Chuck Liddell on Why Third Bout With Tito Ortiz is a “Gamble”
By FCF Staff
Chuck Liddell will take on his longtime rival Tito Ortiz for a third time this Saturday night, and recently the legendary fighter explained why the bout is a “gamble”.
Since the bout was booked by Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, it’s been revealed that Liddell and Ortiz are set to receive a large share of the pay-per-view dividends, over a sizeable guaranteed purse. While discussing that fact recently, Liddell had this to say (quotes via MMA Junkie):
“It was taking a gamble,” Liddell said about the compensation model for the fight, which will be carried by FITE TV. “It wasn’t a big upfront (paycheck). It’s taking a gamble that you’ll be successful, but it’s also a big home run if you win.”
“I had offers everywhere. A lot bigger guarantees to fight anybody I wanted to pick. I could pick anybody. They didn’t care. The name, whoever I fought, they didn’t care. But I chose this over that because I think it’s a fight my fans want, and I think for me, it’s a closest thing to a tuneup fight that’s got a name to it that there is.”
Liddell fought Ortiz in 2004 and 2006, under the UFC’s banner, and stopped the fellow, former light-heavyweight champ on both occasions.