Report: Lyoto Machida accepts possible fight vs. Tito Ortiz

UFC light heavyweight contender Lyoto Machida has been offered and accepted a possible future fight against former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, reports MMAWeekly.com's Ken Pishna.

Machida's manager, Ed Soares, confirmed that Machida has accepted the fight in the report and is quoted as saying they are still waiting to hear whether Ortiz has accepted as well.

The potential fight vs. Ortiz is one that Machida has not only accepted, but also welcomes.

“It would be an honor to fight such a legend as Tito Ortiz,” Machida is quoted as saying by MMA Weekly. “I would like to see how my technique matches up against his.”

Whether or not Ortiz accepts is a major question at this point. In the past, Ortiz has been paid a percentage of pay-per-view buys when he has headlined shows for the UFC. If that clause remains in his current contract, he may decide that a possible bout with Machida may not draw enough mainstream interest.

It's also interesting that the UFC is looking to utilize Ortiz's marketability better by trying to promote him in a fight against a more established name. A rematch with someone such as Wanderlei Silva is a non-title match that would have the potential to do a strong buyrate if properly promoted to the public.

It's hard to understand what the UFC has in store for Ortiz at this point, as he has just one fight remaining on his current contract. He confirmed months ago that he has been discussing an extension with UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta but there have been no reports as to whether a new deal was ever ironed out.

Even if Ortiz is not re-signed before completing the last fight on his current deal, he will still not become a true free agent. Ortiz confirmed in an interview with CBSSports.com last year that the UFC holds a right of first refusal. Technically, he's slated to become a restricted free agent following his next fight.

Ortiz is currently appearing on the "Celebrity Apprentice" reality television show on NBC. 

--

Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com