The Bellator MMA CEO spoke with members of the media following the Bellator 118 show last Friday night,
"It is just a weird, funky, crazy fight. Shlemenko is a small 185er. He is a typical Russian that doesn't want to cut a lot of weight. He walks around at like 91-92 [pounds]. [Douglas] Lima is bigger off-season as our welterweight champion than Shlemenko is when is getting ready for a fight at middleweight."
"He is riding a 13-fight win streak, and I think he is one of the most dominant middleweights on earth. A lot of people want to talk about this or that, but I know what other middleweights are out there and he is as tough as they come. I wouldn't bet against Shlemenko against anybody. So it just a weird, funky, freaky kind of cirque du soleil-esque type of fight."
Given the size difference I'm hoping that providing Tito is in half decent shape he'll be able to get the takedown and unleash some old school ground and pound
Yes, that's why nobody can understand why this circus fight is taking place.
When a promoter describes a fight using the phrase, a "freaky kind of cirque du soleil-esque type of fight," it has to make you wonder if they have any earthly idea what the are doing.
44 Magnum - Yes, that's why nobody can understand why this circus fight is taking place.
When a promoter describes a fight using the phrase, a "freaky kind of cirque du soleil-esque type of fight," it has to make you wonder if they have any earthly idea what the are doing.
The fight makes perfect sense, they're trying to sell a PPV.
Why would you sign Tito if you're not going to try to make some money off him? And Tito at this point does need to be fighting smaller guys and lesser-than-top opponents to have any shot at a competitive fight.
44 Magnum - Yes, that's why nobody can understand why this circus fight is taking place.
When a promoter describes a fight using the phrase, a "freaky kind of cirque du soleil-esque type of fight," it has to make you wonder if they have any earthly idea what the are doing.
The fight makes perfect sense, they're trying to sell a PPV.
Why would you sign Tito if you're not going to try to make some money off him? And Tito at this point does need to be fighting smaller guys and lesser-than-top opponents to have any shot at a competitive fight.
But that fight? Why, is Hong Man Choi already taken? Maybe Jose Conseco is free.
44 Magnum - Yes, that's why nobody can understand why this circus fight is taking place.
When a promoter describes a fight using the phrase, a "freaky kind of cirque du soleil-esque type of fight," it has to make you wonder if they have any earthly idea what the are doing.
The fight makes perfect sense, they're trying to sell a PPV.
Why would you sign Tito if you're not going to try to make some money off him? And Tito at this point does need to be fighting smaller guys and lesser-than-top opponents to have any shot at a competitive fight.
Who is seriously buying this ppv for Tito Ortiz vs Schlemenko? This is the type of fight that turns me off from even considering buying it
This fight is so pointless that I'm pulling for Tito to win. And hopefully that'll prevent bellator from putting on pointless fights like this in the future.
44 Magnum - Yes, that's why nobody can understand why this circus fight is taking place.
When a promoter describes a fight using the phrase, a "freaky kind of cirque du soleil-esque type of fight," it has to make you wonder if they have any earthly idea what the are doing.
The fight makes perfect sense, they're trying to sell a PPV.
Why would you sign Tito if you're not going to try to make some money off him? And Tito at this point does need to be fighting smaller guys and lesser-than-top opponents to have any shot at a competitive fight.
Who is seriously buying this ppv for Tito Ortiz vs Schlemenko? This is the type of fight that turns me off from even considering buying it
Yeah but they're probably hoping to hit, what, 200K buys maybe? My guess is they are targeting the hardcore fanbase with the Alvarez-Chandler trilogy fight while going after the casuals by throwing Tito & Rampage out there (and King Mo to a lesser extent).
I think at the end of the day, given all the dickweeds running around promoting MMA, the best you can hope for is a couple solvent promotions to hand out opportunities to fighters, and Bellator's just trying to do what they have to to pay the rent. I agree though, not really interested in this fight but I'm definitely pulling for Tito anyway.
44 Magnum - Yes, that's why nobody can understand why this circus fight is taking place.
When a promoter describes a fight using the phrase, a "freaky kind of cirque du soleil-esque type of fight," it has to make you wonder if they have any earthly idea what the are doing.
The fight makes perfect sense, they're trying to sell a PPV.
Why would you sign Tito if you're not going to try to make some money off him? And Tito at this point does need to be fighting smaller guys and lesser-than-top opponents to have any shot at a competitive fight.
But that fight? Why, is Hong Man Choi already taken? Maybe Jose Conseco is free.
But you have to admit it at least sounds competitive, right? They can't put on a lot of fights with "names" as it is, and they only have a couple proven PPV attractions on their roster (even if their drawing power has diminished greatly).
They're just doing what they have to in order to fulfill Eddie Alvarez's contract basically. And let's say you had to put a couple hundred dollars down on one of these guys, would you really feel all that comfortable betting on either one? To me, if Tito is healthy (that's the big question IMO) then this is a pick 'em fight.
What a silly fight. I like Bellator (and MMA), but to me, this matchup just shows how desperate they are to get ratings at any cost possible. Stupid move.
