UFC 121: The Teacher vs The Student
Posted by Matthew Wheeler (Staff Writer)Oct 14
As the potential fight card of the year with UFC 121 and its massive main event between Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez draw closer. An interesting storyline that seems to be getting overlooked is the matchup between Tito Ortiz and Matt Hamill, or the teacher versus the student.
Matt Hamill was a contestant on the Ultimate Fighter season 3 where his coach was Tito Ortiz, who on October 23rd in Anaheim California will now be his opponent. This is the first time in UFC history where a TUF contestant has fought his coach from that season.
Matt Hamill (9-2 MMA) is coming off a win over Jardine, Munoz, and Jones (via DQ) and is a wrestling based fighter who over the years has built up his striking and improved his overall MMA game. He has been in his share of tough fights but seems to hang in there with a lot of heart, and even left Jardine and the ring side cameras covered in blood. Along with the wrestling he has good cardio and mixes it up well with strikes, even dropped Munoz via head kick.
Tito Ortiz (15-7 MMA) is a wrestling based fighter who has had a tough past couple of years and has not won since 2006. This is a very important fight for him, because if he loses by a landslide the UFC will not have many more fights for him of any relevance or that he could even win. He has been very quiet and training for this fight harder than ever it seems so he could start turning his record in the right direction. He has dealt with many family and injury issues in the past and the fans have been hoping to check a glimpse of the old Tito Ortiz.
Keys to the fight:
Matt will need to not be put on his back early by Tito like the Jon Jones fight, because Tito defiantly has some of the most fierce ground and pound in the UFC. Matt will need to keep this standing and frustrate Tito by picking him apart and getting him to over commit on his takedowns and clinch work. As the fight progresses Matt will need to speed things up and push the aging Tito harder and take his will to fight away.
Tito will have to come out and mop the octagon with Matt if he wants to win, and needs to capitalize on putting Matt on his back and pounding on him till the TKO comes. Tito can also work body kicks and leg kicks to slow Matt down and use rounds 2-3 to wrestle and ground and pound his way to a decision if he has to.
Close fight to call because Matt can come in star struck from his coach and lose this fight, and Tito can come in hurt and very well lose it as well.
(picture taken from UFC.com)
Who do you got?
