Maxfighting Ortiz vs. Belfort picks from 8/22/01 (Gross & Gerbasi included)

[UFC10HammerTime]

With the stir that Josh Gross created recently over the title of his article that proclaimed Vitor was ducking Chuck Liddell, I thought it would be cool to look at something I saved a while back. Here's the Ortiz vs. Belfort picks that Maxfighting.com posted from lots of MMA people.

I've now heard someone say that Tom Gerbasi made the title to that article. Oh well, I'm not here to blast anyone or anything, I just thought it was kind of interesting to see these guys talking about Belfort in the past. They both picked Ortiz to beat Belfort. Do they display a personal dislike for the Phenom? It's hard to judge by this, but they deinitely don't come across as Vitor fans lol. Btw, most seem to think Ortiz was going to win when this was scheduled to happen last September.


Maxfighting Ortiz vs. Belfort picks. Wed, Aug 22, 2001.

JEFF SHERWOOD (Sherdog.com): "My belief is if Herring can't take Vitor down, it's really going to be tough for Tito to take Vitor down. I think it 's probably a match that will be a boring fight unless the old Vitor comes to fight. I see it going to a decision. The decision will be for Tito."


TERRY TREBILCOCK (KOTC promoter): "Tito, convincingly. He's too strong, has too much heart and is just too big and tough for Belfort. There's nothing wrong with Belfort, he's a very good fighter but Tito is at another level. It's going to take an Olympic wrestler to knock Tito off, and that still doesn't guarantee anything."

CARLSON GRACIE (Belfort's former trainer): "I'm going to train Tito for this fight and he is going to win, 100-percent. I'm training Tito because Vitor betrayed me. Tito is going to win!" (That's a shocker! - ed)

[UFC10HammerTime]

STEPHEN QUADROS (Contributing Editor Black Belt Magazine, Commentator/Pride Fighting Championships): "Ortiz is a big strong light heavyweight who has beaten Vanderlei Silva on decision, and stopped Guy Mezger, Jerry Bohlander and Elvis Sinosic. His wrestling is sound and his strikes are improving. Belfort has a questionable decision over Heath Herring and decisions over Gilbert Yvel and Daijiro Matsui. He also choked out Bobby Southworth. He used to be known for his boxing and ability to KO people early -- Vanderlei, Tank (Abbott), (Tra) Telligman -- but since he lost to Kazushi Sakuraba several years ago his punching has all but disappeared. Where Tito has loads of confidence Belfort has occasionally lapsed into indecision. Belfort must scrap the jiu-jitsu game he has been playing as of late, reinstall his former striking fury and be at the top of his game mentally to have a chance. But I doubt this will happen so my pick is Tito by a cautious unanimous decision. Ultimately, my question is when is Tito going to face Chuck Liddell?"


EDDIE BRAVO (KOTC color commentator): "I like Vitor. He's Brazilian and I like Brazilians. I love jiu-jitsu. But Tito is going to smash him."

SCOTT PROFFITT (Submission Fighter Magazine writer): "I'm choosing Vitor. I 've been a fan of Vitor for a long time and I'll always back him. I dig Tito. I think he's one of the best out there too, but somebody had to lose. Vitor has the hand speed, and, although he hasn't shown it the last couple of fights, I think he'll be forced to use it in this one. His ground skills are as good as any. He did really well in Abu Dhabi. I think it's going to be a war and I kind of think it will go to a decision. If Vitor stays busy and does what he needs to do he'll come out ahead."


TOM GERBASI (Editor-in-chief, Maxfighting.com): "Ortiz whenever he wants to and by whatever means he chooses. Zuffa gets praise for putting together a fight that appeals not only to the current fan base, but that will also bring in the fans of the past. Unfortunately for those fans, Belfort is not the same fighter he used to be, and while*Vitor may be on the decline, Ortiz is only getting better."

RAFIEL TORRE (Fightfannews.com): "I think Tito. Tito right now is hard to beat. He's training really hard with Ricco Rodriguez, and the guys from John Lewis' school. I think Vitor is scared still. He's scared to throw bombs like he used to throw. He's afraid to break his hand like he did before, and I don't think he's going to come out swinging like he used to. Definitely Tito."


TODD HESTER (Editor-in-chief, Grappling Magazine): "I believe it's going to come down to whomever imposes their will on the other one. If Vitor can manage to keep the fight on the feet then I think he'll win. But if Tito can close the distance, get in tight and maul him I think he'll win. I'm going to go with Tito. I think he'll overpower him, get inside and get the win."


LARRY LANDLESS (KOTC referee): "I'm going with Tito because he is an old-school wrestler. I don't know if Vitor is going to be able to keep Tito off that way, and I don't know if Vitor can finish Tito on the ground. I just don't see him out-banging him on the ground. Tito in the top position dominates. I don't think anyone in that weight class works better from the top than Tito. I just see Tito getting that takedown, cornering Vitor Belfort and doing what he needs to do to win."


PAUL SMITH (IFC promoter): "Tito is on top of his game right now. I have to give him the edge over Victor. I think Tito will be to big and bring too much power for Victor at this time. I think it might be a long night of ground-and-pound and go to a decision."


JOSH GROSS (MaxFighting.com columnist): "I think everything in this fight points to Tito. Without a doubt, he's the stronger of the two and he's on a big role. If, and it's a big if, Vitor comes to punch and he's mentally prepared he can beat Tito. But I don't think that will happen. I think Tito will win in the third or fourth round from strikes on the ground."

SEAN SHELBY (Grapplersworld.com): "Tito wins by TKO. Either fighter's only chance is for a knockout. Tito is too strong for Vitor to submit and Tito always goes for the brutal beat down over a submission attempt. If Sakuraba and Herring can control Belfort, so will Tito. Tito will put Vitor on his back and pound on him to a victory."


JAKE ROSSEN (contributor for Black Belt Magazine): "Tito's game is clinch, drop, and pound. If he can't overwhelm Belfort in the first five minutes, I don't seem him doing it in any of the other rounds. He will not drop Vitor on the feet. Vitor held his own against another hyper-aggressive athlete in Heath Herring, so I don't see Tito's explosiveness being the deciding factor here. Belfort will work his guard and force Tito to push himself. The skull-cracking Vitor of old needs to make a comeback, and I feel we'll see it once his confidence settles in midway through the fight. Belfort by TKO in the 4th.

Totals: Ortiz 12, Belfort 2

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For what it's worth I'm still going with Belfort when/if this fight happens. He wants a title shot next, nothing else. When he gets to fight for the belt I tink he will suprise a lot of the so-called experts.