Tito Ortiz comments on HHH

Ph3n0m

"Tito Ortiz was recently asked in Steppin’ Out Magazine about how a wrestler like Triple H would fare in UFC. Ortiz answered, "I think he would be horrible. He's too stiff and his cardio fitness is horrible. A guy like that isn't an athlete. We're running, lifting, and training every day, not for looks or to show off our bodies, but to fight and last five rounds at full strength". "

Credit: lordsofpain.net/pwinsider

Opinions on this? I would also like to hear from current wrestling trainees/mma, etc on this

Vince135792003

In my opinion he's wrong and being disrespectful. Most MMA guys appreciate how tough professional wrestling is.

Obviously Triple H wouldn't have anywhere near the conditioning of a boxer or an MMA fighter. For 1 thing he'd be on the road 5 days a week. Its just not possible.

A wrestler does 4 shows a week for 50 odd weeks of the year. Its about maintaining your look as well as your cardio. For a fighter its about physically peaking for 3-4 fights a year.

But, to wrestle at the level Triple H has for so long makes you to an athlete. Its just a different kind of athleticism.

Mossy Monk

Tito talking out of his arse

doesnt surprise me

daveirl

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Dragan

daveirl wrote:

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Bingo.

Vince135792003

daveirl wrote:

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I agree, he'd get massacred in the UFC. And that was the question he was asked to be fair.

But I think its harsh to say that HHH isn't an athlete.

Again I've never done it so I'm no expert. But wrestling to me is athletic activity by its very nature (unless your Khali) and to do it as well as Triple H over such a long time makes him a very good athlete.

Dragan

Vince135792003 wrote:

Again I've never done it so I'm no expert. But wrestling to me is athletic activity by its very nature (unless your Khali) and to do it as well as Triple H over such a long time makes him a very good athlete.

I suppose it really depends on your view of Trips wrestling style? I wouldn't consider his style to be over athletic, personally, but that’s just me.

Mr.Nice Guy

It's a disrespectful and pretty laughable comment from Ortiz when the guy probably most recognisable from UFC over the past few years is a guy who gained attention from being part of the Attitude era. I'm guessing Steppin' Out Magazine forgot about that.

Also I don't see what's wrong with Triple H's cardio when he has wrestled very long matches and not blown up. If you can last 60 minutes in a ring with Chris Benoit there's nothing wrong with your cardio. In fact, I question how Ortiz would handle it.

Cactus Col

daveirl wrote:

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I don't know if he is essentially correct. The answer is seems to be based on the assumption that Triple H would not change his training regime and continue his normal routine. As people have pointed out wrestling and ufc are not the same thing, and you train differently for them. You wouldn't expect Thierry Henry to pick up a tennis racket and win wimbledon without training for it.

Vince135792003

Cactus Col wrote:

I don't know if he is essentially correct. The answer is seems to be based on the assumption that Triple H would not change his training regime and continue his normal routine. As people have pointed out wrestling and ufc are not the same thing, and you train differently for them. You wouldn't expect Thierry Henry to pick up a tennis racket and win wimbledon without training for it.

Exactly. Different sports require different things from participants.

Although again, your not gonna walk into MMA at 37 and beat a top guy just by training differently for 6 months. Maybe you could in 1997. But not in 2007. The sport has moved on to a such a degree.

Also for anybody interested, heres a link for all the UFC all access shows (Tito Ortiz, Lidell, Hughes, Babalu) which give a glimpse into the training involved. Rich Franklin's from the sheer level of training he does is really worth a watch.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ufc+all+access&search=Search

Fozzy

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

In fact, I question how Ortiz would handle it.

I'd imagine that Tito is a lot better conditioned than HHH, seeing as he's probably the best conditioned guy in the UFC. At least until Couture makes his comeback official. HHH I couldn't see doing well in mma, but other wrestlers would be better able to give it a go than him

Don't forget that Tito's a bit of a TNA mark, so that might have influenced his answer on HHH

Jerichoholic

There is no question about it. HHH wouldn't last 30 seconds, Tito's right.