Liddell Ortiz Odds
Liddell is targeting a few options at the moment. Among them, the former title holder is interested in a trilogy rematch against Ortiz, after having finished the fighter in their two previous match ups. Betting site Bovada has since provided betting odds for the potential match up. Liddell is reportedly set as a +160 underdog, while Ortiz is a. The third time proved to be the charm, as two vicious right hands sent Liddell crumbling to the canvas, sealing Ortiz's win by TKO at 4:24 of the first round of the first event promoted by Oscar.
December 31, 2006By Brad Young
VegasInsider.com
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Death, taxes and ‘The Iceman.’ In a year that saw every title in the Ultimate Fighting Championship change hands, light heavyweight champion Chuck ‘The Iceman’ Liddell (20-3) has remained the lone constant inside the Octagon.
The champion has now won his last seven fights (four knockouts, three technical knockouts) with his usual brutal efficiency. ‘The Iceman’ cashed tickets as a $2.40 ‘chalk,’ (bet $240 to win $100) against Ortiz, a $1.90 underdog. This championship fight was almost finished at the end of the first round when Liddell opened a big gash over the challengers’ left eye. ‘The Iceman’ took control with about 2:00 minutes remaining in the round, but couldn’t finish the fight.
Ortiz actually won the second round on two judges’ scorecards by taking the champion down briefly and pushing the action. ‘The Huntington Beach Bad Boy’ tried three takedown attempts in the round, but Liddell quickly got up when forced to the canvas.
The third round in this five-round affair was a standup war, with Ortiz showing an improved game with various leg kicks. However, it was Liddell who connected with strikes and battered Ortiz once he went to the canvas. Referee Mario Yamasaki was forced to stop the fight when Ortiz couldn’t intelligently defend himself from the barrage.
'This is the most satisfying win of my career,' stated Liddell. 'I had him hurt and I just kept throwing punches.'
'I’m kind of disgusted with myself because I let my fans down,' said Ortiz. 'Chuck’s the best pound for pound fighter in the world and I’ve got to give that to him.'
Former heavyweight champion Andrei ‘The Pitbull’ Arlovski (10-5) got back into the win column with a first-round knockout of Brazilian Marcio Da Cruz (2-2) at the 3:15 mark. Referee Herb Dean halted the action briefly when Arlovski connected with a kick to the head of a downed opponent, but as soon as the action restarted the former Belarus cop connected a solid right hand.
Liddell Ortiz Odds Ufc
Arlovski quickly ended the fight after that with his patented ground and pound offense with some hammer fists. Da Cruz wanted to take this fight to the ground, and was trying for an ankle lock before getting caught with some shots. Arlovski was the biggest favorite on the main card, cashing tickets as a decided $5.00 ‘chalk.’
'I was very happy after this victory, after my two losses to Tim Sylvia,' stated Arlovski. 'Now I remember how I became a champion, by training hard and I am very thankful that my trainers stayed with me and coached me.
'I didn’t want to spend time with him on the ground and wrestle with him. He is a very good jiu-jitsu fighter although he is not an excellent striker.'
The biggest upset of the night is credited to Keith ‘The Dean of Mean’ Jardine (12-2-1) who prevailed over Forrest Griffin (13-4) as a $2.60 underdog (bet $100 to win $260) in their light heavyweight matchup. Jardine prevailed at the 4:41 mark of the first round with some good combos and lethal ground and pound.
Liddell Vs Ortiz 2
Jason ‘The Athlete’ MacDonald (18-7) toppled Chris ‘The Crippler’ Leben (16-3) as a $1.80 underdog with a modified guillotine choke at 4:03 of the second round. Leben controlled the first round with some good combinations, dirty boxing and his sprawl defense. MacDonald wanted to get this fight to the ground, and finally did so halfway through the second round.
'I’m very happy with this win,' noted MacDonald. 'I trained very hard and I was happy to finish it on the ground.
'Leben told me he was a mean guy, I just let him know that he didn’t intimidate me.'
Chuck Liddell And Ortiz
Brad Young can be reached at byoung@vegasinsider.com. All odds for this story are provided by the MGM sports book.