in UFC / MMA Articles

On December 30th, we will get to see former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz take on current champ Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell in UFC 66. This promises to be an exciting match-up of epic proportions and the UFC betting odds are up now in the BetUS.com Sportsbook. Get your bets in early!

BetUS.com takes a look back at the history between Ortiz and Liddell: Once upon a time, Tito Ortiz was the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. In 1999, at UFC 22, Ortiz fought Frank Shamrock for the UFC Middleweight (200 pound) title, losing what turned out to be an epic battle. Following the victory, Shamrock retired, leaving the title without a holder. The UFC renamed the Middleweight title as the Light Heavyweight title and Ortiz, along with Wanderlei Silva, was chosen as a top contender.

Ortiz became champion by defeating Silva in a unanimous decision at UFC 25. He went on to successfully defend the belt five times in the following three years by defeating Yuki Kondo, Evan Tanner, Elvis Sinosic, Vladimir Matyushenko and Lion's Den head Ken Shamrock. At this point, due to reported contractual disputes with the UFC, Ortiz then refused to defend his title.

In response to Tito’s actions, the UFC management created an Interim Light Heavyweight title. Ortiz’s good friend and training partner, Chuck Liddell, was making his mark in the Light Heavyweight division and was hoping for a shot at the new title. However, his hopes took a knock back when he lost the title fight to 39-year old Randy Couture in UFC 43. Randy Couture was expected to be walked over by Liddell, and more of a warm up to the inevitable matchup with Ortiz. But little did he know, the old and wise Couture would delay his chance at the light heavyweight title...for now.

In UFC 44, Ortiz fought Randy Couture for the undisputed UFC Light Heavyweight Title. Ortiz was the heavy favorite, but Couture won, stripping Ortiz of his belt and scoring a unanimous decision to become the UFC's undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion at age 40.

In UFC 47, Ortiz and Liddell finally got it on and fought for the first time, battling it out for the No. 1 contender spot to fight Couture. Liddell won this bout with a series of devastating blows. In UFC 52, Liddell got his shot at the title. In their second battle, Liddell defeated Randy Couture and became the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and went on to defend his title against some formidable opponents.

After an extensive absence, Ortiz has returned to the UFC and has dominated in a series of impressive wins against Forrest Griffin and Ken Shamrock. Ortiz is on a five-fight win streak with two TKOs and three decision wins, yet he is the underdog in this fight at +190. He would love to beat his old training partner on December 30th, getting the belt back would be the ‘Icing’ on his proverbial cake.

Chuck Liddell has won his last six fights by KO or TKO and only one of those fights went past the second round. He will do everything in his power to hang onto the title against his former friend and oddsmakers think he will do it, pegging him as the favorite at -240 odds.

UFC 66 is going to be the fight of the year as two of the UFC’s most exciting veteran warriors climb back in the ring for one hell of a rematch. Don’t miss out on your chance to place a bet on what promises to be one of fighting’s greatest nights! UFC betting lines!