MMA Nation - UFC 133 Media Call With Rashad Evans And Tito Ortizhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/33343/mma-icon.png2011-07-28T13:44:16-07:00http://mma.sbnation.com/rss/stream/20640262011-07-28T13:44:16-07:002011-07-28T13:44:16-07:00AUDIO: UFC 133 Media Call With Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans
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<p>Above is the audio (in YouTube video form) of today's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/74507/ufc-133-evans-vs-ortiz">UFC 133</a> media call with former UFC light heavyweight champions <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122519/tito-ortiz">Tito Ortiz</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122510/rashad-evans">Rashad Evans</a>. To read the recap of Ortiz's comments, <a target="_blank" href="http://mma.sbnation.com/2011/7/28/2301002/tito-ortiz-drawing-inspiration-from-rockys-home-town-for-ufc-133">go here</a>. For Evans', <a target="_blank" href="http://mma.sbnation.com/2011/7/28/2300906/ufc-133-rashad-evans-jon-jones-tito-ortiz">go here</a>. Also be sure to check out the <a target="_blank" href="http://mma.sbnation.com/2011/7/28/2300820/tito-ortiz-philadelphia">partial written transcript</a> of today's call. Make sure to cross reference it with the audio above.</p>
<p>Speaking personally, it appears the media and fans are curious to see if the previous rivalry or even bad blood between Ortiz and Evans would make a second appearance in their rematch. It hasn't and there really shouldn't be any question as to why. While both probably wish their first meeting - a draw - would have resulted differently, neither is tethered to the other in terms of polarity. Whatever disagreements they had previously, but are quite obviously over them now. Their 'beef', as it were, was likely something existing for only a moment in time. Moreover, given the late notice for Ortiz and the larger narrative about his career in conjunction with the narrative about Evans' long layoff and opponent swapping, it's only natural whatever disagreement they had would be drowned out.</p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/7/28/2301269/ufc-133-media-call-tito-oritz-rashad-evans-mma-newsLuke Thomas2011-07-28T12:22:26-07:002011-07-28T12:22:26-07:00Tito Ortiz Drawing Inspiration From Rocky's Home Town For UFC 133
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<p>Former UFC light heavyweight champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122519/tito-ortiz">Tito Ortiz</a> is in the middle of an improbable career renaissance and he celebrated it proudly on today's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/74507/ufc-133-evans-vs-ortiz">UFC 133</a> press call. Ortiz and his opponent <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122510/rashad-evans">Rashad Evans</a> took questions from reporters about the August 6th event they'll be headlining in a non-title bout. </p>
<p>Ortiz, who accepted the bout on short notice when Evan's original opponent <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122509/phil-davis">Phil Davis</a> got hurt, rocketed back into relevance at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/74404/ufc-132-cruz-vs-faber-2">UFC 132</a> when he submitted <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122506/ryan-bader">Ryan Bader</a>. UFC President Dana White had planned to cut Ortiz, who hadn't had a win in 5 years, if he'd lost that fight.</p>
<p>But MMA is a "what have you done for me lately" game and the victory brought Ortiz the opportunity to rematch Evans in the headliner of UFC 133. The two fought to a draw in 2008. </p>
<p>Ortiz said he has always been a huge Rocky fan and that it's no coincidence his big opportunity is happening in Rocky's hometown of Philadelphia. </p>
<p>"I know I'm capable and I know I'm capable in Philly," he said. </p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/7/28/2301002/tito-ortiz-drawing-inspiration-from-rockys-home-town-for-ufc-133Nate Wilcox2011-07-28T12:00:11-07:002011-07-28T12:00:11-07:00UFC 133's Rashad Evans: 'I Don't Like Jon Jones'
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<p>Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans didn't pull any punches on today's media call to promote his UFC 133 bout with superstar Tito Ortiz. </p>
<p>Evans had originally hoped to fight for the title against his former friend and teammate Jon Jones but that didn't work out. When he was asked about Jones, he kept it simple: "I don't like Jon Jones."</p>
<p>He didn't elaborate much more when asked about his former training camp, Greg Jackson's MMA where he once trained alongside Jones. When asked if he ever saw himself returning to Jackson's camp, the camp where he has trained for the majority of his career, he said he didn't see himself ever coming back.</p>
<p>"You really need a lot of time and coaches who spend a lot of time with you. After being a Jackson's for a while with so many people at the gym, it just got harder and harder for me to get that time. It gets a little bit stagnant, it's just one of those things: ok, how am I to reinvent myself if I'm pretty much learning the same thing? It was good to come out here (to his current camp in Florida) to have a freshness with guys who are thinking outside the box," Evans elaborated. </p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/7/28/2300906/ufc-133-rashad-evans-jon-jones-tito-ortizNate Wilcox2011-07-28T11:59:43-07:002011-07-28T11:59:43-07:00Tito Ortiz Inspired By Philadelphia, Rashad Evans Missing The MMA 'Ride'
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/74507/ufc-133-evans-vs-ortiz">UFC 133</a> headliners Tito Ortiz and Rashad Evans took part in a media conference call today to promote their fight on August 6th. Below is a partial transcript of their statements (full audio and complete write-up will be published shortly). In summation, Ortiz claims he feels great and took the fight against Evans on short notice to be a better business partner with the UFC. By contrast, Evans is not looking to impress anyone but himself and noted how much he missed competing. He also had strong words for UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and his former coach Greg Jackson.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122519/tito-ortiz">Tito Ortiz</a>:</p>
<p>- "It's a whole new business complete. I'm still at the top of my game...Rashad's a top opponent. I'm going to fight with my hear and soul and do what I do."</p>
<p>- "I was getting ready for Mintauro when I was cut...I put 10 weeks in for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122506/ryan-bader">Ryan Bader</a>. It's been almost five months of training. After Bader fight, I took a week off...I haven't been around that much because of training...The fighter in me doubted the decision. I'm strong, I have no injuries. It took me a day to think about it...'You know what?, Let's do this'. I want to show I'm a business man for them.</p>
<p>- "On my honeymoon I got hit by a bus and defended my title against Yuki Kondo four months later...I don't question my shot, my takedown defense. I think that's doing the right physical therapy and having the best doctor..."</p>
<p>- "People love me or people hate me. I don't think my popularity hasn't gone anywhere but up, but there are haters...when it comes fight time, I go out and compete...in the last 5 years, there's been a problem doing that... but I've competed with the top guys in the world. I've got my surgeries done and kept my nose to the grindstone...between me and Dana, it's been good. The positive reinforcement from me has made me better in the gym. It's not nice to have positive reinforcement behind you."</p>
<p>- "I think it's a lot different on both sides...his shots are a lot better, he's a lot faster...I've gotten a lot better, I've gotten stronger not having my injuries anymore...I'm hungry, I don't feel like a 40-year old man anymore. I feel like a 30-year old man...I don't pay attention to that fight very much [the previous fight].</p>
<p>- "I've always been a huge Rocky fan, man...doesn't everything in life happen for a reason?...Philly is going to feed that much more emotionally for me..I'm willing to fight, I'm willing to step up. I want to put on an entertaining fight. I know I'm capable and I know I'm capable in Philly."</p>
<p>- "My advantages will be my heart...I'm prepared for anything and everything...I'm going in focused and positive that my hand will be raised."</p>
<p>- "Why do I gotta go? Just because I lost a few fights on decision, split decisions and draws?...</p>
<p>- "No, not at all. I have people who help me...I just oversee everything and comes from my heart...As far as injuries, I haven't had any problems since my neck surgery..."</p>
<p>- "I've been doing this since '97. I've paid the way for a lot of fighters."</p>
<p>- "<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122514/jon-jones">Jon Jones</a> is an amazing champion. He's a cool cat. As a competitor, he's fast, punches awkward, great wrestling ability. He's a threat...I'm excited and challenged. I gotta fight Rashad. He's the number one contender. all of the pressures on him."</p>
<p>- "I'm a different person than I was before. I feel really, really good."</p>
<p>- "I had back surgery literally eight months after that [the first Evans fight]."</p>
<p>- "I never knew I was going to be a MMA fighter...I didn't know what I was going to do..."</p>
<p>- "It took 8 or 9 hours to realize what was going. I think taking a week off helped me get rest....</p>
<p>- "Finally and thank god" in response to what he felt after he defeated Ryan Bader. "I feel strong, do great against my training partner. I feel really, really good...I gotta keep my focus, keep my nose to the grindstone, make sure everything stays sharp as it has."</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122510/rashad-evans">Rashad Evans</a>:</p>
<p>- "I'm very interested to get back in the cage. It's been a long 14 months. A lot of up and downs inside and outside the cage...I love to compete....I had no idea I was going to be out this long. I'm happy to get back in there."</p>
<p>- "I think he's going to come out a little bit aggressive...I expect to see a Tito Ortiz re-energized, ready to go in there and put up a good fight."</p>
<p>- "I think Tito's definitely got a lot better striking from what I've seen...I'm not worried about his striking, to be honest...what I need to worry about is my own execution."</p>
<p>- "I'm trying to look great for myself...I want to feel good in there, take my time, be patient...trying to see where the fight goes.."</p>
<p>- "I felt horrible about the performance [against Tito the first time]...I'm a long ways from that right now."</p>
<p>- "when I came out here to south florida I didn't know how things were going to be...I didn't know if there could be situation to rival that one [Greg Jackson's]...it makes the grind of training that much easier, it's fun to be there. I don't think there's a reason to go back [to Jackson].</p>
<p>- "Never been to Philly before, but I'm a big Rocky fan, too. It's great to be fighting in a city with great fighting history..."</p>
<p>- "You really need a lot of time and coaches who spend a lot of time with you...after being a Jackson's for a while with so many ppl at the gym, it just got harder and harder for me to get that time...it gets a little bit stagnant, it's just one of those things: ok, how am I to reinvent myself if I'm pretty much learning the same thing?...it was good to come out here to have a freshness with guys who are thinking outside the box...</p>
<p>- "With the work of Dana White and the Fertitta, and The Ultimate Fighter show has done so much...having a chance to compete on the show, and having a chance to coach on the show. It was truly a great experience...It's helped the sport grow a lot...</p>
<p>- "I don't like Jon Jones. We'll leave it at that."</p>
<p>- "Having this time off let my body heal up, get better where i need to get better and take time doing it."</p>
<p>- "I miss the emotional roller coaster you go on...your mind just takes you on a journey...it's amazing to overcome all of those thoughts, all of those feelings and try to harness it for one moment...that is a ride that is so addictive it makes it hard for anyone to leave the cage...that's the hardest thing to walk away from."</p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/7/28/2300820/tito-ortiz-philadelphiaLuke Thomas2011-07-28T05:41:31-07:002011-07-28T05:41:31-07:00UFC 133 Media Call With Rashad Evans And Tito Ortiz
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<p>Join MMA Nation (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.mmanation.com/">www.mmanation.com</a>) today at 2 p.m. ET as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/74507/ufc-133-evans-vs-ortiz">UFC 133</a> headliners <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122510/rashad-evans">Rashad Evans</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122519/tito-ortiz">Tito Ortiz</a> will answer questions from the media about their upcoming bout. We will have live coverage of the call with additional follow-up. We'll also be sure to post the audio of the event as soon as it's over.</p>
<p>UFC 133 takes place August 6th at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event was originally scheduled to be headlined by a light heavyweight title clash between champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122514/jon-jones">Jon Jones</a> and Rashad Evans, but Jones was forced to withdraw due to injury. First replacement <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fighter/122509/phil-davis">Phil Davis</a> was also forced out of the bout due to injury, leaving Tito Ortiz as the third and likely final replacement.</p>
<p>For more, follow MMA Nation nation on Twitter (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/mmanation">@MMANation</a>) or Senior Editor Luke Thomas (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/sbnlukethomas">@SBNLukeThomas</a>). We'll be live Tweeting Evans' and Ortiz's responses throughout the call this afternoon.</p>
https://mma.sbnation.com/2011/7/28/2338577/ufc-133-media-call-with-rashad-evans-and-tito-ortizLuke Thomas