Tito Ortiz Expected to Sign 4-Fight Deal with Strikeforce

After over a year of inactivity, former UFC champion Tito Ortiz may be heading back to the cage. The popular fighter hasn't competed since being defeated soundly in a match up against Lyoto Machida at UFC 84: Ill Will in May of 2008 in the last fight of his UFC contract.

He was unceremoniously dispatched after that fight after years of verbally sparring with UFC President Dana White. The two shared a contentious relationship throughout Ortiz's stay with the organization.

But now, according to Ortiz himself, he is close to having a new boss to fight with.

According to Ortiz, he's about to become the lately.

Over the weekend, Ortiz appeared as a guest of honor during Ultimate Cage Fighting Championship: Rumble on the Rivers event at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Ortiz was brought into the ring and announced to the crowd in attendance that he was very close to signing a four fight deal with Strikeforce and that he would likely face Renato "Babalu" Sobral as soon as October.

Ortiz also announced that he would like to face Fedor Emelianenko at a catchweight in his forth fight with the organization. Emelianenko is currently entering the last fight of his contract with Affliction and the two organizations have been open with sharing fighters in the past, making the viability of the fight possible at the very least.

Ortiz is one of the UFC's most distinguished champions. He held the promotions light heavyweight title for over three years before falling to Randy Couture at UFC 44: Undisputed. After that and a subsequent loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 47: It's On, Ortiz rebounded to win five straight before losing to Liddell again in a fight to regain his title. Two fights later, a controversial draw against Rashad Evans and the loss to Machida, Ortiz had fulfilled his contract and the UFC opted to let him go.

This isn't the first time Ortiz has addressed the public and stated he's close to signing with a promotion. The former collegiate wrestler has appeared as a special guest at events for Affliction, EliteXC and the aformentioned Strikeforce in the past, apperences which yielded no contract.

Still, at 34-years of age, and an expressed strong desire to get back into competition, expect Ortiz to be back in a cage soon; and with the collapse of EliteXC, Affliction on shaky ground and the UFC no longer an option, Strikeforce does appear to be his most viable landing spot.

Source: www.fiveknuckles.com