MMA Bellator: Tito Ortiz And Liam McGeary Is A No Win Situation For The Company
In the world of MMA, Bellator has played second fiddle to the UFC since its inception. Bellator has chosen to broadcast its matches on cable television which helps with exposure, and the way they determine champions and challengers is reminiscent of the bygone years of the UFC. This has helped to make them a respectable organization in most MMA fan’s eyes.
With this in mind, they are taking a calculated risk with the upcoming fight between Tito Ortiz and Liam McGeary. Considering the state of the light heavyweight division in MMA, Bellator could find themselves throwing all of the credibility they have away with this one fight. Bellator has absolutely nothing to gain regardless of the outcome.
Bellator 138 “Uncut” or “Knight of the Fighting Fossils” depending on who you ask pitted two washed-up fighters. The once legend of the MMA Ken Shamrock was beaten by the never was Kimbo Slice. While this match doesn’t do anything to further the cause of Bellator, it does not hurt them in any real way. The Ortiz and McGeary match has different ramifications.
Tito Ortiz, the Hunnington Beach Bad Boy, is well past his prime. He has won his last two fights, but you have to consider the competition. Stephan Bonnar is not on anyone’s radar for a shot at the title. Alexander Shlemenko was a champion, but he was a middleweight champion that didn’t belong fighting in the light heavyweight division. The last three decent fighters that Ortiz fought in his division beat him.
Liam McGeary is one of the up-and-coming stars in the MMA. Bellator can argue that they have one of the top light heavyweights in the world especially since Jon “Bones” Jones is out for the foreseeable future with his problems with the law. McGeary fought his way through the light heavyweight tournament, and he won the championship by unanimous decision over a pretty decent Emanuel Newton. What does he have to gain from beating Ortiz?
The short answer to this question is “nothing,” and the same can be said for Bellator. If McGeary wins, he beat a fading former UFC star. If Ortiz were to beat McGeary, this would set the whole company back. They would have a light heavyweight champion that couldn’t cut it with the big boys, and it would basically render Bellator as the minor leagues of MMA.
What do you think of this match in the light heavyweight division of MMA? Bellator is counting on it to draw big numbers, but can they afford the negative publicity if Ortiz were to win the fight?
[Photo by Lin/MMA Fighting]
