MaxFighting has learned that UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz and newly crowned UFC "interim" light heavyweight champ Randy Couture will step into the Octagon on September 26 to unify the division's title. Though Zuffa president Dana White could not comment except to say there would be an announcement on Wednesday announcing plans for the September card, it's believed that Ortiz, absent in the ring because of injury and contract squabbles since November, has signed on the dotted line following several months of contentious negotiations, which saw both sides played out in the media.

Couture, meanwhile, is the UFC's only three-time champion, having just won his light heavyweight crown on June 6 versus Chuck Liddell -- the man Ortiz was intended to face for the past two years. Speaking to Couture last night after he was on hand to corner two fighters at the King of the Cage, the "Natural" expressed excitement for the September showdown.

Ortiz's signing comes at the last minute. Just days earlier MaxFighting reported that Zuffa had called Vitor Belfort to offer him the bout versus Couture. That appears, however, to have been a back-up plan. Following further discussions between Zuffa and Ortiz's people, the "Huntington Beach Bad Boy" apparently signed during the day Sunday. Terms of the deal are not known at this time.

OH MY ****ING GOD.

Tito by round 3 ref stoppage!

COUTURE BY FIRST ROUND KTFO, ****ING RIGHT

It's about time. I hope Couture cleans his clock.

Tito is a bad match up for Couture. Ortiz by Ref Stoppage, round 2

i just dont know yet...

I so pissed right now though, he avoids Chuck for 2 years till he was beaten, and Chuck will probably never get a shot at Tito. I hope Couture owns him and Tito fades away, I'm just plain sick of him.

Yeah...he was quick too take this fight...

Originally posted by lightweight
It's about time. I hope Couture cleans his clock.

i say randy takes him out...randy by jd

Amazing how Tito went from being one of my top three favorite fighters to not even being in my top fifty.

Ortiz will beat Couture, I am just happy to see him fighting again. **** the haters......

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Go Randy Go

I like Ortiz, but Couture is my favorite fighter

It's not hate.........it's a matter of me losing all respect for him.

Originally posted by Tanner Rhoden
It's not hate.........it's a matter of me losing all respect for him.

Originally posted by Tanner Rhoden, but Ensanity agrees
It's not hate.........it's a matter of me losing all respect for him.

Respect him or not, he is one of the best fighters in the world, and will prove it again in September....

Originally posted by kaps
and will prove it again in September.... i hope he gets chin checked and KTFO

nobody at LHW will beat tito.

Cesaro has a serious case of the correct.....

anyone can be beat

How many of you thought Fedor would beat Nog? Or that Syliva would TKO Ricco?

Creed has caught a serious case of the...more...correct.

Everyone is on Coutures bandwagon sense he beat Chuck, which isnt an easy task and Im not taking anythign away from Randy, But different fighters make for different fights. Just cuz he schooled chuck doesnt mean he will do the same to Tito.......

I have always loved Randy. Please don't accuse me of jumping on the waggon.

I knew Ricco would beat him because Ricco is a skilled grappler who had about 30 lbs on him. Hell, Randy schooled him for 2 rounds before Riccos size caught up with him

that's some kickass news!

The fights of Chuck vs. Randy and Tito vs. Randy can't be compared.
Randy has always looked good when he fought against strong stand up fighters (Rizzo, Smith, Belfort and now Chuck) but he had a lot of problems with good groundfighters his losses against Ricco and Barnett ended with submission strikes, and that's exactly Tito's strength maybe the best in lightheavyweight. So it seems to be that Tito is a bad matchup for Randy because of his fighting styles and strengths. But in the fights with Ricco and Barnett,Couture always were a lot of lighter than his opponents and now Tito and Randy nearly got the same weight. And don't forget Tito never fought anybody who got nearly the groundfighting skills of Randy.

So i think it will be a open fight, but i think Tito will win this one.

Originally posted by Mitch78
... Tito never fought anybody who got nearly the groundfighting skills of Randy.



Ihave to correct this one a bit, I mean with MMA rules not ADCC or something!!!!

but Tito and Randy are about the same size. At least same weight. when he fought Barnett and Ricco he was an aging heavyweight with alot of mass to push against younger,bigger and stronger guys. He wont have the deck stacked so much against him at LHW.

Tito is stronger than than Randy, I can almost guarantee that....

Originally posted by kaps
Tito is stronger than than Randy, I can almost guarantee that.... Agreed

Randy has more heart then Tito, I CAN guarantee that...

Originally posted by lightweight
Randy has more heart then Tito, I CAN guarantee that... Agreed

Tito' strength wasnt like what Barnett's was in comparison.

Originally posted by Creed
anyone can be beat

How many of you thought Fedor would beat Nog? Or that Syliva would TKO Ricco?


And this is where I'd raise my hand....twice.

Who thought CroCop would beat Herring?

Me, and somebody here wrote that this pick is crazy!!! If somebody had said Schembri would KO Saku, everyone would have told him to leave this forum (me too!!!).
There's always a chance to win.

I hope Randy kicks his ass.

Originally posted by The Ensanity
Who thought CroCop would beat Herring?

I did.

I'm not sure which way to go on this fight yet. Everytime I go against Couture, he proves me wrong, but right now I'm leaning towards Tito.

Gotta go with Tito. Tito is a bad match up for Couture.

Too bad it aint going to happen

Why?

Originally posted by The Ensanity
Too bad it aint going to happen

Stolen from Sherdog www.sherdog.com

UFC 44: Undisputed Announced
Couture vs Ortiz, McGee vs Sylvia, Cabbage vs Arlovski
7-2-2003 12:50 PM PST

Zuffa held a conference call today, and announced that Randy Couture would face Tito Ortiz for the Undisputed UFC Light Heavyweight title, taking place September 26 in Las Vegas. USA Today lists Ortiz as an 8:5 favorite.


Also on the card, Gan McGee is challenging Tim Sylvia for the Heavyweight title on the same card, and "Cabbage" Correira is facing Andre Arlovski.

Contract Status??
Dana White: "Ortiz has the same contract as before...with some modifications."
Randy Couture: Doesn't know about the exact terms of his contract, it's been a while since he signed it.

Injuries?
Tito Ortiz: "I have no injuries, at all."

Current Light Heavyweight Champion?
Dana White: "...The Light Heavyweight Champion, Randy Couture..."
Randy Couture: "I fought the guy Tito wouldn't fight, I am the Light Heavyweight Champion."
Tito Ortiz: "I've still got the belt, and it still has my name on it."

Tito's Feeling on the Interim Title?
Tito Ortiz: "I feel disrespected that the UFC created the interim title. I feel like I'm the challenger now, but that's OK - I like feeling like the underdog."

Strip Tito if he hadn't signed?
Dana White: "It's a non-issue. He signed, and is going to fight."

Interest in PRIDE Fighters?
Dana White: Interested in Cro-Cop, Sakuraba, and others.

PRIDE Grand Prix?
Dana White: Had Liddell won, he would not have gone.
Couture: "I would probably have gone had I lost."

Ricco Rodriguez?
Dana White: Definately in the November show.

Tito's Suspect Chin?
Tito Ortiz: "I don't have a suspect chin. I've never been knocked out in practice, or a fight. I have great recovery time."

Restructuring UFC
Dana White: Anticipating a TV deal, will do more ".5" shows.

Tank Abbott a failure?
Dana White: "He was not a failure, he sold out the New Jersey (UFC 41) show."
Tito Ortiz: "Ricco Rodriguez had a lot to do with that show, he's from Long Island."
Dana White: [laughing] - "Yeah, Ricco was the reason we sold the show out."

State of the 185 lb Weight Class?
Dana White: "We'll make an announcement at the September show."

State of the 155 lb weight class?
Dana White: We have a 155 lb weight class?????

I wish there was than just one big show in town. The state of the UFC makes me sad. At least the Grand Prix is almost here!!!

At least it's a step in the right direction. They're gonna have fights for 2 of there 3 current titles. Now if they could just get LW and MW champs they'd be doing alright.

Dana White: [laughing] - "Yeah, Ricco was the reason we sold the show out."---->sarcasm

Originally posted by lightweight
Randy has more heart then Tito, I CAN guarantee that...

I can also garauntee he has more heart and a better chin than Ricco.

I think Chuck had to be sick that day or something, he just wasn't chuck. I don't know who would win between Tito and Randy, but I would still love to see Tito vs Chuck.

Originally posted by The Ensanity
i just dont know yet...

I agree w/ you man. I said I' never cheer against Tito after his fight w/ Vlad, then came Shamrock and I gave him the edge for all the same reasons I'm giving Couture, but we all saw what happened there. Easily one of Tito's best performances. Randy has much bettr cardio and sufficiently better boxing skills. He s on of the most dominant UFC and MMA champs ever. Still is Tito a bad macth up for him? Will Tito learn howto neutralize his attacks nd put him on is back. Ricco and Barnett were much larger than Couture when they gassed him and got him on his back, but niether are as good a wrestler as Tito, and Tito's cardio is top notch. I'm guessing Randy can take this, but Tito will be very game.

It's gonna be a SLOBBER-KNOCKER!

Yeah Tito's strong but ive seen him out powerd and out wrestled before...Tito is not a better wrestler than Randy...and his striking isnt on par either...i say Randy by JD

ps. Arona is strong...he would fit the UFC so well...scary...u should have saw him out wrestler Kerr....yeah i know he's boring lol

TITO via brutal G&P , NUFF SAID !!