Fedor Emelianenko vs Tito Ortiz Rumoured to be in the Works

Russian outlet hints at a Fedor Emelianenko vs Tito Ortiz fight on upcoming Bellator card

Fresh of a dubious decision win in Russia - which may or may not be overturned- over Fabio Maldonando, Fedor Emelianenko may have his next dance partner in former UFC Light Heavyweight champion and current Bellator fighter, Tito Ortiz.

Russian outlet VK first reported on this potential fight, here is a loose translation of the article;

"Not Official: Fedor Emelianenko vs Tito Ortiz

Many MMA fans worldwide are wondering who will be the next opponent of 'The Last Emperor'.

According to one MMA news insider close to the leadership of the promotion - who wished to remain anonymous - it is currently working on the organisation of the fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Tito Ortiz.

The fight will be held in the Heavyweight division, and will be held at a future Bellator event"

Now while this is very much still a rumour at this point, given the source is anonymous, it's certainly an interesting prospect. A fight between two MMA legends of this magnitude would surely boost Bellator's dwindling viewership and could serve as a catalyst for pushing them forward with a more sustainable approach to matchmaking, which helps draw the viewers in on a more regular basis.

Article here: https://www.the-newshub.com/combat/bellator-fedor-emelianenko-vs-tito-ortiz-rumoured-to-be-in-the-works

It's just a rumor but decided to post it, since it's going around right now.  I don't give it a lot of stock since they don't even know the decision was not overturned and there is no source. But anyway, here is what I can reason from what people have said before:

Scott Coker mentioned last year and this year that he is interested in Fedor and that he thinks he will fight in Bellator in the second half of 2016.  

Fedor was just at a Bellator event and has done promotional work for them before.  He is also rumored to be negotiating with EFN and other orgs right now for his next fight.

Tito said he would fight Fedor before, but only at LHW.  It is possible though, that after the Maldonado fight, Tito thinks he has a chance now and at HW he really has nothing to lose.  Plus it would be a big payday.

EFN paid Fedor over $2 million to fight Maldonado, so Bellator is going to have to pay up if they want Fedor.  When Fedor originally announced he was coming back he said he wanted a couple of warm up fights to see how he felt physically.  His plan was to fight in Japan, then Russia, and then move on to the U.S.  

So if he does sign with Bellator, that would be in line with his original statement.  Of course, with the Maldonado fight going poorly, he may want another fight in Russia or Japan to test himself.  

I actually think Tito is a perfect opponent next opponent after the Maldonado fight.  He is a big step up in name value.  He is pretty well rounded, around the same age as Fedor.  Even though Tito fights at LHW, he is a bigger guy than Fedor is.  If he takes Fedor down and hits him with elbows he is a danger as well, but he is a very winnable fight for Fedor.  Fedor can beat him but he can't fight stupid.  Plus Tito is probably a better name than whomever EFN can give him.

Fedor/Tito would get big ratings on Spike

Tito would be a good level next opponent if he is going to fight a LHW (especially since Tito is a big LHW and Fedor a small HW). That being said for whatever money Fedor will demand they can probably spend that money in better ways.

^Fedor plans to stay at HW

^Yeah, this could be Fedor's next fight. Ratings should be huge for this one if true.

CDF47 wrote:^Fedor plans to stay at HW

I inow, but what if Tito moves up to HW (like he said he would).

no matter who fedor faces the haters will bitch.

dont underestimate tito

InfinityLens wrote:

CDF47 wrote:^Fedor plans to stay at HW

I inow, but what if Tito moves up to HW (like he said he would).

Yeah, Tito moving to HW is how I think this would happen.

Dude WTF?

Its fucking pathetic they can't find a REAL hw.....

Tito is a money fight not a fight that matters oh god....

Seriously between Rizin,Bellator,and EFN they cant find a single hw to fight?

I mean tito and fedor will do big numbers but its far from the fight that should happen....imo this is retarded.

stu3ufc wrote:no matter who fedor faces the haters will bitch.

dont underestimate tito

Agreed. I think Tito is the perfect fight for Fedor next. If he had destroyed Maldonado with no problem, fine, get someone better. But he didn't. Tito is a big name that will get a lot of interest and ratings. It's a great debut fight for Fedor in Bellator, especially if he destroys him easily.

But yeah, the ufc only fans said Tim Sylvia would kill Fedor for years, Fedor destroys him and they instantly change to say Sylvia sucks. Then they said Arlovski would kill him, Fedor KO's him in 3 minutes and then they said Arlovski sucks. They will whine no matter what Fedor does. Fedor could go to the ufc, KO everyone in the top 10 and they would say, "But yeah, he didn't KO #11. He is an overrated can". Screw those people. Fedor is 40 years old and can do whatever the heck he wants to do. Dana White himself said Fedor vs Maldonado had huge fightpass numbers, and he got paid over $2 million for it. Good for him.

fka wrote:Dude WTF?

Its fucking pathetic they can't find a REAL hw.....

Tito is a money fight not a fight that matters oh god....

Seriously between Rizin,Bellator,and EFN they cant find a single hw to fight?

I mean tito and fedor will do big numbers but its far from the fight that should happen....imo this is retarded.

Tito is the #19 LHW, if Fedor is to fight a LHW than that is the right level guy.

Thats the point though unless hes going to drop to 205 he shouldn't fight a lhw who bloats to hw......if he loses he lost to a lhw if he wins he beat a smaller guy...

Tito vs fedor is an ok fight but this will answer nothing.

Fedor is a hw why the fuck cant he find a decent hw to fight?

He might as well just drop to lhw if all hes going to do os fight 205ers....they said fedor wanted KSW champ so wtf?

This is just getting ridiculous man.

I dealt with jaideep cuz it was his return and a new years eve fight,Maldonado had fought at hw and was an ok next test.....

But cmon man this is retarded i love fedor but this is dumb.....nothing but fuel for haters and fedor is yet to fight a real legit hw since unretiring.

fka wrote:Thats the point though unless hes going to drop to 205 he shouldn't fight a lhw who bloats to hw......if he loses he lost to a lhw if he wins he beat a smaller guy...

Tito vs fedor is an ok fight but this will answer nothing.

Fedor is a hw why the fuck cant he find a decent hw to fight?

He might as well just drop to lhw if all hes going to do os fight 205ers....they said fedor wanted KSW champ so wtf?

This is just getting ridiculous man.

I dealt with jaideep cuz it was his return and a new years eve fight,Maldonado had fought at hw and was an ok next test.....

But cmon man this is retarded i love fedor but this is dumb.....nothing but fuel for haters and fedor is yet to fight a real legit hw since unretiring.

It doesn't also help that Fedor has done this before and never benefited from it. The win over Matt Lindland was not taken seriously as it could've because Lindland is a natural middleweight who bloated to heavyweight while the Dan Henderson fight was a loss that gave the critics ammo. I do agree though that if Fedor is going to fight a LHW then it should be someone who has fought at heavyweight before like King Mo.

The KSW champ would be a good next match by we know how strict they are with their champ's. If not him than Kharitonov or Rosholt.

Royce Gracie reportedly refused to fight Tito Ortiz for his last fight, so Ortiz would like to fight Rampage Jackson or Fedor under the Bellator/Spike TV banner. Reports are Ortiz says Scott Coker already asked him about both fights and how it could be another Bellator tent pole style event for Ortiz and his TBD opponent

http://middleeasy.com/mma-news/punk-injury-conor-vs-gsp-tito-ortiz-and-more-in-the-sunday-morning-rumor-mill/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare

Problem is that's all bullshit.

Royce wont fight tito(thank god)

Rampage can't make 205 anymore..

Fedor won't cut to 205 just for Tito .....

And tito stated repeatedly he won't fight at hw.....


So imo this is all a steaming pile of BS....

Ortiz v Carmont would be a good fight.