Former UFC® Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz has agreed to be part of the broadcast team for Affliction “Day of Reckoning,” the explosive six-fight Pay-Per-View event headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski set for Saturday, January 24 at The Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Ortiz, along with a team of broadcasters soon to be announced, will do color commentating for the telecast, as well as make several appearances throughout the promotion.
“Tito Ortiz is an icon in the sport of MMA,” said Tom Atencio, Vice President of Affliction. “He is an excellent addition to our already stellar line-up of entertainment for January 24 and will be able to provide fight insight unlike anyone else. We are extremely excited to have him on board.”
Ortiz, who began his career in mixed martial arts over two decades ago, is an expert in the sport. He is familiar with all of the fighters on the “Day of Reckoning” fightcard, particularly Vladimir Matyushenko and Vitor Belfort, who Ortiz defeated in 2001 and 2005 respectively. In May 2008, he officially ended his run with UFC® and has since focused on his “Punishment Athletics” clothing line and taking advantage of other new opportunities such as his appearance on the “Day of Reckoning” telecast.
“I am thrilled to be a part of Affliction ‘Day of Reckoning,'” said Ortiz. “The sport of MMA is thriving right now and can only grow with events such as this one. Broadcasting is somewhat new for me and I am really looking forward to working with Affliction leading up to the show and the entire fight broadcast team to make it a really special night for fans.”
A celebrity in his own right, Ortiz has become one of the most recognizable MMA fighters in the world, especially since crossing over into mainstream media through his role as a judge on the 2006 UFC® Ultimate Fighting Championship® reality TV series and his recent appearance as a cast member on the first season of Celebrity Apprentice.
Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and brought to you by Affliction Entertainment and its partners, Donald J. Trump and M-1 Global, Affliction “Day of Reckoning” is scheduled to include 11 rousing bouts of fierce, full-throttle battle headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski. The six-fight blockbuster PPV telecast beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT features MMA stars Josh Barnett, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Chris Horodecki, Matt Lindland and Paul Buentello in separate bouts. As a prelude to the highly anticipated PPV telecast, HDNet will telecast live from 7:30-9 p.m. ET/4:30-6 p.m. PT five additional fights with the marquee match-up of Antonio Nogueira vs. Vladimir Matyushenko as the main event.
Ticket prices range from $50-$450 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster (available online at www.ticketmaster.com or at all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at 714-740-2000) and at Honda Center Box Office (714-704-2500).