bout is still in play.

A UFC hall of famer, Liddell last competed in April, when he succumbed to first-round strikes from 2005 Pride Fighting Championships middleweight grand prix winner Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Urged to retire by UFC President Dana White, Liddell instead took a spot on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” hinting all the while that he intended to return to the cage. He has lost four of his last five fights but carries with him one of the sport’s most impressive resumes, including a pair of wins over both Ortiz and fellow hall of famer Randy Couture.

The 35-year-old Franklin has not fought since his technical knockout loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC 103 six months ago. He had been linked to a potential matchup with Couture at UFC 115. Franklin holds notable victories over Brazilian legend Wanderlei Silva, the world-ranked Yushin Okami and the late Evan Tanner.

[dbreiden83080]

Another hour, another revelation in the world of “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy.” According to SI.com’s Josh Gross, former UFC light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz confirmed via text message that he’s healthy following a visit to the hospital with a bad case of the flu.

Gross asked Ortiz if he was still fighting his longtime nemesis, Chuck Liddell, at UFC 115 in Vancouver.

“Yes, I am,” Ortiz told SI.com. “Unless Chuck gets hurt.”

A report surfaced yesterday that Ortiz had suffered a neck injury while taping the 11th season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and wouldn’t be able to compete on June 12th.

The 35-year-old also confirmed that his time on the upcoming season of TUF wasn’t cut short and that he was there for the entire season, which is scheduled to premiere following “UFC Fight Night 21” on March 31st.

It had been rumored Mr. Jameson had left the show prematurely.

(Updated 3/18/10 4:20 PM PT)

Lance Pugmire from the Los Angeles Times just Tweeted that UFC president Dana White confirmed with him Liddell vs. Ortiz III will in fact go down as expected:

“Some Tito Ortiz health concerns out there. “He is fine. Tito and Chuck will fight at end of [TUF] season,” Dana White just texted…”


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[Rip-Hamilton32]

Chuck got me into MMA and has always been my favorite fighter, i wanted him to retire but if i get to see him beat up on Tito one more time then i can live with him fighting

[CubanSucks]

Rich v. Chuck >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Chuck ass raping tito

[dbreiden83080]

It's official

Rich is in



http://www.fightline.com/fl/news/2010/0412/487014/chuck-liddell/

Proving that where there's smoke there's fire, Chuck Liddell will be facing Rich Franklin, not Tito Ortiz, in the main event of UFC 115. The UFC released a poster of the event featuring Liddell and Franklin, which is at the end of this article.
Liddell was a coach on this most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter opposite old rival Tito Ortiz and the two were expected to square off at the show's conclusion. Despite the vehement denial of UFC president Dana White, rumors had been running rampant that Ortiz had been sidelined by some injury and that Rich Franklin had been brought in to replace him as a coach on the show and as an opponent for Liddell. The previews for this Wednesday's episode state that a cast member will be leaving the show.

It is unclear if Franklin will indeed appear on The Ultimate Fighter but he will definitely be taking "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy's" spot in the cage against Liddell on June 12th in Vancouver.

[dallaskd]

Rich wins.

[Stringer_Bell]

So Chuck vs Rich means Randy needs a fight, right?

If Randy is a man, he'll ask for Jones. :ihit

And if Randy finds some way to make Jones fight his fight and win, then give Randy a shot. Otherwise punish Silva with Jones. DO IT DANA!

[dbreiden83080]

Jones will murder Randy

He looks that good right now

[cool cat]

Rich vs Chuck is way more interesting then Chuck beating Tito for a 3rd time.

As for Randy, I say Randy vs Anderson Sliva just throwing it out there.

[ATRAIN]

So Tito is leaving the show??

[dbreiden83080]

So Tito is leaving the show??

Supposedly but not sure when?

[The TroutBum]

Randy? Who the shit REALLY wants to watch that old dog fight again? His last two fights made me want to carve my eyes out with a dull spoon.

[MannyIsGod]

Meh none of these fights hold much interest for me as a new MMA fan to be quite honest.

[CubanSucks]

Chuck Liddell, Tito, and Couture are all the Brett Favres of MMA

[dbreiden83080]

Meh none of these fights hold much interest for me as a new MMA fan to be quite honest.

New fan, cool.. When did you start watching??

[dbreiden83080]

Not that anyone was that into Tito and Chuck 3 but it's not likely to happen at all now. Chuck looks so done anymore. Rich is still a top flight fighter even in defeat to Vitor. He won a war with Wandy and lost a razor thin decision to Hendo. Only way i don't see Chuck getting picked apart easy for a decision or stopped by Rich is if Rich comes in out of shape. And he's one of the most professional guys to ever compete in MMA, so that won't happen. Dana will probably be trying to get Chuck to retire again after this..

[ATRAIN]

I wonder what happened to Tito?