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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"I've heard the rumors, of course, but from what I understand, [Ortiz] is signed to fight, and he's still going to actually show up and get [the] beating he's supposed to get... I think I earned it having to put up with him for seven weeks. I earned the right to go out there and beat him... I was taking that fight as a tune-up fight, fighting a guy that I knocked out twice. Most of the animosity toward him was gone. I don't really deal with him at all, so I was kind of over it. But within a week, he motivated me to want to try to hurt him – and he just continued to do that throughout the show."
-Chuck Liddell talks about the rumors that Tito Ortiz will not face him at the conclusion of this season of The Ultimate Fighter during a conference call for this upcoming season (transcribed by MMAJunkie.com).
Penick's Analysis: With Sherdog sticking to their sources saying that Ortiz is out and Franklin is in against Liddell, at this point who knows what's going to happen. White straight up denied the rumors before backing off a bit and saying he says what he needs to say sometimes, and with the confidentiality agreements that are involved with The Ultimate Fighter it's more than possible that he was trying to keep things under wraps for a bit longer. Still, with Liddell sounding like the fight is still on and for him to be of the belief that it's the fight he's training for you've got to put some credence to that and think the fight is still on.
RELATED STORIES:
UFC NEWS: Dana White says Liddell vs. Franklin not happening, says Franklin's fighting Couture: [CLICK TO READ FULL STORY]
UFC QUOTABLES: Chuck Liddell says he hopes TUF 11 assistant coach and Strikeforce Middleweight Champ Jake Shields comes to the UFC: [CLICK TO READ FULL STORY]
UFC NEWS: UFC 115 reportedly no longer coming to Vancouver, Cincinnati a possible replacement location: [CLICK TO READ FULL STORY]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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