How would Tito Ortiz do in Pride?

[Lawrence]

He has beaten Wanderlei few months before Wand beats Hendo but I don't think his wrestling would be as effective as was in UFC. I can see him beating Sakuraba, Overeen, Yoshida, Murilo Ninka, Igor and maybe Minotouro. I think he would got beaten by Rampage, Shogun, Hendo and maybe Arona

Tito vs Little Nog back then would have been worth paying to see I think. A very good matchup and I really can't say who I would favor.

 

[tat2man5k]

He'd have beaten most of those guys.

Very well. Tito was doing extremely well in the UFC in the early 2000s when the level was above Pride.

He'd have beaten most of those guys.

Nah. His 2 biggest weapons were wrestling and elbows. Elbows weren't allowed and unless he got really good at g'n'p with his fists, he would likely have been carded. Not to mention no cage to use to his advantage.

 

[Wilmer Digreux]

He would've been soccer kicked in the head after every takedown attempt

That would only result in a buncha broken legs for the pride guys

 

[jeskola]

 

[Fergelmince]

PRIDE 32 in the states.

Exactly

 

[Clark Rogers]

He would've made the move in the Fall, April to be exact.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

He was Arona with lesser sub skills, no leg kicks but slightly better gnp

He'd do about the same as him

Tito v Arona would be a wrestling match
He might lnp Reem light
Loses to rampage
Beats the rest
Tito v Pride Hendo would be interesting

Arona's GnP was limited because he fought in orgs that forbid elbows. Elbows were a big part of Tito's offense.

I dont think h'ed be very good. He could lay and pray Silva and probably Nogueira, but everyone else who matters is too dynamic. I could even see Tito getting upset by Sakuraba.

 

[kfighter]

He would have outlived Pride, which is crazy cuz Pride never die

 

[DesiredUserName]

He was worse than Couture who was worse than Liddell who was worse than Henderson, Wanderlei, Shogon and Rampage.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

I think Tito would have done fine. In the early days he like to use that old school wrestling cradle to gain side control, he'd probably have just used that to bomb his opponent's head with down knees.

 

[Bowel-forged Stool]

If he got them on the ground, his gnp is legendary.. he has a bit of a problem getting them there, and he’s Tito, but his gnp might be the sharpest tool in the shed

 

[mkt]

Impossible to say how he'd have adopted to new rules and a ring, but I think Tito was best in a cage. With that said, I think he would've done pretty well. He also could've juiced as much as he wanted as long as he made weight. Maybe he did some juicing in the UFC, but they were at least testing (Barnett and Tim Sylvia both got busted in Tito's era). He at least had to be careful with cycles and such. Unlimited juicing is a different animal.

 

[mkt]

I think Tito would have done fine. In the early days he like to use that old school wrestling cradle to gain side control, he'd probably have just used that to bomb his opponent's head with down knees.

Yeah, I mean Mark Coleman, who lost 3 straight fights and left the UFC in 2000, had kind of a career resurgence around age 40 in Pride. So I certainly think a more well-rounded wrestler who was about 10 years younger could do well.

 

[wrestlefan]

Did he really say that?!? Hahahahah!!!

He certainly did. It was when they first started dating. I wish I could find the interview!

 

[wrestlefan]

Yeah, I mean Mark Coleman, who lost 3 straight fights and left the UFC in 2000, had kind of a career resurgence around age 40 in Pride. So I certainly think a more well-rounded wrestler who was about 10 years younger could do well.

Tbf, Coleman was a (young) 36 when he won the 2000 GP and really worked on his cardio for the tournament. It was probably his MMA peak even though he was probably more athletic when he was younger.

 

[BowserJr]

Arona's GnP was limited because he fought in orgs that forbid elbows. Elbows were a big part of Tito's offense.

I dont think h'ed be very good. He could lay and pray Silva and probably Nogueira, but everyone else who matters is too dynamic. I could even see Tito getting upset by Sakuraba.

Recency bias IMO

Tito would be limited with no elbows but he'd have knees. That being said I could see that being used against him Ala Wand v Saku. Yes Wand might actually beat with those rules reversed.

I'm pretty sure he'd beat Saku and the other Japanese guys. Hell, he did beat Bader in the twilight of his career

 

[mkt]

Recency bias IMO

Tito would be limited with no elbows but he'd have knees. That being said I could see that being used against him Ala Wand v Saku. Yes Wand might actually beat with those rules reversed.

I'm pretty sure he'd beat Saku and the other Japanese guys. Hell, he did beat Bader in the twilight of his career

Yeah, Sakuraba was way undersized and starting to take a ton of damage when all the better Pride LHWs (Arona, Wand, etc.) beat him. Rampage was the one guy he beat but I think Rampage suggested something fishy about that fight...then again, Rampage always has excuses, so who knows.

While Sak was slick on the ground, Tito improved his submission game after Mezger beat him in his first UFC tournament. He even competed in ADCC a few years later and did well. Tito also improved his cardio after Frank Shamrock outlasted him and was later known for his conditioning. I don't see where an aging, much smaller Sakuraba would have an edge over early 2000s Tito. Maybe Sak would fare better than Ken Shamrock under Pride rules, but I just see him on his back getting beat up or held down the entire time.

 

[SuperNerd]

They still had the state athletic commissions. You can say that ain't shit but it was MILES above Pride, which didn't test at all and, in fact, ENCOURAGED the fighters to roid the fuck out in their contracts.

PRIDE fanbois don't wannt hear that.

The test is either unbeatable, or it's the exact same as no testing.

And since no test is unbeatable, it's all the same level. Everyone is juiced up as Kerr.

also Fedor didnt take PEDs cuz he's a good guy, from a good family.

 

[RoastBeast]

Let me tell you how you feeling right now?

 

[mkt]

PRIDE fanbois don't wannt hear that.

The test is either unbeatable, or it's the exact same as no testing.

And since no test is unbeatable, it's all the same level. Everyone is juiced up as Kerr.

also Fedor didnt take PEDs cuz he's a good guy, from a good family.

Too much truth in one post for the Pride nostalgists!